"Mrs. McGrath," the sergeant said, "Would you like a soldier of your son, Ted? With a scarlet cloak and a fine cocked hat, Mrs. McGrath wouldn't you like that?"
Mrs. McGrath lived on the shore And after seven years or more Till she say a big ship sail into the bay, "Here's my son, Ted, will ye clear the way!"
"Oh, Captain dear, where have you been. Have you been out sailin' on the Mediteren'. Will ye tell me the news of my son, Ted? Is the poor boy livin', or is he dead?"
Now came Ted without any legs And in their place two wooden pegs She kissed him a dozen times or two Saying "My God Ted is it you?"
"Now were you drunk or were you blind When you left your two fine legs behind? Or was it walking upon the sea That wore your two fine legs away?"
"No I wasn't drunk and I wasn't blind When I left my two fine legs behind. a cannon ball on the fifth of May Tore my two fine legs away."
"Now Teddy boy," the widow cried "Your two fine legs was your mother's pride Them stumps of a tree won't do at all Why didn't you run from the cannon ball?"
"Well, all foreign wars I do proclaim Between Don John and the King of Spain, I'd rather have my son as he used to be Than the king of France and his whole navy"