In the town of Athy, one Jeremy Lannigan battered away till he hadn’t a shilling 

His father died and made him a man again, left him a farm and ten acres of land 

Myself to be sure, I got invitations, for all the boys and girls I might ask, 

Having been asked, my friends and relations, they danced like bees around a sweet cake 

Six long months I spent in Dublin, six long month doing nothing at all. 
Six long months I spent in Dublin, learning to dance for Lannigan’s Ball 
She stepped out, I stepped in again. I stepped out and she stepped in again 
She stepped out, I stepped in again. Learning to dance for Lannigan’s Ball 

There was lashings of drink, wine fort he ladies, potatoes and cake, bacon and tea 
Nolans and Dolans, alle the O Grady’s, courting the girls and dancing away. 

Songs went round as plenty as water, the harp that once sounded through Tara’s old hall 

Biddie Grey and the rat catchers daughter, singing together at Lannigan’s Ball 

Six long months I spent in Dublin, six long month doing nothing at all. 
Six long months I spent in Dublin, learning to dance for Lannigan’s Ball 
She stepped out, I stepped in again. I stepped out and she stepped in again 
She stepped out, I stepped in again. Learning to dance for Lannigan’s Ball 

In the midst of the row miss Kerrigan fainted, God though her cheeks were as red as a rose 

The boys all said, they were sure she was painted, she’d taken a small drop too much, I suppose. 

Her boyfried Ned Morgan, powerful and able, when he saw his darling stretched out by the wall. 

Tore the left leg from und the table and battered the Chaneys at Lannigan’s Ball 

Six long months I spent in Dublin, six long month doing nothing at all. 
Six long months I spent in Dublin, learning to dance for Lannigan’s Ball 
She stepped out, I stepped in again. I stepped out and she stepped in again 
She stepped out, I stepped in again. Learning to dance for Lannigan’s Ball 

Boys oh boys tis then there was ructions, I got a belt from Phelim McHugh 

I replied to his introduction and kicked up a terrible hullabaloo 

Maloney the piper was near getting smothered, they leapt on his pipes, bellows, chanter and all. 

Boy and girls, they all got entangled and that put an end to Lannigan’s Ball 

Six long months I spent in Dublin, six long month doing nothing at all. 
Six long months I spent in Dublin, learning to dance for Lannigan’s Ball 
She stepped out, I stepped in again. I stepped out and she stepped in again 
She stepped out, I stepped in again. Learning to dance for Lannigan’s Ball