The Clancy Brothers and Tom Makem version of "Nell Flaherty's Drake"
original author unknown
versions lyrics differ slightly
Intro:
G7 F G C
[1st Verse)
C
Oh my name it is Nell and the truth for to tell
F C Am G
I come from Cootehill which I'll never deny
C
I had a fine drake and I'd die for his sake
F C G C
That me grandmother left me and she goin' to die
C F C
The dear little fellow his legs they were yellow
F C Am G
He could fly like a swallow or swim like a hake
C
Till some dirty savage to grease his white cabbage
F C G C
Most wantonly murdered me beautiful drake
[2nd Verse]
C
Now his neck it was green almost fit to be seen
F C Am G
He was fit for a queen of the highest degree
C
His body was white, and it would you delight
F C G C
He was plump, fat, and heavy and brisk as a bee
C F C
He was wholesome and sound, he would weigh twenty pound
F C Am G
And the universe round I would roam for his sake
C
Bad luck to the robber be he drunk or sober
F C G C
That murdered Nell Flaherty's beautiful drake
[3rd Verse]
C
May his spade never dig, may his sow never pig
F C Am G
May each hair in his wig be well trashed with the flail
C
My his door never latch, may his roof have no thatch
F C G C
May his turkeys not hatch, may the rats eat his meal
C F C
May every old fairy from Cork to Dun Laoghaire
F C Am G
Dip him snug and airy in river or lake
C
That the eel and the trout they may dine on the snout
F C G C
Of the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty's drake
[4th Verse]
C
May his pig never grunt, may his cat never hunt
F C Am G
May a ghost ever haunt him the dead of the night
C
May his hens never lay, may his horse never neigh
F C G C
May his coat fly away like an old paper kite
C F C
That the flies and the fleas may the wretch ever tease
F C Am G
May the piercin' March breeze make him shiver and shake
C
May a lump of the stick raise the bumps fast and quick
F C G C
On the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty's drake
[5th Verse]
C
Well the only good news that I have to infuse
F C Am G
Is that old Paddy Hughes and young Anthony Blake
C
Also Johnny Dwyer and Corney Maguire
F C G C
They each have a grandson of my darlin' drake
C F C
May treasure had dozens of nephews and cousins
F C Am G
And one I must get or me heart it will break
C
For to set me mind easy or else I'll run crazy
F C G C
So ends the whole song of Nell Flaherty's drake
