Traditional

O ladies take pity on me
Let me in your company mingle
I once was merry and free
And, like you, I was happy and single
Me mother advised me to wed
For seventeen years I had tarried
So, off to the church I did go -
In a trice to a man to be married
O I wish that I never was wed

For a short time he loved me sincere
He used me both kindly and civil;
The honeymoon scarcely was o'er
When he turned out a quare divil!
The bed he took up on his back
And off to the pawnshop he carried
Oft times I wished I was dead
Or better, I never was married
O I wish that I never was wed

To the landlord he won't pay the rent
He says that he is not able
There's nothin' now left in the house
But two broken chairs and a table
The bedclothes, the kettle and broom
Off to the pawnshop he carried
He grunts, he snores, hoe roars
O I wish that I never was married
O I wish that I never was wed
When he buys the meat once a month
That's if I'm not sadly mistaken
There's nothin' but sheep's head and pluck
And a bit of sweet liver and bacon
He says bread and butter are dear
And these times are shockingly harried
All day he drinks whisky and beer
O I wish that I never was wed

One night he came home in a rage
He busted me new shoes asunder
The cat he kicked into the grate
And the table flew out of the window
The bellows he threw at me head
Me clothes to the pawnshop he carried
That night I wished I was dead
Or better, I never was married
O I wish that I never was wed

If I was but single again
I'd sing and be joyous and merry
I'd laugh, I'd shout, I'd roar
I'd be heard in the Kingdom of Kerry!
So maidens single remain
By your time, you'll never be harried
If I was bus single again
By jingo, I'd never get married
O I wish that I never was wed