Spanish Lady

from In The Old Style by Ginger Ackley

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about

“Spanish Lady” is euphemism for a lady of the night, girl for hire... you get the idea... She would advertise her “wares” by washing her feet and showing off her bare ankles! (A definite come-on in that day!) Of course, the night watch was always on the lookout for young lads wanting to be corrupted. I've heard this with a slightly different tune and chorus, but this is the one I like the best – and kids love the part about singing the numbers backwards! The song should not to be confused with the more seafaring song, “Spanish Ladies” - though I have rollicked out a chorus or two of that one with Pirate friends!

lyrics

As I was walking through Dublin City
about the hour of twelve at night
It was there I saw a fair, pretty female
washing her feet by candle light
First she washed them and then she dried them
over a fire of embery coals
In all my life I never did see
maid so neat about the soles...

Chorus: She had 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, none...
She had 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3 and 1...

I stopped to look but the watchman passed.
Says he, "Young fellow, the night is late
Along with you home or I will wrestle you
Straight away through the Bridewell gate"
I got a look from the Spanish Lady,
hot as the fire of embery coals
In all my life I never did see
a maid so sweet about the soles... Chorus

As I came back through Dublin City
as the dawn of day was o'er
Oh, who should I spy but the Spanish Lady
when I was weary and footsore
Now, she had a heart so full of loving
and her love she longed to share
In all my life I never did see
a maid who had so much to share... Chorus

I've wandered north and I've wandered south
from Stoneybatter to Patrick's Close
Oh, and up and around by the Gloucester Diamond,
back by Napper Tandy's house
Old age has laid her hands upon me,
cold as a fire of ashy coals
And gone is the lovely Spanish Lady,
neat and sweet about the soles.... Chorus

Round and round the wheel of fortune.
Where it stops now wearies me
For fair young women are so deceiving,
sad experience teaches me . Chorus

credits

from In The Old Style, released March 1, 2012

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Ginger Ackley Cleveland, Ohio

Starting out in Texas, Ginger made it to Ohio as quickly as she could! Her music is full of magic and stories, seasoned with a love of folk and Celtic music. Her penny whistles often accompany her, too!

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