The Devil and Bailiff McGlynn

Source: Where The Linnets Sings (2026)

Location: Track 37

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One fine Sunday evening last summer

I was straying through Condae na Mí,

When a pair of quare playboys cologing

Before me I happened to see.

Now to hear what these boyos were up to,

A trifle I hastened my walk.

And in troth I soon learned their profession, 

when I came within range of their talk.

Now one of these boys was the Devil,

The other was Bailiff McGlynn.

The one was as black as the other

And both were as ugly as sin.

Said the oul’ boy “You see I’m the Devil,

And you are a bailiff I see.”

“Well is it the devil that’s in it. 

Now that bates the Devil,” said he.

Close by a small patch of potatoes,

A bonive was striving to dig,

When a woman ran out and she shouted,

‘May the devil take you for a pig!

Said the bailiff “Now there’s a fine offer.

Why not take the bonive?” said he.

“It’s only her lips that have said it

And that’s not sufficient for me.”

A garsún ran out of his cottage

And off with him over the fields.

“May the Devil take you,” said his mother

As she rattled a stone of his heels.

‘”Now, why don’t you take the young rascal,

Your highness”, the bailiff he cried.

“Oh ’twas not from her heart that the wish came,”

The Devil he smiling replied.

As they jogged on a young lad espied them

And into his mother he sped.

“O mother,” says he “here’s the bailiff.”

She clasped her two hands and she said:

“May the devil take that ugly bailiff.”

Says the oul’ lad ‘”Bedad, that’ll do. 

’Twas straight from her heart that came surely,

So bailiff McGlynn I’ll take you.”

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