THE KING AND THE KEY

THE KING AND THE KEY

by

Matt McGinn

With a tra-la-la come ricky dum-a-day

With a tra-la-la drum derry way

Now the bravest man that ye ever saw

Was a king by the name o Heid the Baw

He chewed the rag with a foreign prince

And he swore he would have his guts for mince

With a tra-la-la come ricky dum-a-day

With a tra-la-la drum derry way

He sent his generals running then

To gather all his fighting men

Says he, when he had them by his side

‘Go bring to me my new-wed bride’

With a tra-la-la come ricky dum-a-day

With a tra-la-la drum derry way

For a while, my love, I’m leaving you

And though I know that you’ll be true

To help you keep your chastity

You can wear this belt while I’m away

With a tra-la-la come ricky dum-a-day

With a tra-la-la drum derry way

Says he, ‘Now while I’m o’er the sea

Who I should I trust to keep this key?’

He had a look around for a likely lad

And he picked on this young Sir Neverwasbad

With a tra-la-la come ricky dum-a-day

With a tra-la-la drum derry way

Now the king got on his horsey white

And threw the key to the fair young knight

Then he rode towards the battlefield

Crying, ‘We’ll soon make the enemy yield!’

With a tra-la-la come ricky dum-a-day

With a tra-la-la drum derry way

They had only gone an hour or so

When they heard a noise and the king cried, ‘Whoa!’

Rushing up behind on a big black horse

Was the young Sir Neverwasbad, of course!

With a tra-la-la come ricky dum-a-day

With a tra-la-la drum derry way

He dismounted then in great alarm

And he near tore off the old king’s arm

Tis a terrible mistake, your majesty

For this is the wrong key you’ve left me

With a tra-la-la come ricky dum-a-day

With a tra-la-la drum derry way