June Tabor - The Devil and Baliff McGlynn lyrics

One fine sunny evening last summer I
Was straying along by the sea
When a pair of quare playboys a-roving
Before me I happened to see
Now to learn what these boys were up to
A trifle I hastened me walk
For I thought I could
Learn their professions when
I got within range of their talk

Now, one of these boys was the devil
And the other was Bailiff McGlynn
And the one was as black as the other
And both were as ugly as sin
Says thе old boy, says he, "I'm the
Devil and you arе a bailiff, i see"
"Ah! 'tis the devil himself, " says the
Bailiff, "Now that beats the devil
" says he

Now, a gossoon ran out from a cottage
And took him up over the fields
"May the devil take you
" said his mother as she rattled
A stone at his heels
"Ah now, why don't you take the young rascal
Your highness?" the bailiff he cried
"Ah, it was not from her
Heart that she said it
" the devil he smiling replied

Now, close by a small patch of potatoes
A banbh was striving to dig
When the owner come out and she cried
"May the devil take you for a pig!"
Said the bailiff, "Now that's a fine offer
Why not take the banbh?" says he
"Ah, it was but with her lips that she
Said it And that's not sufficient for me"

As they jogged on
The gossoon espied them and into
His mother he sped
Crying, "Mother!" says he
"There's a bailiff!" She clasped her
Two hands and she said
"May the devil take that ugly
Bailiff!" Said the old boy
"Bedad! That'll do!
It was straight from her heart that
She said it, so Bailiff McGlynn
I'll take you"