Nell Flaherty's Drake
Oh my name it is Nell and the truth for to tell
I come from Cootehill which I'll never deny
I had a fine drake and I'd die for his sake
That me grandmother left me and she goin' to die
The dear little fellow his legs they were yellow
He could fly like a swallow or swim like a hake
Till some dirty savage to grease his white cabbage
Most wantonly murdered me beautiful drake
Now his neck it was green almost fit to be seen
He was fit for a queen of the highest degree
His body was white, and it would you delight
He was plump, fat, and heavy and brisk as a bee
He was wholesome and sound, he would weigh twenty pound
And the universe round I would roam for his sake
Bad luck to the robber be he drunk or sober
That murdered Nell Flaherty's beautiful drake
May his spade never dig, may his sow never pig
May each hair in his wig be well trashed with the flail
My his door never latch, may his roof have no thatch
May his turkeys not hatch, may the rats eat his meal
May every old fairy from Cork to Dun Laoghaire
Dip him snug and airy in river or lake
That the eel and the trout they may dine on the snout
Of the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty's drake
May his pig never grunt, may his cat never hunt
May a ghost ever haunt him the dead of the night
May his hens never lay, may his horse never neigh
May his coat fly away like an old paper kite
That the flies and the fleas may the wretch ever tease
May the piercin' March breeze make him shiver and shake
May a lump of the stick raise the bumps fast and quick
On the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty's drake
Well the only good news that I have to infuse
Is that old Paddy Hughes and young Anthony Blake
Also Johnny Dwyer and Corney Maguire
They each have a grandson of my darlin' drake
May treasure have dozens of nephews and cousins
And one I must get or me heart it will break
For to set me mind easy or else I'll run crazy
So ends the whole song of Nell Flaherty's drake
El Pato de Nell Flaherty
Oh, mi nombre es Nell y la verdad para contar
Vengo de Cootehill, lo cual nunca negaré
Tenía un hermoso pato y moriría por él
Que mi abuela me dejó y ella se iba a morir
El querido pequeño, sus patas eran amarillas
Podía volar como una golondrina o nadar como un abadejo
Hasta que algún sucio salvaje para engrasar su repollo blanco
Asesinó de la manera más vil a mi hermoso pato
Ahora su cuello era verde, casi digno de ser visto
Era apto para una reina de la más alta categoría
Su cuerpo era blanco, y te deleitaría
Era regordete, gordo y pesado y ágil como una abeja
Era sano y fuerte, pesaría veinte libras
Y daría la vuelta al universo por él
Mala suerte al ladrón, esté ebrio o sobrio
Que asesinó al hermoso pato de Nell Flaherty
Que su pala nunca cave, que su cerda nunca pare
Que cada cabello en su peluca sea bien azotado con el trillo
Que su puerta nunca cierre con pestillo, que su techo no tenga paja
Que sus pavos no nazcan, que las ratas se coman su comida
Que cada vieja hada desde Cork hasta Dun Laoghaire
Lo sumerja cómodo y aireado en río o lago
Para que la anguila y la trucha cenen en el hocico
Del monstruo que asesinó al pato de Nell Flaherty
Que su cerdo nunca gruña, que su gato nunca cace
Que un fantasma lo persiga en la oscuridad de la noche
Que sus gallinas nunca pongan, que su caballo nunca relinche
Que su abrigo vuele como una cometa vieja
Que las moscas y las pulgas atormenten al desgraciado
Que la brisa punzante de marzo lo haga temblar y estremecer
Que un golpe de palo le levante los bultos rápido y fuerte
En el monstruo que asesinó al pato de Nell Flaherty
Bueno, la única buena noticia que tengo que infundir
Es que el viejo Paddy Hughes y el joven Anthony Blake
También Johnny Dwyer y Corney Maguire
Tienen cada uno un nieto de mi querido pato
Que el tesoro tenga docenas de sobrinos y primos
Y uno debo conseguir o mi corazón se romperá
Para tranquilizar mi mente o si no me volveré loca
Así termina toda la canción del pato de Nell Flaherty