Tonight we're going to meet some lads

As girls who dressed up gaily

And we'll be dancing till the dawn

We're going to the Céili



The lads they come from miles around

From Venice and Comaley

To show us all their fancy steps

We're going to the Céili



They're playing tunes on everything

From pipes to ukulele

It sounds so good you can't sit down

We're dancing at the Céili



All the boys we love so well

So handsome, young and charming

They're in New York and Boston now

They should be home here farming

My own true love has sailed away

To be an endless rover

Cause times are tough and he will save

To start a new life over



He writes me letters every week

To say how much he's slavin'

And he promises that he'll be back

Before the hay needs savin'

But it's hard to love somebody

That you're not in touch with daily

So I'm looking for somebody new

Tonight down at the Céili



The winter nights are long and hard

And time goes by so slowly

I wish my true love he was here

And in his arms I'd go

He'd whisper tender words of love to me

And kiss my lips so sweetly

And quickly I'd surrender to

His manly charms completely



He writes me letters every week

To say how much he's slavin'

And he promises that he'll be back

Before the hay needs savin'

But it's hard to love somebody

That you're not in touch with daily

So I'm looking for somebody new

Tonight down at the Céili

So I'm looking for somebody new

Tonight down at the Céili



I only need someone tonight

Who'll make my heart beat fast

A handsome man with laughing eyes

Who smiles as he walks past

The harp may play in old time worlds

He'll twirl me round the floor

He'll promise me that I will be

His girl forevermore

His girl forevermore

His girl forevermore

He'll promise me that I will be

His girl forevermore



I'm somewhat ill and bothered

That is really quite alarming

I have two lads pursuing me

And each of them is charming

One of them is dark and poor

One fair with lots of money

I don't know which one to choose

The flower or the honey



What on earth am I to do

It's driving me half crazy

Tonight I'll make my mind up

When I see them at the Céili



To be a poor man's wife will be

A life of washin' dishes

When a rich man's wife will surely have

Great luxury and riches



In comfort how I know

It wouldn't be too hard to wallow

And being poor is not much fun;

Which one should I follow?



What on earth am I to do

It's driving me half crazy

Tonight I'll make my mind up

When I see them at the Céili:



I've been lucky I've found a lad who's handsome and a neighbor



And me I've met a decent man who's friendship I will savor



And me I've made my choice as well and in no way was it easy

But I'd rather have a man for love

Then to be a rich man's lady



And that is how the story ends

Be true and never fail me

We got ourselves three men tonight

And we met them at the Céili