As I was going to the fair of Dingle one fine morning last July,
A fine young man come up behind me "Red-haired Mary," he did cry.
"Will you come with me my red-haired Mary, the donkey, he can carry two",
I looked at him, my eyes did twinkle, me cheeks they were a rosy hue
"Thank you kindly sir" I answered, then I tossed me light red hair,
Saying "Will you hold the donkey and I'll ride with you to the Dingle fair".
When we reached the town of Dingle, he caught me hand to say good-bye,
When a tinker he came up behind me and hit him right in his left eye.
"Take your hands off red-haired Mary she and I are to be wed,
We were with the priest this very morn, tonight we'll lie in our marriage bed"
Well, he was feeling very peevish, his poor eye was sad and sore,
He kicked the tinker with his hobnails, knocked him through Tom Murphy's door.
He galloped off to meet his father, the tallest man you e'er did see
He tapped him gently with his knuckles and now he's missing two front teeth.
Oh wasn't I the happy cailin "man, with you I'll go," I said,
"Never mind the priest this very morn, tonight we'll sleep in Murphy's shed".
"Take your hands off red-haired Mary she and I are to be wed,
Never mind the priest this very morn, tonight we'll sleep in Murphy's shed"
Around the corner came a peeler, told him I had broke the law,
The donkey kicked him on the kneecap, he fell down and broke his jaw
To the fair we roamed together his black eye and my red hair
Gazing gaily at the tinker, weren't we the happy pair?
"Take your hands off red-haired Mary she and I are to be wed,
Never mind the priest this very morn, tonight we'll sleep in Murphy's shed"
"Will you take your hands off red-haired Mary she and I are to be wed,
Never mind the priest this very morn, tonight we'll sleep in Murphy's shed"