Oh me name it is Nell and the truth I do tell
That I came from Cootehill and I'll never deny
And I had a fine drake and I'd die for his sake
That me grandmother left me 'en she goin' to die
Well the poor little fellow his legs they were yellow
He could fly like a swallow or swim like a hake
And then some dirty savage to grease his white cabbage
Most wantonly murdered me beautiful drake
Well his neck it was green almost fit to be seen
He was fit for a queen of the highest degree
And his body was white, and it would you delight
He was plump, fat, and heavy and brisk as a bee
He was wholesome and sound, he would weigh twenty pound
And the universe round I would roam for his sake
Bad luck to the robber be he drunk or sober
Who murdered Nell Flaherty's beautiful drake
May his spade never dig, may his sow never pig
May each hair on his wig be well thrashed with the flail
May his roof have no thatch, may his door have no latch
May his turkeys not hatch, may the rats eat his meal
May every old fairy from Cork to Dun Laoghaire
Dip him snug and airy in river or lake
So the eel and the trout they can dine on the snout
Of the monster who murdered Nell Flaherty's drake
May his pig never grunt, may his cat never hunt
May a ghost ever haunt him at dead of the night
May his hens never lay, may his horse never neigh
May his goat fly away like an old paper kite
May the flies and the fleas and the rats ever tease
May the piercin' March breeze make him shiver and shake
May a lump of the stick raise the lumps fast and quick
On the monster who murdered Nell Flaherty's drake
Well the only good news that I have to infuse
Is that old Paddy Hughes and young Anthony Blake
Also Johnny Dwyer and Connie Maguire
They each have a grandson of my darlin' drake
Me treasure had dozens of nephews and cousins
And one I must have or me heart it will break
To set me mind easy or else I'll run crazy
So ends the whole song of Nell Flaherty's drake
