In the town of Athy one Jeremy Lanigan
Battered away 'til he hadn't a pound.
His father he died and made him a man again
Left him a farm and ten acres of ground.
He threw a grand party to friends and relations
Who didn't desert him when it comes to the will,
And if you'll but listen I'll make your eyes glisten
And spin you a tale of Lanigan's Ball
Six whole months I spent in Dublin,
Six whole months doing nothing at all
Six whole months I spent in Dublin,
Learning to dance for Lanigan's ball
I stepped out and he stepped in again
He stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and he stepped in again
Learning to dance to Lanigan's ball
Myself to be sure got free invitation,
For all the nice girls and boys I might ask,
And just in a minute both friends and relations
Were dancing as merry as bees 'round a cask.
There were lashings of punch and wine for the ladies,
Potatoes and cakes; there was bacon and tea,
There were the Nolans, Dolans, O'Gradys
Courting the girls and dancing away
Six whole months I spent in Dublin,
Six whole months doing nothing at all
Six whole months I spent in Dublin,
Learning to dance for Lanigan's ball
I stepped out and he stepped in again
He stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and he stepped in again
Learning to dance to Lanigan's ball
They were doing all kinds of nonsensical polkas
Around the room in a whirligig
But Julia and I, we banished their nonsense
And gave them a taste of a real Irish jig.
Oh, how the girls got all mad at me
Danced 'til we thought that the ceiling would fall.
For I spent three weeks at Brooks' Academy
Learning new steps for Lanigan's Ball.
Six whole months I spent in Dublin,
Six whole months doing nothing at all
Six whole months I spent in Dublin,
Learning to dance for Lanigan's ball
I stepped out and he stepped in again
He stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and he stepped in again
LEARNING TO DANCE TO LANIGAN'S BALL!