I wished I had you in Carrickfergus, 
Only for nights in Ballygrand, 
I would swim over the deepest ocean, 
The deepest ocean to be by your side. 

But the sea is wide and I can't swim over 
And neither have I wings to fly. 
I wish I could find me a handy boatman 
To ferry me over to my love and die. 

My childhood days bring back sad reflections 
Of happy days so long ago. 
My boyhood friends and my own relations. 
Have all passed on like the melting snow. 

So I'll spend my days in endless roving, 
Soft is the grass and my bed is free. 
Oh to be home now in Carrickfergus, 
On the long road down to the salty sea. 

And in Kilkenny it is reported 
On marble stone there as black as ink, 
With gold and silver I did support her 
But I'll sing no more now till I get a drink. 

I'm [bad word] today and I'm rarely sober, 
handsome rover from town to town. 
Oh but I am sick now and my days are numbered