Paul Brady - Jackson and Jane lyrics

You Monaghan sportsmen I pray you draw near
To a few simple verses you quickly shall hear
It's the deeds of a hero
That lives near Ballybay
And they call him Hugh Jackson
I hear people say

His mill, kilns and barns
They do cut a great show
And his cloth to the North
And the City does go
At bleaching and lapping he
Does beat them all
And his cloth was first approved
Of at the Linen Hall

And more of his praises I’m going to explain
So if you will assist me
I'll sing about Jane
Search Ireland all over from Cork to Kildare
And you'll ne’er find a match
For Hugh Jackson's gray mare

He went to the stable, to the mare he did say
'The hour is approaching and we must away
For a cup at Cootehill you
Have twice won with fame
And this day we are challenged
And you must run again'

She turned in her stable, 'Kind Sir
Don't you know
This cup is my own and I won't let it go
For twice I have won it and
I mean to do still
And we'll roll it in splendour
From the plains of Cootehill

The Jockeys were mounted and all in a row
And if you had a’ been there
When off they did go
The bets they were makin’ ten guineas to four
That the cup back to Creeve
Would return never more

When Jane she heard this, well
Her mettle did rise
Over hedges and ditches like
Lightning she flies
And with aloud 'neigher’ these
Words she did say you Bellamont sportsmen
I'll show yous the way'

When Jane and her jockey were
Half round the course
Miss Jane and her jockey began to discourse
Said Miss Jane to her jockey
'Kind Sir let me know
Where are my opponents or are they in view?’

He turned in the saddle and
He cast an eye round
'As for Squire Adams, he lies on the ground
I'm afraid that poor Curry
By Spanker is threw
And the rest of your opponents they
Are not yet in view'

When Jane she heard this
She went in at a race
And into the scales the balance was laid
The hall was surrounded for Jackson and Jane
And the cup went with honours
Back to Creeve once again