The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE LEPRECHAUN SONG

IN A SHADY NOOK ONE MOONLIT NIGHT,
A LEPRECHAUN I SPIED
WITH SCARLET CAP, AND COAT OF GREEN,
A CROOKSKEIN BY HIS SIDE.
'TWAS 'TICK 'TUCK 'TICK HIS HAMMER WENT,
UPON A WEENY SHOE.
OH, I LAUGH TO THINK OF A PURSE OF GOLD,
BUT THE FAIRY WAS LAUGHING TOO.

WITH TIPYTOE STEP AND BEATING HEART,
QUITE SOFTLY I DREW NIGH.
THERE WAS MISCHIEF IN HIS MERRY FACE,
A TWINKLE IN HIS EYE.
HE HAMMERED AND SANG WITH TINY VOICE,
AND DRANK HIS MOUNTAIN DEW.
OH, I LAUGHED TO THINK HE WAS CAUGHT AT LAST,
BUT THE FAIRY WAS LAUGHING TOO.

AS QUICK AS I THOUGHT I SEIZED THE ELF,
"YOUR FAIRY PURSE," I CRIED.
"THE PURSE," HE SAID, "TIS IN YOUR HAND
THAT LADY AT YOUR SIDE."
I TURNED TO LOOK THE ELF WAS OFF,
NOW WHAT WAS I TO DO?
OH, I LAUGHED TO THINK HOW HE FOOLED ME SO,
AND THE FAIRY WAS LAUGHING TOO.

Submitter comment: AN AUTHENTIC IRISH SONG SUNG EACH YEAR ON SAINT PATRICK'S DAY
AT THE GIRLS' BOARDING SCHOOL IN WISCONSIN THAT I WENT TO.

Where learned: WISCONSIN ; SUN PRAIRIE

Date learned: 12-00-1968