"The Ballintoy Farmer" lyrics
One day while out rovin', I happened to stray
Along the coast road out by Ballintoy way
I'd heard a rich farmer was hirin' that day
And me pockets were empty of silver
Well, I knocked on the door and to my surprise
I was met by a beauty, a sight for sore eyes
Me heart gave a flutter, oh, I will not deny
When I gazed on the old farmer's daughter
Good day to ya, lass, says I with a grin
I'm looking for work, is your daddy within?
I'm hungry and tired and soaked to the skin
And in need of some lodging and supper
But before she could answer a terrible sight
Appeared froom behind her and blocked out the light
He was six foot and more and his face was a fright
And he groused, she's me wife, not my daughter
The Ballintoy farmer was ugly as sin
With cauliflower ears and his nose all punched in
His arms were like legs, and if his fist hit your
Chin he'd knock you from Ankern to Blarney
If you hire with me, boy, you'll work for your pay
You'll be up every morn at the dawn of the day
Digging potatoes and cutting the hay
You'll be mine, said the Ballintoy farmer
He gave me a plate of ol' cappy jan spuds
And a bed in the barn full of vermin and bugs
I lay down in the straw covered with a darn rug
While the rats and the mice commenced playin'
Well, I tossed and I turned and I scratched the whole night
I was never so happy to see the day light
Me body was achin' and covered with bites
And I cursed that auld Ballintoy farmer
Well, I gathered his spuds and I swear without feel
He had enough to feed Ireland and Scotland and Wales
I was tired to the bone and me spirits were frail
And he gave me just half of me money
I've worked in pastures, butch mills and Corrin
I've worked down in Carnloch from old Ambergine
And I'm warnin' ya now, if ya don't want the same
Don't hire with the Ballintoy farmer
Along the coast road out by Ballintoy way
I'd heard a rich farmer was hirin' that day
And me pockets were empty of silver
Well, I knocked on the door and to my surprise
I was met by a beauty, a sight for sore eyes
Me heart gave a flutter, oh, I will not deny
When I gazed on the old farmer's daughter
Good day to ya, lass, says I with a grin
I'm looking for work, is your daddy within?
I'm hungry and tired and soaked to the skin
And in need of some lodging and supper
But before she could answer a terrible sight
Appeared froom behind her and blocked out the light
He was six foot and more and his face was a fright
And he groused, she's me wife, not my daughter
The Ballintoy farmer was ugly as sin
With cauliflower ears and his nose all punched in
His arms were like legs, and if his fist hit your
Chin he'd knock you from Ankern to Blarney
If you hire with me, boy, you'll work for your pay
You'll be up every morn at the dawn of the day
Digging potatoes and cutting the hay
You'll be mine, said the Ballintoy farmer
He gave me a plate of ol' cappy jan spuds
And a bed in the barn full of vermin and bugs
I lay down in the straw covered with a darn rug
While the rats and the mice commenced playin'
Well, I tossed and I turned and I scratched the whole night
I was never so happy to see the day light
Me body was achin' and covered with bites
And I cursed that auld Ballintoy farmer
Well, I gathered his spuds and I swear without feel
He had enough to feed Ireland and Scotland and Wales
I was tired to the bone and me spirits were frail
And he gave me just half of me money
I've worked in pastures, butch mills and Corrin
I've worked down in Carnloch from old Ambergine
And I'm warnin' ya now, if ya don't want the same
Don't hire with the Ballintoy farmer
