Air—“Sir John Scott's Favourite.” July, 1809.
DEAR JUDY, when first we got married,
Our fortune indeed was but small,
For save the light hearts that we carried,
Our riches were nothing at all :
I sung while I reared up the cabin,
Ye powers give me vigour and health !
And a truce to all sighing and sobbing,
For love is Pat Mulligan's wealth.
Through summer and winter so dreary,
I cheerily toiled on the farm,
Nor ever once dreamed growing weary,
For love gave my labour its charm.
And now, though tis weak to be vaunty,
Yet here let us gratefully own,
We live amidst pleasure and plenty,
As happy's the king on the throne.
We've Murdoch, and Patrick, and Connor,
As fine little lads as you'll see,
And Kitty, sweet girl, pon my honour,
She's just the dear picture of thee.
Though some folks may still underrate us,
Ah, why should we mind them a fig ?
We've a large swinging field of potatoes,
A good drimindu [1] and a pig.
Note by Ramsay.
[1] Drimindu, or more properly drimindubh (black back), a name for the cow.[return]
Note by Ramsay.—“In former editions, this and the following stanzas were printed as a separate song under the title of ‘Dear Judy,’ contrary to the intention of the Author, as appears from his manuscript now before us.”
No. 157, “The Irish Farmer,” and No. 158, “Dear Judy,” had only appeared in the 1817 and 1833 editions, and were there separate,—the latter of which we have now titled “Irish Teaching,” and still kept them separate; but they can be read either separately, or connected, as the reader prefers—Ed.
[Semple 157]