Farmer Michael Hayes

I am a bold undaunted fox that never yet was trapped or caught

My rent rates and taxes I was willing for to pay

I made my name on fine good land between Tipperary and Knocklong

Where my forefathers lived and died 3000 years ago

I lived as happy as King Saul and loved my neighbours one and all

I had no animosity for either friend or foe

Until the cruel landlord drove me from my native home

He told me I should leave the place and show my face no more

The day that he evicted me it's then I knew I had to flee

So late that night I faced him and left him lying low

He fell victim to a shot, his agency was soon forgot

And from that day on they're searching for farmer Michael Hayes

And soon there was a great lookout by land and sea myself to rout

From Dublin Quay to Belfast along the raging sea

By telegraph they did insert a great reward for my arrest

My figure size and form and my name without mistake

They broke their brogues to gain the great reward

But they could never capture farmer Michael Hayes

Around the coast they made a steer from Poolbeg Lighthouse to Cape Clear

Killarney Town and Sweet Tralee and they then crossed into Clare

And when they landed on the shore they searched Kilrush from tip to toe

They searched the baths at Lisdoonvarna, then Miltown-Malbay

And the posse broke into a trot, thinking that they had me caught

But I was back in Fisherstreet, ???

In Galway Town as I laid down I heard the dreadful cry of hounds

So I jumped into the cladder ???

Connemara being remote they thought t'was there I might resort

But the dogs were getting weary and the horses getting slow

As the moon began to shine I thought I'd make a foreign clime

And leave them all to search for farmer Michael Hayes

So to Dublin Town I made my way then to Cobh and America

Now I'm in the Land of Liberty and a fig for all my foes

Now I'm in the Land of Liberty and a fig for all my foes