O'Sullivan's John

Patrick ‘Pecker’ Dunne

O'Sullivan's John to the road you've gone
Far away from your native home.
You've gone with the tinker's daughter
For along the road to roam.
O'Sullivan's John you won't stick it long
'till your belly will soon grow slack.
Up along the old road, with a mighty load.
And your toolbox on your back.

I met Katie Coffey and her neat baby
Behind on her back strapped on.
She had an oul ash plant in her hand
To drive the oul donkey along.
Enquiring in every farmhouse,
As along the road she passed,
As to where would she get an old pot to mend,
and where would she get an ass.

There's a hairy ass fair in County Clare
in a place they call Spancil Hill.
Where my brother James got a rap of a hames,
And poor Paddy they tried to killl.
They loaded him up in an oul ass and cart,
As along the road to go.
Oh bad luck to the day that he roved away
For to join with the tinker band.