I am a young fellow that's fond of me fun,
And fair Londonderry is where I've begun.
All over the country I've spent all my cash,
With Kitty and Ginny and Mary McNash.
My father disowned me for being such a rake,
And for spending my time in such frolicsome ways,
The girls they are sweet but I'll have you all know
That my first love in life is the pure whiskey-O!
Ridley eye die, ridley eye die,
Ridley eye die die day!
If I chance for to go to the town of Kildare,
The women all round me do gather and stare,
Some bring me a bottle and others sweet cakes,
And they kiss me behind their own dear parents' back.
Well, there is one from Arda, and one from Carlisle,
And another from Derry my heart has beguiled,
But I'd trade every one for a drop of the pure,
For my first love is whiskey--the heart it can cure!
Ridley eye die, ridley eye die,
Ridley eye die die day!
To worry for riches I'm never inclined,
For the greatest of misers must leave them behind.
With a glass in my hand and a girl on my knee,
Is all a man needs for his pleasure, you see?
John Dramer of Shronel had plenty of gold,
And Devonshire's treasure is twenty times more,
But they're laid on their backs among nettles and stones,
So my first love is whiskey, to whiskey alone!
Ridley eye die, ridley eye die,
Ridley eye die die day!
And now for the future I mean to be wise,
And I'll look for the women who treated me kind,
And I'll marry them all on the next market day,
Should the clergy agree to the things that I say.
And when I am dead and my soul is at rest,
These women will come for to cry at my wake;
They'll cover me over with whiskey so pure,
And I'll dance on the lid of my coffin and cheer!
Ridley eye die, ridley eye die,
Ridley eye die die day!