I wish I was in Carrickfergus Only for a night in Ballygrand I would swim over the deepest ocean Only for a night in Ballygrand But the sea is wide and I cannot swim over And neither have I the wings to fly I wish I had a handsome boatman To ferry me over my love and I. My childhood days bring back sad reflections Of happy days so long ago My boyhood friends and my own relations Have all passed away now like melting snow So I'll spend my days in endless roving Soft is the grass and my bed is free Ah to be home now in Carrickfergus By the the long road down to the salty sea. Now in Kilkenny it is reported On marble stones there as black as ink With gold and silver I would support her But I'll say no more now till I've had a drink For I'm drunk today and I'm seldom sober A handsome rover from town to town Ah but I'm sick now and my days are numbered So come all ye young men and lay me down.