In the days I was a courting, I was sick and tired resorting.
To an alehouse and a playhouse and many's the house beside.
I told my brother Seamus I'd grow up and be quite famous.
And never I'd return again, I'd roam the worldwide.
So goodbye Mursheen Durkin, I'm sick and tired of working.
No more I'll dig the praties, no longer I'll be fool.
But sure as my name is Barney, I'll go off to California.
And instead of digging praties, I'll be digging lumps of gold.
I've courted girls in Blarney, Kanturk and in Killarney.
In Dublin and in Queenstown, right near the Cobe of Cork.
Goodbye to all these pleasures, I'm off to take my leisures.
The next thing that you'll hear
From me will be a letter from New York.
So goodbye Mursheen Durkin, I'm sick and tired of working.
No more I'll dig the praties, no longer I'll be fool.
But sure as my name is Barney, I'll go off to California.
And instead of digging praties, I'll be digging lumps of gold.
Goodbye to all the girls at home, I'm sailing far across the foam.
To try and seek my fortune in far America.
There's gold and money plenty for the poor and for the gentry.
And if I come back home again, I do not want to say:
"So goodbye Mursheen Durkin, I'm sick and tired of working.
No more I'll dig the praties, no longer I'll be fool.
But sure as my name is Barney, I'll go off to California.
And instead of digging praties, I'll be digging lumps of gold.
Instead of digging praties, I'll be digging lumps of gold!"