The Tossers - Irish Rover Lyrics
Well on the Fourth of July 1806We set sail from the sweet cove of CorkWe were sailing away with a cargo of bricksFor the grand City Hall in New York'twas a wonderful craft, she was rigged for and aftAnd oh, how the wild wind drove herShe stood several blasts, she had twenty-seven mastsAnd they called her the Irish RoverWell we had one million bags of the best Sligo rags,We had two million barrels of stoneWe had three million bails of old nanny-goats' tails,We had four million barrels of bonesWe had five million hogs, and six million dogs,Seven million barrels of porterWe had eight million bails of old nanny-goats' tailsIn the hold of the Irish RoverWell we had Barney McGee from the banks of the Lee,We had Hogan from County TyroneAnd we had Jimmy McGurk who was scared stiff of workAnd a lad from Westmeath called MaloneO we had Slugger O'Toole who was drunk as a ruleAnd Fighting Bill Treacy from DoverAnd your man, Mike McCannFrom the banks of the BannWas the skipper on the Irish RoverWell a sailor he longs for a better lifeIt's so lonesome by night and by dayAnd he longs for the shore and a charming young whoreWho'll make all his troubles awayAll the noise and the routAll the whiskey and stoutThe fighting it's never overOf the love of a maid he is never afraidIt's all for the Irish RoverWe had sailed seven years when the measles broke outAnd the ship lost it's way in the fogAnd that whale of a crew was reduced down to two,Just meself and the Captain's old dogThen the ship struck a rock,Oh Lord! What a shock,The bulkhead was turned right overWell it turned nine times aroundAnd the poor old dog was drownedWell I'm the last of the Irish Rover!
