AULD FATHER DAN

I once knew a dodger, whose name was father Dan
But to purgatory he's gone long ago
To atone for the sins, he committed all for scran
He is living with his Uncle Tom Below

chorus:
Then square up your shovels in a row
Tumble up the sods with the hoe boys O
There is no more rent for auld Father Dan
He is gone where the rest all will go

Now auld Father Dan. was the rarest auld sprig
That Ireland did ever see
For the most of his wit. och! it lay in his wig
And he long kept the rent box key

But alas like all flesh, auld Father Dan did die
The big begger-man is no more
And the boys for the halfpence, they've lost often sigh
They swear they've been done o'er and o'er

Though his head was as big as any timber block
He was a fox only he wanted the tail
For the love of the boys, he kept all their stock
But to purgatory one day he set sail

Dan started for purgatory, one cauld Winter's morn
And the Bansheis rent the air with their woe
For the Repeaters of their cash were shorn
And Repeal with Dan sent below

But the boys pray that Old Nick, may claim his own
When from purgatory Father Dan is cast
And that with serpents, hell be left for to gloan
For the rent box he long held so fast