Darby O'Gill - Bachelor's Lament lyrics

Oh, what can I say of a playboy's behavior Have I not courted all over the place Coaxin', cajolin', extortin' the ladies Increasin' their love with the strength of my kiss And practicin' plainly my versification To lead the young girls from their duties at home By which they were led into sad situations The clergy declared they had best leave alone Oh, my time of a time has been time sadly wasted On temblor-men, tipplers and gay maids of score I've sat by a candle and rhymed meself naked With jeers that I've made and great oaths that I swore And day in, day out, all the wealth of my station Away upon master musicians I've thrown And what they played to me I heard with elation Not dreamin' that they, too, were best left alone And now it is true, that most furious of features My creditors all with their warrants have come And they swear by their souls that they'll put me in prison And now I am poor and ill-clad and undone Not one of those honey-mouthed girls who deceived me Or robbed me pretending that she was me own But mocks me with pert and outlandish behavior To show me too late she was best left alone And now darkness a**ails me as old age draws nigh me And I have not wealth, nor good clothes, nor red gold I'm wakened each morning by tremblings and achings My songs are no more the delight of the bold Oh, to speak to a girl would be sad consolation And so I must leave the fine tavern alone I swear and proclaim, and I make protestation ‘Tis all that I've tried that was best left alone Oh, come all of you high steppin', milk makin' heroes Who long for the ladies and crave for the drink Be sad by me now, and go cautious and careful For fear that old age into darkness ye'll sink Won't you leave hesitation and marry a lady Of prudence and piety, wit and good tone And leave faction fighting and such recreation You can take it from me, boys, they're best left alone