For thirty years I've been a tinker
I've tramped the mountains and the glen
I've courted girls in every county
And I fought the very best of men
I drank an awful lot of porter
I've slept in sun and snow and gale
But the life I loved was taken from me
When is spent two years in Portlaoise Jail
Portlaoise Jail would tame a tiger
Try me boys and do get bail
There's many a heart that sobs and sighs
Inside the walls of Portlaoise Jail
I joined a camp outside Killorglin
The night before they crowned the King
There was song and dance and plenty porter
With our wagons formed round in a ring
Till a foxy lass sat down beside me
Be dad, says I, I'm alright here
But her husband roared and leapt between us
And he knocked me down with a kick in the ear
I hit him hard below the navel
He hit the ground with a mighty wail
His neck was broke, he died in seconds
And I spent puck fair in Portlaoise Jail
Portlaoise Jail would tame a tiger
Try me boys and do get bail
There's many a heart that sobs and sighs
Inside the walls of Portlaoise Jail