The Poteen Song

 

Seo sean amhrán a d'fhoghlaim Donnchadh Ó Luaisigh, Baile an Chollaigh nuair a bhí sé óg i mBéal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh.

 

Come all you jovial fellows and give joy to my oration;

I hope you'll cheer me in my song and give me an ovation;

So now intend your voices and your kind congratulation

For I wish you joy and happiness in expecting transportation

Is gheobham arís an crúiscín is bíodh sé lán.

 

It was early one morning a cowardly-hearted traitor

Went into the barracks and a story he related;

He said that in the western glen, far far out in the mountain

There was a poteen Irish still, a clear and crystal fountain

Is gheobham arís an crúiscín is bíodh sé lán.

 

It was early next morning the police made preparation,

They went then and they hired a car to drive them to the station

But when into the shanty went, they found they were mistaken;

It was neither manufactured nor manned for adulation

Is gheobham arís an crúiscín is bíodh sé lán.

 

This crystal drop fresh from the still, it would cure all sorts of ailments,

It would cure the yellow jaundice, both scarletina and measles;

It would banish heart diseases, from the lungs drive inflammation;

From the soul it would drive the devil, from the heart disperse temptation

Is gheobham arís an crúiscín is bíodh sé lán.

 

Now that Christmas is approaching, we are in a consternation;

We don't know where to get a drop without adulteration.

Our Irish manufacture is the finest in the nation

Because it is distributed without duty or taxation

Is gheobham arís an crúiscín is bíodh sé lán.

 

Now to conclude and finish, I hope I've said no treason

For freedom is now dawning and we'll have Home Rule in Erin;

We'll banish Irish land grabbers, b……, knave and traitor

And we'll have our poteen Irish drop to the west of Ballingeary

Is gheobham arís an crúiscín is bíodh sé lán.