In the town of Athy one Jeremy Lanigan
Battered away till he hadn't a pound
His father he died and made him a man again
Left him a farm and ten acres of ground
He threw a great party for friends and relations
Who didn't desert him when come to the wall
And if you'll listen I'll make your eyes glisten
And spin you a tale of Lanigan's Ball
(Chorus)
Six whole months I spent in Dublin
Six whole months doing nothing at all
Six whole months I spent in Dublin
Learning to dance to Lanigan's Ball
I stepped out and he stepped in again
He stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and he stepped in again
Learning to dance to Lanigan's Ball
Myself to be sure got free invitations
For all the nice colleens and boys I might ask
And just in a minute both friends and relations
Were dancing as merry as bees 'round a cask
There were lashings of punch and wine for the ladies
Potatoes and cakes there was bacon and tea
There were the Nolans, the Dolan's, O'Gradys
A courtin' the girls and dancing away
(Chorus)
There were all kinds of nonsensical polkas
Around the room in a whirly-gig
But Julie and I soon banished their nonsense
And gave them a taste of a real Irish jig
Oh how that girl she got mad and we
Danced 'till we thought that the ceiling would fall
For I spent three weeks at Brooks' Academy
Learning to dance to Lanigan's Ball