The Spanish Lady / Reel: The Sally Gardens

Traditional

This is one of the first songs I ever learned and has always been a favorite of mine. There are other verses and also some different versions of the song. The music may derive from the Irish Song "Mo Ghile Mhear". As for the words I can't find any source in any of the publications that I have.

As I walked out through Dublin city at the hour of 12 o' the night
Who should I spy but a Spanish lady washing her feet by candle-light
First she washed them, then she dried them, over a fire of angry coals
In all me life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet about the soles

Chorus:
Whack fol the toor-al-loor-al-laddy
Whack fol the toor-al-loor-al-lay
Whack fol the toor-al-loor-al-laddy
Whack fol the toor-al-loor-al-lay

I stopped to look but the watchman passing, say's he young fella now the night is late
On with ye home or I will wrestle you straightway through the Bridewell gate
I threw a kiss to the Spanish lady, hot as a fire of angry coals
In all me life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet about the soles

As I walked back through Dublin city as the hour of dawn was o'er
Who should I see but the Spanish lady when I was weary and footsore
First she kissed me then did scold me, she lay bed and I sat by
In all me life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet as upon that night

I wandered back through Dublin city at the hour of half-past eight
Who should I spy but the Spanish lady brushing her hair in the broad daylight
First she washed it, then she brushed it, on her lap was a silver comb
In all me life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet since I did roam

I've wandered north and I've wandered south through Stony Batter and Patrick's Close
Up and around by the Gloucester Diamond and back by Napper Tandy's House
Old age has laid her arm on me, cold as a fire of ashy coals
Ah but, where is the lovely Spanish lady neat and sweet about the soles