from Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man - Joan Baez

Once upon a time and a very good time it was

There was a moocow coming down along the road

And this moocow that was down along the road

Met a nicens little boy named baby tuckoo

His father told him that story

His father looked at him through a glass: he had a hairy face

He was baby tuckoo.

The moocow came down the road where Betty Byrne lived

She sold lemon platt

O, the wild rose blossoms

On the little green place

He sang that song.

That was his song

O, the green wothe botheth

When you wet the bed, first it’s warm then it gets cold

His mother put on the oilsheet.

That had the queer smell

His mother had a nicer smell than his father

She played on the piano the sailor’s hornpipe for him to dance.

He danced

Tralala lala

Tralala tralaladdy

Tralala lala

Tralala lala

Uncle Charles and Dante clapped

They were older than his father and mother

But uncle Charles was older than Dante

Dante had two brushes in her press

The brush with the maroon velvet back was for Michael Davitt

And the brush with the green velvet back was for Parnell

Dante gave him a cachou every time he brought her a piece of tissue paper

The Vances lived in number seven.

They had a different father and mother

They were Eileen’s father and mother

When they were grown up he was going to marry Eileen

He hid under the table.

His mother said

O, Stephen will apologize

Dante said

O, if not, the eagles will come and pull out his eyes

Pull out his eyes

Apologize

Apologize

Pull out his eyes

Apologize

Pull out his eyes

Pull out his eyes

Apologize