Easy and Slow
‘Twas down by Christ-church that I first met with Annie,
A neat little girl - and not a bit shy
She told me her father, who came from Dungannon
Would take her back home in the sweet by and by.
And what’s it to any man whether or no,
whether I’m easy or whether I’m true.
As I lifted her petticoat easy and slow.
And I tied up my sleeve for to buckle her shoe.
Down along Thomas Street, down to the Liffey.
The sunshine was gone and the evening grew dark.
Along by Kingsbridge and begod in a jiffy
Me arms were around her beyond in the park.
And what’s it to any man whether or no,
whether I’m easy or whether I’m true.
As I lifted her petticoat easy and slow.
And I tied up my sleeve for to buckle her shoe.
From city or country a girl is a jewel.
And well known for gripping the most of them are.
But any young fella he is really a fool.
If he tries at the first time for to go a bit far
And what’s it to any man whether or no,
whether I’m easy or whether I’m true.
As I lifted her petticoat easy and slow.
And I tied up my sleeve for to buckle her shoe.
I strolled with this fine maid far out in the country
The blossoms all around us all crying for dew
On a violet-clad bench sure I sat down beside her
and I tied up my sleeve for to buckle her shoe
And what’s it to any man whether or no,
If I came to the fore when she gave me the cue?
She closed her eyes tightly as she murmured full low:
“Be good enough dear for to buckle my shoe”.
The heathery hills were all dancing around us
false things in the world turned out to be true
when she put her arms ’round me and kissed me and murmured
you’ve neatly and tenderly tied up my shoe
And what’s it to any man whether or no
If I ventured quite gamely to see the thing through
When she lifted her petticoat silent and slow,
and I tied up my sleeve for to buckle her shoe.
Ronnie Drew 1934-2008.
Listen to The Bould Ronnie Drew on The Twangman’s MySpace
More on Ronnie Drew and the Dubliners:
• Tribute to Ronnie Drew
• Ronnie Drew in Irish Short Film Finbar Lebowitz
• Ronnie Drew Gives Blessing to Young Dubliners Name
• Luke Kelly Sings Raglan Road
Eolaí gan Fhéile:
Good choice