Henry's Songbook

And as I roved out through Galway town to seek for recreation
On the seventeenth of August, my mind bein' elevated
There were multitudes assembled with their tickets at the station
And my eyes began to dazzle and they goin' to see the races
To me whack fol-a-do fol-a-dithery idle day

There were passengers from Limerick and passengers from Nenagh
Passengers from Dublin and sportsmen from Tipperary
There were passengers from Kerry and all quarters of the nation
And our member Mister Haughey for to join the Galway Blazers
To me whack fol-a-do fol-a-dithery idle day

There were multitudes from Aran and members from New Quay shore
The boys from Connemara and the Clare unmarried maidens
People from Cork city who were loyal, true and faithful
They brought home the Fenian prisoners from dying in foreign nations
To me whack fol-a-do fol-a-dithery idle day

And it's there you'll see confectioners with sugarsticks and dainties
Their lozenges and oranges, their lemonade 'n' raisins
Gingerbread and spices to accommodate the ladies
And a big crubeen for threepence to be sucking while you're able
To me whack fol-a-do fol-a-dithery idle day

And it's there you'll see the gamblers, the thimbles and the garters
And the sporting Wheel of Fortune with the four and twenty quarters
There was others without scruple pelting wattles at poor Maggie
And her daddy well contented to be gawking at his daughter
To me whack fol-a-do fol-a-dithery idle day

And it's there you'll see the pipers and the fiddlers competing
The nimble-footed dancers and they tripping on the daisies
There was others shoutin', Cigars and lights, and, Bills for all the races
With the colours of the jockeys and the prize and horses' ages
To me whack fol-a-do fol-a-dithery idle day

And it's there you'll see the jockeys and they mounted on so stately
The pink and blue, the orange and green, the emblem of our nation
When the bell was rung for starting all the horses seemed impatient
I thought they never stood on ground, their speed was so amazing
To me whack fol-a-do fol-a-dithery idle day

There was half a million people there of all denominations
The Catholic, the Protestant, the Jew and Presbyterian
There was yet no animosity no matter what persuasion
But failté and hospitality inducing Mister Paisley
To me whack fol-a-do fol-a-dithery idle day

(as sung be The Dubliners)