Ally Croaker

1. There lived a Man in Baleno, crazy
Who wanted a Wife to make him uneasy.
Long had he sigh'd for dear Ally Croaker,
And thus the gentle Youth bespoke her:
"Will you marry me, dear Ally Croaker,
Will you marry me, dear Ally, Ally Croaker?"

2. This artless young man just come from the schoolary,
A novice in love, and all its foolery,
Too dull for a wit, too grave for joker,
And thus the gentle youth bespoke her,
"Will you marry me, dear Ally Croaker,
Will you marry me, dear Ally, Ally Croaker?"

3. He drank with the father, he talk'd with the mother,
He romp'd with the sister, he gam'd with the brother
He gam'd, 'til he pawned his coat to the broker,
Which cost him the heart of his dear Ally Croaker,
Oh! the fickle, fickle Ally Croaker
Oh! the fickle Ally, Ally Croaker

4. To all ye young men who are fond of gaming,
Who are spending your money, whilst others are saving,
Fortune's a jilt, the de'il may choke her
A jilt more inconstant than dear Ally Croaker;
Oh! the inconstant Ally Croaker;
Oh! the inconstant Ally, Ally Croaker.


The most famous composition of Larry Grogan of County Wexford, Ireland, written in 1725. It describes the vagrancies of a disappointed suitor of Miss Alicia Croker, the sister of the High Sheriff of County Limerick.  A book of many tunes and their stories published in 1780 was called, "The history of that celebrated lady Ally Croaker."  It was advertised, "In which is contained more Fun than ever was sold at so small an Expence; consisting of Funny Joaks and Blunders, and intended to instruct and Delight."