 |
Search the site:
 |
|
Magherafelt Hiring Fair
The poem 'Magherafelt Hiring Fair' (as referenced in the Appletree Press title Hiring Fairs and Market Places, by May Blair.Once you have read the poem, you can return to the Irelandseye extract from 'Hiring Fairs and Market Places', which quotes this poem:
The words in bold were spoken.
Would you hire with me, Tam Bo, Tam Bo?
Would you hire with me, my heart and my Jo?
Would you hire with me, say you and say I,
And what an’ a rantin’ young widow am I.
What wages mistress?
£2 5s 0d, Tam Bo, Tam Bo,
£2 5s 0d, my heart and my Jo,
£2 5s 0d, say you and say I,
And what an’ a rantin’ young widow am I.
Too little wages mistress.
Then two pounds ten, Tam Bo, Tam Bo,
Two pounds ten my heart and my Jo,
Two pounds ten say you and say I,
And what an’ a rantin’ young widow am I.
What diet mistress?
Sowans and eels, Tam Bo, Tam Bo,
Sowans and eels, my heart and my Jo,
Sowans and eels say you and say I,
And what an’ a rantin’ young widow am I.
Too slippy diet mistress.
Then potatoes and beef, Tam Bo, Tam Bo,
Potatoes and beef, my heart and my Jo,
Potatoes and beef, say you and say I,
And what an’ a rantin’ young widow am I.
Where will I lie mistress?
You’ll lie in the laft, Tam Bo, Tam Bo,
You’ll lie in the laft, my heart and my Jo,
You’ll lie in the laft, say you and say I,
And what an’ a rantin’ young widow am I.
The rats might eat me mistress.
You’ll lie wi’ the weans, Tam Bo, Tam Bo,
You’ll lie wi’ the weans, my heart and my Jo,
You’ll lie wi’ the weans, say you and say I,
And what an’ a rantin’ young widow am I.
The weans might kick me mistress.
Well then we’ll get married, Tam Bo, Tam Bo,
Well then we’ll get married, my heart and my Jo,
Well then we’ll get married, say you and say I,
And what an’ a rantin’ young widow am I.
Return to the County Londonderry extract from the Appletree Press title Hiring Fairs and Market Places, by May Blair.
