Cat. #1503 (MFH #998) - As sung by Fred Smith, Bentonville, Arkansas on February 14, 1963
VERSE 1
Come all you bold Irish, listen to me
I'll sing you th praises of John Morrisey
Who'd lately been challenged for five thousand pounds
T' fight Ned, th black man, from Mulberry Town
VERSE 2
T'was th fourteen of April, this crowd -- --
When thousands assembled with silver an' gold
Twenty to one was th cry for black Ned
But Morrisey, th Irishman, would be th ---
VERSE 3
About eight in th morning, th crowd begin
When stripped to th buff an' jumped into th ring
Lay down your belt black man, they did say
For by night I shall have -- -- this day
VERSE 4
John Morrisey jumped into th ring, like a bear
Saying, here stands th form of an Irishman, here
Who'd never been conquored by white, black nor brown
While known by th Irishmen here all around
VERSE 5
They fought from th first round right up to th tenth
When Morrisey received several blows on th belt
From th tenth right up to th twenith round
Bled from his eyes, ears an' nose as he lay on th ground
VERSE 6
He received some refreshment from his second O'Brien
Then again he jumped into th ring like a lion
From th twenith right up to that twenith fifth round
Every blow that was struck, poor black fell on th ground
VERSE 7
Th twenith fifth round it was fought in great style
When th Morrisey turned to th Irishman, Mike
Then he turned th black Ned, with one powerful stroke
An' laid in his bed with five ribs that were broke
VERSE 8
T'is now th roses over t'was Morrisey ---
He whipped th black bruiser from over th Main
An' never such cheering had never been heard
As there was on that day in ole Irins shore