The Louse House in Kilkenny [Italian translation]

The first of me downfall

I walked out the door

I straight made me way

on for Carrick-on-Suir

Going out by Kilkenny

‘twas late in the night

as I went through that city

I saw gaslight

with me fa the diddle ario i a

And there in this back street

there was this gas lamp

And under it sat the chap

called the tramp

He asked me for a penny,

and to him I did say,

“could you show me a place

where I could stay

He directed me down

to Sweet Lovers Lane

To the place called the refuge,

I think that’s the name

Steps’ inside the door

put my back to the wall

was then that I found out

was the cobblers hall.

Young man in the corner

and he mending some brogue

with his hammer and chisel,

going round like a goat

the old women inside,

and to me she did say,

“if you gave me a shilling sir,

here you can stay.”

She brought me upstairs,

and she put out the light,

and in less than 5 minutes

I had to show fright,

with bugs and the flies,

they collected to march,

and over me belly,

they formed an arch.

and one big rattier,

gave me such a nip,

I was very near losing

the use of me hip.

With me fa the diddle airo i ario i a

I sat up in the bed,

and demanded fair play,

sure if I had me stick,

I could fight my own way

jumped out through the window,

and gathered some stones,

sure if I had sore sides,

I gave him broken bones.

Now come on you fair maiden, wherever you may be,

wherever you travel, by land or by sea,

if your going to Kilkenny,

and intending to stay

beware of the Louse House,

in Sweet Lovers Lane.