O'Sullivan's John

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O' Sullivan's John to the road you've gone
Far away from your native home
You've gone with the tinker's daughter
Far along the road to roam

Sullivan's John you won't stick it long
Till your belly will soon get slack
As you're going the road with a mighty load
And a tool-box on your back


I met Katy Coffee with her neat baby
Behind on her back strapped on
She Had an old ash plant in her hand
For to drive her donkey on

Enquiring at every farmer's house
As along the road she passed
It's Where could she find an oul pot for to mend
And where could she get an ass


There's a hairy ass fair in the County Clare
In a place they call Spancil Hill
Where me brother James got a rap of a hames
And poor Paddy they tried to kill

They loaded him up on a donkey and cart
While Kate and big Mary looked on
OH bad luck to the day that I went away
To join with the tinkers band