Oh the old turf fire
And the hearth swept clean
Sure there's no one half so happy
As meself and Paddy Keane
With the baby in the cradle
You can hear her mammy say
Ah wouldn't you go to sleep Alanna
‘Til I wet your Daddy's tea[^23].
Oh I've got a little house
And a tidy bit of land
Sure you'd never see the better
On this side of Cnoc na gCrann[^24]
I've no piano in the corner
And no pictures on the wall
Ah but sure I'm quite contented
In me little marble hall.
Oh the man that I work for
Is a richer man than me
But somehow I'll be telling you
We never can agree.
He has big towering mansions
And he's castles over all
But sure I'd never exchange with him
Me little marble hall
Oh the old turf fire
What a welcome now it brings
As the cricket chirrups gaily
And the kettle also sings
We all join in the chorus
Of a merry lilting song
With the friendly neighbours dropping in
To join in the happy throng.
Round the old turf fire
Sit the old folk bent with years
As they watch us tripping lightly
And they're smilin' through their tears
For so sadly they are dreaming
Of their youthful hearts desire
And those dear old days so long ago
Round the old turf fire