[Verse 1]
Well, the button box boy was born on a farm
with the land with the horse and the plough
and he didn’t have nothing but the clothes on his back,
one goat, two cattles and a cow.
 
[Verse 2]
He found an old squeeze box in an old hay loft
and he pushed it and he pulled it all night
And he took to the box like a duck to a puddle
playin’ box till the morning light;
 
[Verse 3]
From Dingle up to Donnegal,
from the Keelty to Kildare;
he drew the crowds from all around 
with the flowers and the county fairs.
 
[Verse 4]
They said: button boy box, you’re good 
but you don’t stand a chance down in Trelane,
you know Big Joe Flynn with the dimple in his chin 
is better than you’ll ever be.
 
[Chorus 1]
And he played ten penny bit and a hop and diddle, 
little bit of the old hand too
and memories that last from the shanty to the boy,
lost their heart to the button box boy.
 
 
[Verse 5]
Well, the dimple-chinned man with his hat in his hands 
said: 'boy, you got me beat’,
but Dan O’Hara from Carndonagh 
could outplay you with his feet.
 
[Verse 6]
Well, the button box boy met the man named Dan
and they played all through the night
and one would fall but the button box boy 
stood tall come the morning light.
 
 
[Verse 7]
Well, now, mean Matt Moore from the banks 
of the saw was the undisputed king
He said: button box boy, go away with your toy, 
go play out on your swing.
 
[Verse 8]
But the button box boy took up on the barrel 
and he played that reel down
and his fingers flew and the crowd it grew 
and the folks all gathered round.
 
[Chorus 2]
As he played flags and dubloon and the pigeon on the gate, 
little bit of the pipe on the hop
and memories that last from the shanty to the boy, 
fears afraid, for the button box boy.
 
 
[Verse 9]
Well, the king stood up in a drunken rage 
and he tore into a tune
and the crowd stood back and they watched in awe 
as they battled all afternoon.
 
[Verse 10]
Well, three days later the king collapsed 
and he died right there on the spot
and the crowd heaved high with the button box boy, 
new king of the button box.
 
[Chorus 3]
He played ten penny bit and a hop and a diddle, 
little bit of the old hand too
and memories that last from the shanty to the boy
cheered the lad, hup box boy.
 
[Chorus 4]
Played flags and dubloon and the pigeon on the gate, 
little bit of the pipe on the hop
and memories that last from the shanty to the boy,
lost their heart to the button box boy.
 
 
[Verse 11]
Well, the button box boy went back to the farm 
with the land with the horse and the plough
and he died one day at a ripe old age,
one goat, two cattles and a cow.