LIFE IN IRELAND 



SONG 



MRS. 0' SHAMBLES, THE PRIDE OF BELFAST 



Tune — ' Come haste to the Wedding.' 



OCH, Phelim O'Shambles ! och, Phelim, my jewel 1 



Says Mrs. O'Shambles, the pride of Belfast, 

 How can you be every day taking your gruel ? 



Twelve naggins and more, fait ! it never can last ; 

 I moil and I toil like a griffin from Connaught, 



Morn, evening, and night, does my tongue never stop. 

 And \.\\t peivter hard earned, ye go drinking upon it, 



While Mrs. O'Shambles can't spring at a drop. 



To my kill me now, arrah do, wid your cold water now, 



Water 's a drink only fit for a whale, 

 Boney got beat at the poor game of Water-loo, 



Whiskey had brought him off clean as a nail. 



It was fifteen good pounds, that I brought you by marriage, 



A cabin, a garden, and bonny moyl'd cow, 

 Three beautiful children, forbye a miscarriage, 



My grandfather's boar, and my uncle Pat's sow ; 

 And you, faith and truth, your own self 'twas I got, 



Without rag to your back, I 'd three gowns to my waist. 

 Of the best second hand, and ye pawn'd them, ye sot ! 



And the money drank down, nor said, Peg, will you taste. 



To my kill me now, arrah do, wid your cold water now, 



Water 's a drink only fit for a whale, 

 Boney got beat at the poor game of Water-loo, 



Whiskey had brought him off clean as a nail. 



There's the childer stark naked, all cover'd wid rags, 

 Who eat no honest bit but the morsel they steal ; 



At home there is nothing but three empty bags, 

 And the devil a scurrick to fill them with meal. 



