One fine sunny evening last summer I was straying along by the sea
When a pair of quare playboys a-roving before me I happened to see
Now to learn what these boys were up to, a trifle I hastened me walk
For I thought I could learn their professions when I got within range of their talk

Now, one of these boys was the devil and the other was Bailiff McGlynn
And the one was as black as the other and both were as ugly as sin
Says thе old boy, says he, "I'm the devil and you arе a bailiff, I see."
"Ah! 'tis the devil himself," says the bailiff, "Now that beats the devil," says he

Now, a gossoon ran out from a cottage and took him up over the fields
"May the devil take you," said his mother as she rattled a stone at his heels
"Ah now, why don't you take the young rascal, your highness?" the bailiff he cried
"Ah, it was not from her heart that she said it," the devil he smiling replied

Now, close by a small patch of potatoes a banbh was striving to dig
When the owner come out and she cried, "May the devil take you for a pig!"
Said the bailiff, "Now that's a fine offer, why not take the banbh?" says he
"Ah, it was but with her lips that she said it And that's not sufficient for me."

As they jogged on, the gossoon espied them and into his mother he sped
Crying, "Mother!" says he, "There's a bailiff!" She clasped her two hands and she said
"May the devil take that ugly bailiff!" Said the old boy, "Bedad! That'll do!
It was straight from her heart that she said it, so Bailiff McGlynn, I'll take you."