Courtin' In The Kitchen

Come single belle and beau
And to me pay attention
Don't ever fall in love
It's the Devil's own invention
For once, I fell in love
With a maiden so bewitchin'
Miss Henrietta Bell
Out o' Captain Kelly's kitchen

Oh toora loora la
Me toora loora laddie
Toora loora la
You toora loora laddie

At the age of 17
I was 'prenticed to a grocer
Not far from Steven's Green
Where miss Henry used to go, sir
Her manners were so free
She set me heart a-twitchin'
And she invited me
Down to Captain Kelly's kitchen

Oh me toora loora la
Me toora loora laddie
Toora loora la
You toora loora laddie

Next Sunday being the day
We were to have the flare up
I dressed meself quite gay
And I frizzed and oiled me hair up
As the captain had no wife
And he had gone out fishin'
So we kicked up high life
Downstairs in the kitchen

Oh me toora loora la
Me toora loora laddie
Toora loora la
You toora loora laddie

Just as the clock struck six
We sat down to the table
She handed tea and cakes
And I ate while I was able
I ate cakes, drank punch and tea
Til my side had got a stichin'
And the hours flew quick away
While we were courtin' in the kitchen

Oh me toora loora la
With me toora loora laddie
Toora loora la
You toora loora laddie

With me arms around her waist
She slyly hinted marriage
To the door in dreadful haste
Came Captain Kelly's carriage
Her looks told me full well
That moment she was wishin'
That I'd get out to Hell
Or a long way from the kitchen

Oh me toora loora la
Me toora loora laddie
Sing Toora loora la
You toora loora laddie

When the captain came downstairs
Though he'd seen my situation
In spite of all me prayers
I was marched off to the station
For me they'd take no bail
Though to get home I was itchin'
But I had to tell the tale
Of how I came into the kitchen

Oh me toora loora la
Oh me toora loora laddie
Sing toora loora la
Sing toora loora laddie

I said she did invite me
But she gave a flat denial
For assault she did indict me
And I was sent for trial
She swore I robbed the house
In spite of all her screeching
So I got six months hard
For me courtin' in the kitchen

Oh toora loora la
Toora loora laddie
Sing toora loora la
Wish-a toora loora laddie