(We Are) The Rakes of Mallow
Written and Trad. Arr. by
Hank Wedel, Mary Greene and Declan Sinnott
IMRO R32936170

Key of E major
Intro

Once there was a town so sweet
With chocolate , milk and sugar beet
Majestically, the dancing feet
Hurrah! The Rakes of Mallow

Now I look around the town
I search for ghosts that can’t be found
When all the world is closing down
Where are the rakes of Mallow?

…………………………………………………..

(short instrumental break: variation of trad. melody)

Beauing, belling, dancing, drinking
Breaking windows, rising, sinking
Ever breaking, never thinking
Live The Rakes of Mallow

Spending faster than it comes
Money doesn’t walk, it runs
Bacchus’ true begotten sons
Are them rakes of Mallow

Living short, but merry lives
Going where the devil drives
Having sweethearts, never wives
Live The Rakes of Mallow

Key change from E major to a A major

(short instrumental break variation of trad melody)

Hey girls if your life’s a mess
And you need to ease your stress
Just put on your party dress
And meet the gang at Mallow

Ceili Bandits, Bikers’ Molls
Cutie Pies and Baby Dolls
There is room for one and all
Among the rakes of Mallow

Next day you don’t feel so hot
Might have been that extra shot
They’ve seen worse... or maybe not!
Among the Rakes of Mallow

………………………………………………….

Guitar Solo in C#minor
then back to relative E major key
for duet vocal harmony on this

Back at home about to die
After drinking Mallow dry
Why oh why oh why oh why
Oh WHY? The Rakes of Mallow!

Time to end this wayward life
Take a husband, take a wife
Live in rapture, live in strife
Forever dream of Mallow

You won’t be a rolling stone
They’ll all make you feel at home
Not all roads will lead to Rome
Make your way to Mallow!

slow outro

Still there is a town so sweet
Where my love and I did meet
Hand in hand, down the street
We Are… The Rakes of Mallow