In the days I went a courtin' I was never tired resortin'

To an alehouse or a playhouse and many's the house beside

But I told me brother Seamus I'd go off and be right famous

And I'd never would return again 'til I'd roam the world wide



Goodbye Muirsheen Durkin sure I'm sick and tired of workin'

No more I'll dig the praties and no longer I'll be fooled

As sure as me name is Carney I'll be off to California

Where instead of diggin' praties I'll be diggin' lumps of gold



I've courted girls in Blarney in Kanturk and in Killarney

In Passage and in Queenstown that is the Cobh of Cork

Goodbye to all this pleasure I'll be off to take me leisure

And the next time that you hear from me will be a letter from New York



So it's goodbye Muirsheen Durkin I'm sick and tired of workin'

No more I'll dig the praties and no longer I'll be fooled

As sure as me name is Carney I'll be off to California

Where instead of diggin' praties I'll be diggin' lumps of gold



Goodbye to the girls at home I'm going far across the foam

To try and make me fortune in far America

There's gold and jewels in plenty for the poor and for the gentry

And when I return again I never more will say



Goodbye Muirsheen Durkin sure I'm sick and tired of workin'

No more I'll dig the praties and no longer I'll be fooled

For as sure as me name is Carney I'll be off to California

Where instead of diggin' praties I'll be diggin' lumps of gold