Nell Flaherty's Drake (trad) Oh my name it is Nell and the truth for to tell, Is I come from Cootehill which I'll never deny And I had a fine drake, and I'd die for his sake, That my grandmother left me, when she gone to die The dear little fellow, his legs they were yellow He could fly like a swallow or swim like a hake 'Til some dirty savage, to grease his white cabbage, Most wantonly murdered my beautiful drake Now, his neck it was green oh, most fit to be seen, He was fit for a queen of the highest degree His body was white, and that would you delight He was plump, fat, and heavy, and brisk as a bee He was wholesome and sound, he would weight twenty pound, And the universe 'round I would roam for his sake Bad luck to the robber, be he drunk or sober, That murdered Nell Flaherty's beautiful drake May his spade never dig, may his sow never pig, May each hair in his wig be well thrashed with the flail May his door never latch, may his roof have no thatch May his turkeys not hatch, may the rats eat his meal. May every old fairy from Cork to Dunleary Dip him smug and airy in river or lake, That the eel and the trout, they may dine on the snout Of the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty's drake May his pig never grunt, may his cat never hunt, May a ghost ever haunt him in dead of the night May his hens never lay, may his horse never neigh, May his goat fly away like an old paper kite That the flies and the fleas, may the wretch ever tease, May the piercing March breeze make him shiver and shake May a lump of a stick raise the bumps fast and thick Of the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty's drake Well the only good news that I have to infuse Is that old Paddy Hughes and young Anthony Blake, Also Johnny Dwyer and Corney Maguire, They each have a grandson of my darling drake Me treasure had dozens of nephews and cousins, And one I must get or my heart it will break For to set me mind easy or else I'll run crazy So ends the whole song of Nell Flaherty's drake. back to lyrics menu