You sons of Dan O'Connels Isle
Pray pay attention to my ditty
For it's all about a fair young man
His birthplace it was Dublin City
My song is for to demonstrate
A story with a pill sorrel
Beginning by the Carlyle Bridge
And ending on the Isle's of Coral
A schooner stood by George's Quay
With sails all folded one sultry season
A maiden paced upon that quay
She wept like one bereft of reason
Oh, Johnny Doyle's me love it's true
It's true but full of deep contrition
For what will all the neighbours say?
About yourself and my condition
Well the sails unfurled while the capstan turned
The schooner scooted down the Liffey
The maid she gave one piercing wave
She was a mother in a Jiffey
They sailed across the Harber Bar
And headed east for foreign waters
To China were they think their wife's
And drowned at birth their surplus daughters
Now years and years had come and gone
Till Mary's child grow self-supporting
But how her poor old heart would break
When that young buck went out a courting
He leaves me all alone she said
He leave me 'lone and melancholy
I'll dress myself in mans attire
And sail the seven seas for Johnny
She signed on board of a pirate bark
That raided 'round the hot equator
And with them hairy buccaneers
There sailed a sweet and virtuous creature
Well the captain thought her name was Bill
His character it was nefarious
And with them hairy buccaneers
Her situation was precarious
Now in the Sarra Agassa sea
Two rakish barks were idly lowland
And Mary on the quarter deck
The middle watch was she patrolling
She gazed upon the neighbouring bark
And suddenly became ex claimant
For they're upon that guilder'd poop
Stood Johnny Doyle in gorgeous raiment
They're happy now in sweet Ringsend
That jewel that sparkle on the Dodder
They lead a peaceful merchant's life
And do a trade in oats and fatter
By marriage line she's misses Doyle
She keeps a stall of periwinkles
When she says she's in that way again
His one good eye with joy it twinkles
Johnny Doyle Lyrics performed by The Dubliners are property and copyright of the authors, artists and labels. You should note that Johnny Doyle Lyrics performed by The Dubliners is only provided for educational purposes only and if you like the song you should buy the CD