Johnny Morrissey and the Russian Sailor

Come all you gallant Irishmen, wherever you may be
I hope you’ll pay attention and listen unto me
I’ll sing about a battle that took place the other day
Between a Russian sailor and gallant Morrissey.

It was in Tierra del Fuego, in South Amerikay
The Russian challenged Morrissey and these words to him did say
I hear you are a fighting man and wear a belt I see
Indeed I wish you would consent to have a round with me.

Then out spoke Morrissey with heart both brave and true
I am a valiant Irishman that never was subdued
For I can whale the Yankee, the Saxon, Bull and Bear
In honor of Ol’ Paddy’s Land I’ll still the laurels wear.

They shook hands and walked around the ring, commencing then to fight
It filled each Irish heart with pride for to behold the sight
The Russian, he floored Morrissey up to the 11th round
With Yankee, Russian, Saxon cheers, the valley did resound.

The Irish offered four to one that day upon the grass
No sooner said than taken up and down they brought the cash
They parried away without delay until the 22nd round
When Morrissey received a blow that brought him to the ground.

Up to the 37th round ‘twas fall and fall about
Which made the foreign tyrants to keep a sharp lookout
The Russian called his seconds for to have a glass of wine
Our Irish hero smiled and said, “This battle will be mine.”

The 38th decided on, the Russian felt the smart
And Morrissey with a dreadful blow, struck the Russian on the heart
The doctor, he was called in to open up a vein
He said, “It is quite useless, he’ll never fight again.”

Our hero conquered Thompson and the Yankee Clipper too
The Buffalo Boy and Sheppard, he nobly did subdue
So let us fill a flowing glass, here is health go leor
To noble Johnny Morrissey that came from Templemore.