Irish Songs and Poems By William Allingham: Second Edition: With Nine Airs for Voice and Pianoforte, and a Permanent Photograph of the Waterfall of Asaroe |
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KITTY O'HEA.
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 | Irish Songs and Poems |  |
101
KITTY O'HEA.
English readers are requested to
pronounce the young woman's name ‘O'Hay,’ and to consider
the verses addressed to her as delivered in a moderate brogue,
for there are brogues of many sorts, and they are but vaguely
expressible by spelling. The minimum of unusual spelling is
always, I think, to be aimed at.—Catholics may not, without
special permission, marry in Lent, and therefore ‘Shrove Tuesday’
is in Ireland a great day for weddings.—The tune of this
song I picked up in Ireland many years ago, also its refrain, or
something like it. Of other words no trace remains in my
memory, if I ever heard them.
English readers are requested to pronounce the young woman's name ‘O'Hay,’ and to consider the verses addressed to her as delivered in a moderate brogue, for there are brogues of many sorts, and they are but vaguely expressible by spelling. The minimum of unusual spelling is always, I think, to be aimed at.—Catholics may not, without special permission, marry in Lent, and therefore ‘Shrove Tuesday’ is in Ireland a great day for weddings.—The tune of this song I picked up in Ireland many years ago, also its refrain, or something like it. Of other words no trace remains in my memory, if I ever heard them.
102
I
Now, Kitty O'Hea, darling jewel,I wish you'd consider my case!
O, who could believe you're so cruel
To look in that beautiful face?
103
The sunshine's in love with your cheek;
What singing-bird wouldn't I flatter
To say it's her voice when you speak?
Kitty O'Hea, O'Hea,
Kitty, give ear to my song.
Kitty O'Hea, O'Hea,
Kitty, I'm courting you long.
II
My thoughts I can never keep steady,No more nor a man in a dream,
They caper like straws in an eddy,
In place of pursuing the stream.
Amusement or meat I don't care for,
I moan like a cow gone astray;
Myself knows the why and the wherefore,—
I'm thinking of Kitty O'Hea.
Kitty O'Hea, O'Hea, etc.
III
I never objected, in reason,To bear with a slight or a scoff,
But snow isn't always in season,
And Lent isn't very far off.
Shrove-Tuesday's the time for to shake one,
And single I'll not pass the day,
Young, old, maid or widow, I'll take one,—
So mind yourself, Kitty O'Hea!
Kitty O'Hea, O'Hea,
Kitty, give heed to my song.
Kitty O'Hea, O'Hea,
Kitty, I'm courting too long!
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