In the days I went a courtin', I was never tired resortin'
To an alehouse or a playhouse and many's the house beside
But I told me brother Seamus, I'd go off and be right famous
And I'd never would return again till I'd roam the world wide
Goodbye Muirsheen Durkin, I'm sick and tired of workin'
No more, I'll dig the prates and no longer, I'll be fooled
As sure as me name is Carney, I'll be off to Californy
Where instead of diggin' prates, I'll be diggin' lumps of gold
I've courted girls in Blarney, in Kanturk and in Killarney
In Passage and in Queenstown that is the Cobh of Cork
Goodbye to all this pleasure and I'll be off to take me leisure
And the next time that you hear from me will be a letter from New York
Goodbye Muirsheen Durkin, oh, I'm sick and tired of workin'
No more, I'll dig the prates and no longer, I'll be fooled
As sure as me name is Carney, I'll be off to Californy
Where instead of diggin' prates, I'll be diggin' lumps of gold
Goodbye to all the girls at home, I'm going far across the foam
To try and make me fortune in far America
There's gold and jewels in plenty for the poor and for the gentry
And when I return again I never more will say
Goodbye Muirsheen Durkin, sure I'm sick and tired of workin'
No more, I'll dig the prates and no longer, I'll be fooled
As sure as me name is Carney, I'll be off to Californy
Where instead of diggin' prates, I'll be diggin' lumps of gold