O Johnny be fair and Johnny be good
And he wants me for to wed
And I would have married Johnny
But me father up and said
I hate to tell you daughter,
But your mother never knew
That Johnny he’s a son of mine
And so is kin to you
O, Willie be fair and Willie be good
And he wants me for to wed
And I would have married Willie
But me father up and said
I hate to tell you daughter,
But your mother never knew
That Willie he’s a son of mine
And so is kin to you
Jimmy be fair and Jimmy be good
And he wants me for to wed
And I would have married Jimmy
But me father up and said
I hate to tell you daughter,
But your mother never knew
That Jimmy he’s a son of mine
And so is kin to you
So I went up to me mother
And I hung me head in shame
Of all the lads in in town
An my name I couldn’t change
She said “My dear girl,
Your father me he’d surely kill
But your father’s not your father,
So marry who you will”
So Johnny be fair and Johnny be good
An he wants me for to wed
And I want to marry Johnny
Since my mother up and said
So I hate to tell your father
For sure you never knew
That Johnny he’s no kin of mine
And nor am I to you