The Spanish Lady
The Irish Rovers Lyrics


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As I went down to Dublin city,
at the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I see but a Spanish lady,
washing her feet by candlelight.
Lady I've come to court-you, New York in favor's 'bout to win
and if you'll smile upon me
Sunday night I'll call again
CHORUS:
Whack fol the toora, toora laddy
Whack fol the foora loora lay

Lady I have a gold and silver
Lady I have a house and land
I've ships on the ocean
I'll be....

Whack fol the toora, toora laddy
Whack fol the foora loora lay

My Captain is a boatsy captain,
Spain is known across the sea
The Captain....
Don't you come away with me
Well I don't need your father's fortune
Fame is nothing much to me
I've surfed the world from Antrim land
With a pettycoat high above my knee





Whack fol the toora, toora laddy
Whack fol the foora loora lay

Overall Meaning

The Spanish Lady by The Irish Rovers is a catchy number that combines playful Irish jigs with a hint of romantic passion. The song begins with the singer traveling to Dublin city at midnight, where he encounters a beautiful Spanish lady washing her feet by candlelight. He asks her to court him, promising to return to see her on Sunday if she smiles upon him. The chorus, “Whack fol the toora, toora laddy, Whack fol the foora loora lay,” is an example of traditional Irish nonsensical lyrics but adds to the fun and upbeat nature of the song.


In the second stanza, the singer boasts of his wealth, including owning a house, land, and ships on the ocean. He tells the lady that he is a captain, sailing the same seas as she and hoping to win her heart. However, she refuses his advances, stating that she is already promised to a boatswain captain, and fame means nothing to her. The song's final lines tell of the singer's travels around the world, including the north coast of Ireland, where he encountered women wearing petticoats high above the knee.


Line by Line Meaning

As I went down to Dublin city, at the hour of twelve at night,
In the middle of the night, I made my way to Dublin city.


Who should I see but a Spanish lady, washing her feet by candlelight.
To my surprise, a lady from Spain was washing her feet with the light of a candle.


Lady I've come to court-you, New York in favor's 'bout to win and if you'll smile upon me, Sunday night I'll call again
I have come to court you, as New York is about to prosper, and if you give me a sign of interest, I will return Sunday night.


Whack fol the toora, toora laddy Whack fol the foora loora lay
Repetition of the chorus.


Lady I have a gold and silver, Lady I have a house and land, I've ships on the ocean
I boast of having wealth in the form of gold, silver, properties, and ships sailing on the ocean.


I'll be.... Whack fol the toora, toora laddy Whack fol the foora loora lay
The line is incomplete and is followed by repetition of the chorus.


My Captain is a boatsy captain, Spain is known across the sea The Captain.... Don't you come away with me
My Captain is a captain of the sea and the country of Spain is renowned as a maritime power. However, I warn you not to join me.


Well I don't need your father's fortune Fame is nothing much to me I've surfed the world from Antrim land With a pettycoat high above my knee
I am not interested in your family's wealth, and fame means little to me. I have traveled around the world from Antrim land, and I dress in a way that may be considered unconventional.


Whack fol the toora, toora laddy Whack fol the foora loora lay
Repetition of the chorus.




Contributed by Levi O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@theatagamer90

As I went down to Dublin city,
At the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I see but a Spanish lady,
Washing her feet by candlelight.
Lady I've come to court-you, New York in favor's 'bout to win
And if you'll smile upon me
Sunday night I'll call again
[Chorus:]
Whack fol the toora, toora laddy
Whack fol the foora loora lay
Lady I have a gold and silver
Lady I have a house and land
I've ships on the ocean
I'll be...
Whack fol the toora, toora laddy
Whack fol the foora loora lay
My Captain is a boatsy captain,
Spain is known across the sea
The Captain...
Don't you come away with me
Well I don't need your father's fortune
Fame is nothing much to me
I've surfed the world from Antrim land
With a pettycoat high above my knee
Whack fol the toora, toora laddy
Whack fol the foora loora lay



All comments from YouTube:

@TheYukonnahanni

Ah !! My Grandfather ,The Sea Captain , loved this Song !! Used to sing this Song to us from Ship to Shore when my Twin Sister & I were little !! Then say , Scamper off to Bed , my Darlings !! Ah !!WE KNEW HE WANTED TO TALK TO OUR GRANDMOTHER !!, without our little ears listening ) !! Great Song , Great Memories..

@Acord718

Respect from Puerto Rico🇵🇷🇮🇪

@cooltrainervaultboy-39

Not the lyrics I'm accustomed to, but damn does those instruments make you want to get up and dance!

@turtleemperor1446

One of my favorite Songs back when i was a child

@tashacrocker

AWESOME!!!

@Irishmankillen666

Tis a good song now lol yer woman sure speaks the truth in it

@chancewatkins5071

Thanks for sharing; Jesus Christ Bless! :)

@matthewmcsheffrey2522

🌹🌹🌹

@PrinsaVossum

This is like, the 4th version of this song I've listened to today. How many different versions does this song have?!

@gbalkam

Well, it is a folk song, so likely a few hundred, maybe only a dozen recorded.

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