A clever and fun song performed by the fantastic guitarist/singer John Doyle. You can find this recorded on Exiles Return, his duet album with Karan Casey.

Madam I’m A Darlin

As I walked out in Chester city
At the late hour of the night
Who should I see but a fair young maiden
Washing her clothes in the clear moonlight

cho: Madam I’m a darlin, a die row dither-o
Madam I’m a darlin, a die row day

Oh first she washed and then she squeezed ’em
Then she hung them out to dry
And then she folded up her arms
Saying, “Oh what a fair young girl am I.”

Oh going to the well for a pail of water
Fetching it back to make some tea
Well she fell under and I fell over
And all the game was above her knee

Madam I will tie your garter
I will tie it above your knee
And if you like, I’ll tie it up further
Cause madam, I’m a darlin a die row day

Have you ever heard of cups and saucers
Rattling round in an old tin can
Have you ever heard of a fair young maiden
Married to an ugly, grey old man

Laddie you may have the gold and the silver
Laddie you may have the tracts of land
You may have a fleet of ships on the ocean
But all I need now is a canny young man

- And another great version from The Unwanted, featuring Dervish’s Cathy Jordan.