Folk and Traditional Song Lyrics:
Ould Father Dan

Ould Father Dan

Ould Father Dan

I once knew a dodger whose name was father Dan
But to purgatory he's gone long ago
To atone for the sins he committed all for scran
He is living with his Uncle Tom Below

cho: Then square up your shovels in a row
     Tumble up the sods with the hoe boys O
     There is no more rent for ould Father Dan
     He is gone where the rest all will go

Now ould Father Dan was the rarest ould sprig
That Ireland did ever see
For the most of his wit och! it lay in his wig
And he long kept the rent box key

But alas like all flesh ould Father Dan did die
The big begger-man is no more
And the boys for the halfpence they've lost often sigh
They swear they've been done o'er and o'er

Though his head was as big as any timber block
He was a fox only he wanted the tail
For the love of the boys he kept all their stock
But to purgatory one day he set sail

Dan started for purgatory one could Winters morn
And the Bansheis rent the air with their woe
For the Repeaters of their cash were shorn
And Repeal with Dan sent below

But the boys pray that Old Nick may claim his own
When from purgatory Father Dan is cast
And that with serpents hell be left for to gloan
For the rent box he long held so fast

CB