Here are two versions, one collected by Sharp, one from Colm O'Lochlainn's More Irish Street Ballads. I'll put the tunes up later, but just now my services are urgently required at the stove.

Mick

THE PRIDE OF KILDARE
Sharp - from William Briffett, Bridgwater, Somerset, 16 Aug 1905

When first from sea I landed I had a roving mind.
Undaunted I rambled my true love to find;
When I met with pretty Susan in the street like a rose,
And her bosom was more fairer than the lily that grows.

Her keen eyes did glitter like the bright stars by night,
And the robe she was wearing was costly and bright
And her bare neck was shaded with her long, ravening hair,
And they calls her pretty Susan, the Pride of Kildare.

Long time I courted her till I wasted all my store,
Her love turned to hate because I was poor.
She said: I will have another one whose fortune I'll share,
So begone from pretty Susan, the Pride of Kildare.

'Twas early one morning as I lonely did stray,
There I spied Susan with her young lad so gay,
And I passed by them with my mind full of care,
Sighs for pretty Susan, the Pride of Kildare.

Once more on the ocean I'm resolved to go
And bound to West Indies with my heart full of woe
There I beheld the ladies with jewels so rare,
There was none like pretty Susan, the Pride of Kildare.

Sometimes I am jovial, sometimes I am sad,
Since my love she's been courted by some other young lad,
But now I'm at a distance no more I'll despair,
But my blessings on my Susan, the Pride of Kildare.



PRETTY SUSAN THE PRIDE OF KILDARE

  O'Lochlainn     - ballad sheet source set to 1st part of "The Cook In The Kitchen"
  

When from sea first I landed with roving in mind,
Undaunted I rambled my true love to find,
When I met pretty Susan with cheeks like a rose,
And her bosom more fair than the lily that grows.

Her keen eyes did glimmer like bright stars by night,
And the robes she was wearing were costly and white,
Her bare neck was shaded with her long raven hair,
And they call her pretty Susan the pride of Kildare.

Long time did I court her till I wasted my store,
When her love turned to hatred because I was poor,
She said 'I love another whose portion I'll share,
So begone from pretty Susan the pride of Kildare'.

Oh, my heart ached next morning as I lonely did stray
I espied pretty Susan with a young lord so gay,
And as I passed by them with my mind full of care
I sighed for pretty Susan the pride of Kildare.

Once more on the ocean I resolved for to go,
And was bound to the east with my heart full of woe,
Where I beheld ladies in jewels so rare,
But none like pretty Susan the pride of Kildare.

Sometimes I am jovial, sometimes I am sad,
Since my love she is courted by some other lad,
But since we're at a distance, no more I'll despair,
So my blessings on Susan the pride of Kildare.