The Old Batchelor

[Verse 1]
I am an old bachelor, sixty and three
And never young girls had much to do with me
I know little of women, very little indeed
Though folks say they're good for me, and just what I need

[Chorus]
Derry down down, down derry down

[Verse 2]
And now all the last winter through frost and through cold;
Not a grain of warm comfort could I ever get at all
My legs they was tremblin' and so was my feet
And I daren't use a hot brick for burnin' the sheet

[Chorus]
Derry down down, down derry down

[Verse 3]
Now my old Uncle George, he's as crafty as hell
He advised me to marry and I would do well
And the one that I fancied was young Jenny Green
O, a nice little creature just goin' on sixteen

[Chorus]
Derry down down, down derry down

[Verse 4]
So off to the parson we went with all speed
With no thoughts of hot bricks and burnin' the sheet
There was plenty of liquor, it went to my head
And how I was longing to get to my bed

[Chorus]
Derry down down, down derry down

[Verse 5]
For two hours and better she lay at my back
And then she begun for to mumble and crack
“Aha! you old devil, rouse up if you can
For you've something to do yet to prove you're a man.”

[Chorus]
Derry down down, down derry down

[Verse 6]
Well I lay there and thought she was havin' a dream
But she jumped in my ribs, boys, and said she could scream
Then she rolled out the bed and back home she ran in
I tell you, I missed the kind warmth of her skin

[Chorus]
Derry down down, down derry down

[Verse 7]
Early next morning her old mother come in
She raved and she ranted, I said, “What d'you mean?”
“Aha! you old devil, you're both joined together
Yet you never once tried for to make her a mother!”

[Chorus]
Derry down down, down derry down

[Verse 8]
On the old wife's advice we both went back to bed
And under her instructions we fell to the trade
And before five months and a half day was gone
Damn me if she don't bring a fine strappin' son!

[Chorus]
Derry down down, down derry down