Frank Harte sings the two versions of the Spanish Lady however this is the version that he gave Triona and Maighread Ni Dhomhnaill. As far as I know they have credited Frank with the song in the notes and Donal Lunny with the arrangement.

SPANISH LADY.

As I was a walking through Dublin city about the hour of twelve of the night,
It was there I saw a Spanish Lady washing her feet by candlelight.
First she washed them and then she dried them, over a fire of ambry coals,
And in all my life I never did see such a maid about the soles.

Chorus:
She had 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, none,
She had 19,17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3 and one.

I stopped to look but the watchman passed. Said he, “Young fellow, now the night is late.
Along with you home or I will wrestle you straightway through the Bridewell gate.”
I got a look from the Spanish Lady, hot as a fire of ambry coals,
And in all my life I never did see such a maid so neat about the soles.

Chorus:
As I walked back through Dublin City as the dawn of day was o'er,
Who should I see but the Spanish lady when I was weary and footsore.
She had a heart so full of loving and her love she longed to share.
In all my life I never did meet with a maid that had so much to spare.

Chorus:
I have wandered north and I've wandered south by Stoneybatter and Patrick's Close,
And up and around by the Gloucester Diamond back by Napper Tandy's house.
But old age has laid her hand upon me cold as a fire of ashy coals,
And gone is the lovely Spanish Lady neat and sweet about the soles.

Chorus:
Round and around goes the wheel of fortune. Where it rests now wearies me.
Oh, fair young maids are so deceiving, sad experience teaches me.

Chorus: