THE JUICE OF THE BARLEY

In the sweet County Limerick one cold winter's night,
All the turf fires were burnin when I saw the light
And a drunken old midwife went tipsy with joy
As she danced round the floor with her slip of a boy

Chorus

Singin ban-ya-na mo is an gan-na
* And the juice of the barley for me

Well when I was a gossoon* of eight years old or so
With me turf and me primer to school I did go
To a dusty old school-house without any door
Where lay the school master blind drunk on the floor.

Chorus
Singing Banya na mo is an ganna and the juice of the Barley for me

At the learning I wasn't such a genius I'm thinkin
But I soon beat the master entirely at drinkin
Not a wake nor a weddin for five miles around
But meself in the corner was sure to be found.

Chorus

One Sunday the priest led me up from the altar
Sayin, you'll end up your days with your neck in a halter
And you'll dance a fine jig between heaven and hell
And his words they did fright me, the truth for to tell

Chorus

So the very next morning as the dawn it did break
I went down to the vestry, the pledge for to take
And there in that room sat the priests in a bunch
Round a big roarin fire drinkin tumblers of punch.

Chorus

Well from that day to this I have wandered alone
I'm jack of all trades and a master of none
With the sky for me roof and the earth for me floor
And I'll dance out me days drinkin whiskey galore.

Chorus Singin banya na mo is an ganna
Tis the juice of the barley for me

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*Bainne na mó is an ganna - we're outa milk

*Garsún - boy