His Dancing Days

Never did I find me mate for charmin' an' delightin',     Never one that had me bate for courtin' an' for fightin';--     (A white moon at the crossroads then, and Denny with the fiddle;     The parish round admirin', when I danced down the middle.)     Up the earth and down again, me like you'd not discover;     Arrah! for the times before me dancin' days were over!     Never was a moon so low it didn't find me courtin',     Never blade I couldn't show a wilder way of sportin'.     (Is it at the fair I'd be, the gentry'd troop to talk with me;     Leapin' with delight was she,--the girl I'd choose to walk with me.)     'Twas I could win the pick of them from any lad or lover;     Arrah! for the times before me dancin' days were over!     What's come to all the lads to-day,--these mournful ways they're keepin',     Grudgin' any hour to play and wastin' nights in sleepin'.     (Readin' be the chimney-place,--that dacent in their habits,     You'd sooner get a fight or song be callin' upon rabbits.)     Faith, I'd change the lot for one rejoicin', rantin' rover,     The like of me, myself, before me dancin' days were over.