When Irish Girls Grow Up - Tom Russell/Dolores Keane/Iris Dement

Darling don't go to the city

You'll get lost there in the crowd

All the boys there in the city

Drink and smoke and talk too loud

The women in the city sneak their whiskey from a cup

Oh is'nt it a pity when Irish girls grow up

Have you heard of Mary Gilligan

She's gone about three weeks

She's painted up her lips

When all the colour's left her cheeks

She never goes to Mass no more

She gave her virtue up

Oh is'nt it a pity when Irish girls grow up

Have you heard about the Cooneys

The Russell's and Malloy's

Their girls all left the farm

And went a chasing city boys

Their mothers pray to Mary

That their girls won't turn corrupt

Oh is'nt it a pity when Irish girls grow up

And its God forgive me gossiping

But I swear that it's all true

The Lord should strike me dead

Should this beset the likes of you

Your lips will not touch alcohol

It's tea that you shall sup

Oh is'nt it a pity when Irish girls grow up

So Darling don't go to the city

You'll get lost there in the crowd

All the boys there in the city

Drink and smoke and talk too loud

And the women in the city sneak their whiskey from a cup

Oh is'nt it a pity when Irish girls grow up

Oh is'nt it a pity when Irish girls grow up