From the 1882 play “The Maid of Arran.” Words and music by Louis F. Baum.
Sheet Music
Accompaniment
Lyrics
1. I’m a lad that’s always glad
To fling me foot and I’m never sad
The mountains ring whene’er I sing
For I am blithe and gay
The girls all think whene’er I blink
That at their ways I had meant to wink
Which makes their hearts all jump wid joy
I’m a rollicking Irish boy
There’s just one little lass who smiles whene’er I pass
And makes my heart go bumpety bump
A rollicking Irish lass
The girls know I love her
It’s my belief they’re mad wid grief
They snub me now, and never bow
To this rollicking Irish boy
2. Not long ago I’d have ye know
I was ask’d to McGinnesses ball to go
I polished up me Sunday suit and started for to see
What I could find to suit me mind
In the fashion of sensible womankind
To go wid me and dance wid me
A rollicking Irish girl
It’s aisy for to look for fishes in a brook
But if they havn’t a mind to bite
It’s devil a man will he hook
First Katy she refused me
And Biddy McCree said she’d go wid me
But Oona went wid much content
Wid this rollicking Irish boy