He'd lead the band on Paddy's Day And twirle it round his mitt And divil a bit we'd laught at it Or Dad would have a fit Sure with the same old shillelagh Me father could lick a dozen men As fast as they'd get up be gorry, He'd knock'em down again And many's the time he used it on me To make me understand The same old shillelagh Me father brought from Ireland.
The Bing Crosby version: Oh, 50 years ago, me father left old Erins shore He landed here, a Shillelagh in hand and devil a little more He got a job, then got a wife, then a family And then he died and left his old shillelagh stick to me
Sure it's the same old shillelagh me father brought from Ireland And devil a man prouder than he, as he walked with it in his hand He'd lead the band on Paddy's Day and twirl it 'round his mitt And devil a bit, we'd laughted at it, poor dad would have a fit.
I'm going on the police force, it's the only thing to do Instead of having one night stick, be gory, I'll have two If there's a fight I'll be alright, nobody bothers me Because I have the old Shillelagh me father gave to me
Sure it's the same old shillelagh me father brought from Ireland And devil a man prouder than he, as he walked with it in his hand He'd lead the band on Paddy's Day and twirl it 'round his mitt And devil a bit, we'd laughed at it or Dad would have a fit