I am a rambling Irishman In Ulster I was born And many's the happy hours I spent On the banks of sweet Lough Erne But to live poor I could not endure As others of my station To America I sailed away And left this Irish nation
Ry tan tin-a-na, tan tin-a-na Ry tan tin-a-noora nandy
The night before I went away I spent it with my darling From three o'clock in the afternoon Till the break of day next morning But when that we were going to part We lay in each others' arms You may be sure and very sure It wounded both our charms
The very first night I slept on board I dreamt about my Nancy I dreamt I held her in my arms And well she pleased my fancy But when I woke out of my dream I found that my bed was empty You may be sure and very sure That I lay discontented
When we arrived at the other side We were both stout and healthy We dropped our anchor in the bay Going down to Philadelphia For to live poor I could not endure Like others of my station To America I sailed away And left this Irish nation