In the town of Athy one Jeremy Lannigan, Battered away till he hadn't a pound
And his father he died and made him a man again, Left him a farm and ten acres of ground
He gave a grand party to friends and relations Who did not forget him [bad word] to the wall
If you'd only listen, I'll make your eyes glisten At the rows [bad word] of Lannigan's Ball

Myself to be sure, got free invitations For all the nice girls and boys I might ask
In less than a minute both friends and relations Were dancing as merry as bees round a cask
Lashing of punch and wine for the ladies Potatoes, cakes, there was bacon and tea
There were the Nolans, Dolans, O'Grady's Courting the girls and dancing away

Six long months I spent in Dublin, six long months doing nothing at all
Six long months I spent in Dublin learning to dance for Lannigan's Ball

They were doing all kinds of nonsensical polkas Round the room in a whirly gig
But Julia and I soon banished their nonsense And tipped them a twist of a real Irish jig
Oh how the girl she really got mad and me Danced that you'd think that the ceiling would fall
For I spent three weeks at Brooks Academy Learning to dance for Lannigan's Ball

Six long months I spent in Dublin, six long months doing nothing at all
Six long months I spent in Dublin learning to dance for Lannigan's Ball
And I stepped out - and I stepped in again And I stepped out - and I stepped in again
And I stepped out - and I stepped in again Learning to dance for Lanigan's ball
And I stepped out - and I stepped in again And I stepped out - and I stepped in again
And I stepped out - and I stepped in again Learning to dance for Lanigan's ball

The boys were as merry, the girls all hearty Dancing around in couples and groups
Till an accident happened, young Terence McCarthy He put his right leg through Miss Finerty's hoops
The creature she fainted and cried "Meelia Murther" And called for her brothers and gathered them all
Carmody swore that he'd go no further, Till he had satisfaction at Lanigan's ball

Six long months I spent in Dublin, six long months doing nothing at all
Six long months I spent in Dublin learning to dance for Lannigan's Ball
Six long months I spent in Dublin, six long months doing nothing at all
Six long months I spent in Dublin learning to dance for Lannigan's Ball

Boys, oh boys, 'tis there [bad word] Myself got a kick from big Phelim McHugh
And I soon replied to his kind introduction And kicked him a terrible hullabaloo
Casey the piper was nearly being strangled They squeezed up his pipes, bellows, chanters and all
And the girls in their ribbons they all got entangled And that put an end to Lanigan's ball

Six long months I spent in Dublin, six long months doing nothing at all
Six long months I spent in Dublin learning to dance for Lannigan's Ball
Six long months I spent in Dublin, six long months doing nothing at all
Six long months I spent in Dublin learning to dance for Lannigan's Ball
And I stepped out - and I stepped in again And I stepped out - and I stepped in again
And I stepped out - and I stepped in again Learning to dance for Lanigan's ball
And I stepped out - and I stepped in again And I stepped out - and I stepped in again
And I stepped out - and I stepped in again Learning to dance for Lanigan's ball