In the days I went a-courtin', I was never tired resorting
To an alehouse or a playhouse and many's the house besides
But I told me brother Séamus, I'd go off and be right famous
And I never would return again till I'd roam the world wide

[Chorus]
Goodbye Muirsheen Durkin, sure I'm sick and tired of workin'
No more, I'll dig the praties and no longer, I'll be fooled
As sure as me name is Carney, I'll be off to Californy
Where instead of diggin' praties, I'll be diggin' lumps of gold

I've courted girls in Blarney, in Kanturk, and in Killarney
In Passage and in Queenstown; that is the Cobh of Cork
Goodbye to all this pleasure, I'll be off to take me leisure
And the next time that you hear from me will be a letter from New York

[Chorus]
Goodbye Muirsheen Durkin, sure I'm sick and tired of workin'
No more, I'll dig the praties and no longer, I'll be fooled
As sure as me name is Carney, I'll be off to Californy
Where instead of diggin' praties, I'll be diggin' lumps of gold

Goodbye to the girls at home, I'm going far across the foam
To try and make me fortune in far Americay
There's gold and jewels and plenty for the poor and for the gentry
And when I return again I never more will say
[Chorus]
Goodbye Muirsheen Durkin, sure I'm sick and tired of workin'
No more, I'll dig the praties and no longer I'll be fooled
As sure as me name is Carney, I'll be off to Californy
Where instead of diggin' praties, I'll be diggin' lumps of gold