[C] I am a young fellow that`s fond of my [a] fun,
And [a] Ferlin in [e]Derry is [a]where [e]I`ve [a]begun.
All over the country, I`ve spent all my cash.
With Kitty and Ginny and Mary McNash.
[a] My father disowned me for being such a rake.
[G] And for spending my time in such frolicksome ways.
[C] The girls, they are sweet, but I`ll have you all [a]know
[a] That my first love in life is the pure [a]whis[e]key, [a]oh!
Riddley-[a]i-di, riddley-[e]i-di-di, riddley-[a]i-[e]di-[e]day.
If I chance for to go to the town of Kildare
All the girls all around me they flock on the square
Some bring me a bottle and some bring me cake.
And they do it behind their old pure parents` back.
There`s one from McCorville and one from Carlisle.
And another one from Derry my heart has beguiled.
But I`d trade every one for a drop of the pure,
For my first love is whiskey. The heart it can cure.
Riddley-i-di, riddley-i-di-di, riddley-i-di-day.
To worry for riches, I`m never inclined.
For the greatest of misers must leave them behind.
With a glass in my hand and a girl on my knee
There`s all a man needs for his pleasure, you see.
For I knew a man who had plenty of gold,
And I knew another who had twenty times more.
But they`re both on their backs among nettles and stone.
So, my first love is whiskey and whiskey alone.
Riddley-i-di, riddley-i-di-di, riddley-i-di-day.
And now for the future, I mean to be wise.
And I`ll look for the women that treated me kind.
I`ll marry them all on the next Market Day,
If the clergy agree to the things that I say.
And when I am dead and my soul is at rest,
These women will come for to cry at my wake.
And they`ll cover me over with whiskey so pure,
And I`ll dance on the lid of my coffin and cheer.
Riddley-i-di, riddley-i-di-di, riddley-i-di-day
