THE RAMBLING SIÚLER The highland lads are come to town and landed in headquarters The colonel fell for a pretty little girl a farmer’s only daughter The general bet five thousand pounds the colonel wouldn’t dress up in a beggar’s gown And she’ll travel the world go round and round will she go with the rambling siúler. The colonel started out next day dressed in a beggar’s clothing It wasn’t long till he found his way to the farmer’s lowly dwelling O farmer shelter me for the night I’ll sleep in your barn until daylight Take pity on a beggar’s awful plight. God help all rambling siúlers. The farmer says the night is wet you can come to the kitchen fire The colonel says to the serving maid it’s you I do admire Will you leave them all and come with me, leave them all a gra mo chroi What a lusty beggar you would be away with the rambling siúler The farmer and his servants all they fell into loud laughter When who came tripping down the stairs but the farmer’s only daughter she’s two blue eyes like the morning skies, soon as the beggar he did her spy She fairly caught his rambling eye, she’ll be mine says the rambling siúler. The farmer and his servants all they went out to the byre He put his arm around her waist as they sat by the kitchen fire He put his hand upon her knee unto her gave kisses three Says she how dare you make so free and it’s you but a rambling siúler. When supper it was over-o they made his bed in the barn Between two sacks and a winnow cloth for fear that he’d do harm But at 12 o’clock that very night she came to the barn she was dressed in white The beggar rose in great delight, she’s mine says the rambling siúler. And he threw off his beggar’s clothes, he threw them against the wall-o He stood the bravest gentleman that was amongst them all-o Will you look at my locks of golden hair under the sooty old hat I wear I’m a colonel bold I do declare and it’s not but a rambling siúler. And I wouldn’t for one hundred pounds that you and I would be found here Will you travel around the whole night long and go with the rambling siúler Oh it’s off to the General’s house they’ve gone, great is the wager he has won Salute them both with the fife and the drum she’s away with the rambling siúler.