"The Connaught Orphan" Lyrics

The Connaught Orphan

you cannot go from bare of foot
to walk ten miles of seven years
you took your little sisters hand
and walked her to the poor house door

and when they had but room for one
you let your little sister in
and faint with hunger all day long
you walked the ten miles back again

now come on boy take off those clothes
we'll scrub your skin not six months clean
put on this nice black suit of clothes
around your neck this handkerchief

this darling silken handkerchief
around your lily white boys neck
we'll gather up your worn old rags
they make you look a pale old wreck

interlude

and now you look so proud and rare
youve come a fine young lookin boy
what do you say we burn these rags
now youll not need them any more

what come on boy why do you weep
with such a burst of misery
why do you cling so to these rags
what ever can the matter be

i'll surely die of hunger now
they see me with your nice new clothes
theyll think im telling lies and i
i have a mammy feed me so

interlude

i promise theres no need for tears
and when the winters been and come
your rags will be just souveniers
so you can keep your new clothes on