At the Eight Mile Bridge in the County Down
I had honest parents of fame and renown
Oh, had I been obedient and kept the command
I never would have broken the laws of the land
Right foll loll the dee
My parents endeavoured to give me honest bread
They bound me apprentice unto the linen trade
All to an honest weaver that lived hard by
My mind being for rambling I could not comply
Right foll loll the dee
One beautiful creature, Jane Sharkey by name
I gained her affections and I was to blame
I own I enticed her and we ran away
My troubles began from the very same day.
Right foll loll the dee
That beautiful creature I soon left forlorn
For fear of her parents I stepped up the Mourne
But her cruel father pursued me with spite
He made me his prisoner that very same night
Right foll loll the dee
It′s off to Newry Guardhouse straight way I was sent
To whip me next morning it was their intent
When I heard of this, well, it put me in a fright
I broke Newry guardhouse the very same night
Right foll loll the dee
And the guards they pursued me the very next day
The guards I beguiled and I soon got away
I went down to the shore where a vessel it did lay
I set my foot on shipboard to England sailed away
Right foll loll the dee
And then when that I landed in sweet Holyhead
I had no honest means for to earn my bread
And I was loathe to beg but alas I did worse
To make myself money I stole a grey horse
And it's then when that I landed once more on Irish ground
I soon began my tricks again near fair Newry Town
For I stole a hat from one Thomas Wright
He made me his prisoner the very same night
Right foll loll the dee
And it's off to Newry Guardhouse once more I was sent
To hang me next morning it was their intent
When I heard of this, well, it put me in a fright
I knocked down the turnkey and escaped the same night
Right foll loll the dee
And the guards they pursued me again the next day
The guards I beguiled and once more I got away
Says one unto the other “he'll travel no more”
The very same night Newry Lough I swam o'er.
Right foll loll the dee
And I rested myself for a day or two or more
I went to rob a bleach green1where I never was before
But they were strong with guards and the bleach green within
Surrounded was poor Roger and taken was again.
Right foll loll the dee
Now Roger was taken but often did get free
It's come now to his turn for to march to the tree
And all his foolish actions he there did declare
And that put an end to old Roger O'Hehir.
Right foll loll the dee
1.
A “bleach green” (or bleaching green) is a term from the Northern Irish linen trade. It refers to the site where cut flax was laid out to dry in the sun. Such merchandise could have considerable value.
