With me whack fol-de-doo fol-de-did-de-ree-ang-le day... 

As I rode up to Galway town to seek for recreation 
On the seventeenth of august my mind been elevated 
There were multitudes assembled with their tickets at the station 
My eyes began to dazzle and they going to see the races 

With me whack fol-de-doo fol-de-didderee-angle day... 

There were passengers from Limerick and passengers from Nenagh 
And passengers from Dublin and sportsmen from Tipperary 
There were passengers from Kerry and all the quarters of the nation 
And our member, Mr Haweigh, for to join the Galway Blazers 

With me whack fol-de-doo fol-de-didderee-angle day... 

It's there you'll see the pipers and the fiddlers competing 
And the nimble footed dancers and they tripping on the daisies 
There was others shouting "Cigars and lights and bills for all the races 
With the colours of the jockeys and the price and horses' ages" 

With me whack fol-de-doo fol-de-didderee-angle day... 

It's there you'll see the jockeys and they mounted on so stately 
The pink, the blue, the orange and green, the emblem of our nation 
When the bell was rung for starting all the horses seemed impatient 
I thought they never stood on ground, their speed was so amazing 

With me whack fol-de-doo fol-de-didderee-angle day... 

There was half a million people there of all denominations 
The Catholic, the Protestant, the Jew and Presbyterian 
There was yet no animosity, no matter what persuasion 
But failte and hospitality inducing Mister Paisley. 

With me whack fol-de-doo fol-de-didderee-angle day 
And with me whack fol-de-doo fol-de-didderee-angle day...


(c) Folkaholics (traditional)