There was a rich squire in Thomastown, Clare,
Who courted a nobleman’s daughter that was handsome and fair,
And to discourse with her it was his intent.
His friends and relations, they all gave consent.

The day was appointed a wedding to be;
The young farmer was chosen the groomsman to be,
But as soon as the lady the farmer she spied;
“You’re my charming, my lover and my darling,” she cried.

She turned from the squire, but nothing had said,
Till at length they were married, she retired to her bed.
[Usually - Instead of being married she retired to her bed.]
But the thoughts of the farmer still ran in her mind,
And a plan for to gain him she quickly did find.

In a vest, coat and jacket this lady put on,
As she went a-hunting with her dog and her gun,
She kept coursing all day where the farmer dwelled,
Because in her heart she loved him right well.

She often had fired but nothing had killed,
Till at length the young farmer came into the field;
And to discourse with him it was her intent,
With her dog and her gun for to meet him she went.

“I thought you were at the wedding,” the lady replied,
“To wait on the squire and to give him his bride.”
“Ah no,” said the farmer, “I take sword in hand,
For the honour to gain her, my wife, at command.”

The lady was glad when she heard him speak so bold;
She gave him her glove all embroidered with gold;
Saying,“I found it as I was coming along,
As I was a-hunting with my dog and my gun.”

The lady went home with her heart full of love,
She sent out public notices that she lost her glove;
"And whoever shall find it and bring it to me,
And if it’s a man kind it’s married we’ll be.”

The farmer was glad when he heard the great news,
And into this fair one he instantly goes,
Saying, “Humble fair one, I have found your glove,
And will you be so kind as to grant me your love?”

“It’s already granted,” the lady replied,
“I have the young farmer,” she earnestly cried,
“I’ll be mistress of my dairy and I’ll milk my own cows,
While the jolly young farmer whistles after the plough.”

And when she was married she told all the fun,
How she went to hunt the farmer with her dog and her gun,
“But now, as I have him quite fast in the snare,
I'll love him forever I wow and declare.”

"Dating back to at least the beginning of the 18th century, though claimed to be much older, this is said to be based on an incident which occurred in England during the reign of Elizabeth I. The reference in verse six of the farmer waiting on the squire and giving him his bride refers to a marriage custom once popular in England where the bridegroom enters the church on the arm of a bridesmaid and the bride follows accompanied by the bridegroom’s man, whose duty it was to give her away.
Other recordings: Frank Hinchliffe; ‘Up in the North and Down in the South’, Musical Traditions MTCD 311-2"

The above commentary, lyrics and recording are taken from ‘Around the Hills of Clare: Songs and Recitations from the Jim Carroll and Pat Mackenzie Collection’ (2004) Musical Traditions Records MTCD331-2/Góilín Records 005-6.

See also
The Young Farmer sung by Katie Droney