The Bantry girl’s lament (video)

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1. Oh, who will plough the fields now, or who will sow the corn ?

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And who will mind the flock now and keep them neatly shorn ?

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The stack that's in the haggard, unthrashed it may remain,

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since Johnny's went a-thrashing the dirty king of Spain.

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2. Oh, the girls from the Bawnogue in sorrow may retire,

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and the piper and his bellows go home and blow the fire.

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Since Johnny, lovely Johnny, is sailing o'er the main

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along with other patriots to fight the King of Spain.

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3. And the boys will surely miss him when money ne’er comes round,

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and they'll find that their bold captain is nowhere to be found.

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And peelers must stand idle, all against their will and main,

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since the gallant boys who gave them work now peels the King of Spain.

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4. Oh, who will plough the fields now, or who will sow the corn ?

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And who will mind the flock now and keep them neatly shorn ?

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If cruel fate will not permit our Johnny to return

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his heavy loss we Bantry girls will never cease to mourn.

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We'll resign ourselves to our sad lot and die in grief and pain,

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since Johnny died for Ireland's pride in the foreign land of Spain.

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5. Oh, who will plough the fields now, or who will sow the corn ?

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And who will mind the flock now and keep them neatly shorn ?

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The stack that's in the haggard, unthrashed it may remain,

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since Johnny's went a-thrashing the dirty king of Spain.

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The stack that's in the haggard, unthrashed it may remain,

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Since Johnny's went a-fighting to the foreign land of Spain.

(Tommy Fleming)