List of Songs

Old Maid in the Garret 
The Rising of the Moon 
Rosin The Bow 
Mr. Moses Ri-Tooral-i-ay
The Bold O'Donahue 
The Parting Glass 
Seven Old Ladies 
Courting in the Kitchen
Henry Me Son 
Waxies Dargel
Fiddler's Green 
The MoonShiner





Old Maid in the Garret       Return To List Of Songs
I have often heard it said from me father and me mother,
That going to a wedding was the making of another. 
Well if this be so, then I'll go without a bidding,
Oh kind providence won't you send me to a wedding.
Chorus:
For it's oh dear me, how will it be if I die an old maid in the garret?
Oh now there's my sister Jean, she's not handsome or good looking' 
Scarcely sixteen and a fella she was courting',
Now she's twenty four with a son and a daughter,
here am I forty-five, and I've never had an offer.
Repeat Chorus:
I can cook and I can sew, I can keep the house right tidy,
Rise up in the morning and get the breakfast ready.
But there's nothing in this wide world would make me half so cherry
as a wee fat mannie who would call me his own dearie.
Repeat Chorus:
Oh come landsman or come kinsman, come tinker or come tailor,
Come fiddler or come dancer, come ploughman or come sailor,
Come rich man come poor man, come fool or come witty,
Come any man at all who would marry me for pity
Repeat Chorus:
Oh I'm away home for there's nobody heeding',
There's nobody heeding' for poor Annie's pleading',
And I'm away home to me own wee bit garret,
If I can't get a man than I'll surely get a parrot.
Repeat Chorus:

The Rising of the Moon                                        Return To List Of Songs
"O then, tell me Sean O'Farrell, tell me why you hurry so?"
"Hush a bhuachaill, hush and listen" And his cheeks were all aglow
"I bear orders from the capt'n Get you ready quick and soon 
For the pikes must be together At the rising of the moon"
CHORUS:
By the rising of the moon, by the rising of the moon (Last line of verse)
"O then tell me Sean O'Farrell Where the gath'rin is to be?
In the old spot by the river, Well known to you and me.
One more word for signal token, Whistle up the marchin' tune,
With your pike upon your shoulder, By the rising of the moon.
CHORUS:
Out from many a mud wall cabin Eyes were watching through the night,
Many a manly heart was beatin , For the blessed morning light.
Murmurs ran along the valleys, to the banshee's lonely croon
And a thousand pikes were flashing, At the rising of the moon.
CHORUS:
All along that singing river That black mass of men were seen,
High above their shining weapons, flew their own beloved green.
"Death to every foe and traitor! Forward! Strike the marching tune.
And hurrah my boy for freedom; 'Tis the rising of the moon".
CHORUS:
Well they fought for poor old Ireland, And full bitter was their fate,
(Oh what glorious pride and sorrow, Fills the name of ninety-eight!)
Yet, thank God, e'en still are beating  Hearts in manhood burning noon,
Who would follow in there footsteps, At the risin' of the moon
CHORUS:

Rosin The Bow                          Return To List Of Songs
I've traveled this world all over
And now to another I go
And I know that good quarters are waiting
For to welcome old Rosin the Bow
 
To Welcome old Rosin the Bow me lad
To Welcome old Rosin the Bow
And I know that good quarters are waiting
For to welcome old Rosin the Bow
 
When I'm dead and laid out on the counter
A voice you will hear from below
Saying send down a hogs head of whiskey
To drink with old Rosin the Bow
 
To Drink with old Rosin the Bow me lad
To drink with old Rosin the Bow
Saying send down a hogs head of whiskey
To drink with old Rosin the Bow
 
An get a half dozen stout fellows
And stack them up all in a row
Let them drink out of half gallon bottles
To the memory of Rosin the Bow
 
To the memory of Rosin the Bow me lad
To the memory of Rosin the Bow
Let them drink out of half gallon bottles
To the memory of Rosin the Bow

Get this half dozen stout fellows
and let them all stagger and go
and dig a great hole in the meadow
and in it put Rosin the Bow
 
And in it put Rosin the Bow me lad
And in it put Rosin the Bow
And dig a great hold in the meadow
And in it put Rosin the Bow
 
Get ye a couple of bottles
Put one at me head and me toe
With a diamond ring scratch upon them
The name of old Rosin the Bow

The name of old Rosin the Bow me lad
The name of old Rosin the Bow
With a diamond ring scratch upon them
The name of old Rosin the Bow
 
I feel that old Tyrant approaching
That cruel remorseless old foe
And I lift up me glass in his honor
Take a drink with old Rosin the Bow
 
Take a drink with old Rosin the Bow me lad
Take a drink with old Rosin the Bow
And I lift up my glass in his honor
Take a drink with old Rosin the Bow

Mr. Moses Ri-Tooral-i-ay            Return To List Of Songs
The Policeman walked out, oh, so proud on his beat,
When a vision came to him of stripes on his sleeve
Promotion he whispered, I'll try for today;
So come with me, Mister Ri-Tooral-i-ay. =

Come tell me your name, says the limb of the law.
To the little fat man selling wares on the straw.
What's that sir, me name sir? Why 'tis there on display,
And it's Moses Ri-Tooral-i-ay.
 
Now the trial came on and lasted a week.
One Judge said 'twas German; another 'twas Greek.
Prove your Irish said the policeman and beyond it say nay;
And we'll sit on it, Moses Ri-Tooral-i-ay.
 
Now, the prisoner stepped up there as stiff as a crutch.
Are you Irish or English or German or Dutch? =

I'm a Jew sir; I'm a Jew sir, that came over to stay,
And my name it is Moses Ri-Tooral-i-ay.
 
Were two of a kind said the judge to the Jew;
You're a cousin of Brisco and I am one too.
This numskull has blundered and for it will pay.
Wisha that's right, says Moses Ri-Tooral-i-ay.
 
There's a garbage collector who works down our street
He once was a policeman, the pride of his beat.
And he moans all the night and he groans all the day,
Singing, Moses Ri-Tooral-i-ooral-i-ay.

The Bold O'Donahue Return To List Of Songs
Here I am from Paddy's land, a land of high renown.
I broke the hearts of all the girls from miles of Keady town.
And when they hear that I'm away' they raise a hullabaloo
When they hear about the handsome lad they call O'Donahue.
 
Chorus:
For I'm the boy to please her and I'm the boy to tease her.
And I'm the boy to squeeze her up and I'll tell you what I'll do.
I'll court her like an Irishman with me brogue and blarney too is me plan
With me rollikin', swollikin', gollikin', wollikin', Bold O'Donahue.
 
I wish me love was a red red rose grown' on yon garden wall.
And me to be dewdrop and upon her brow I'd fall.
Perhaps now she might think of me as a rather heavy dew.
No more she'd love the handsome lad they call O'Donahue.
 
They say that Queen Victoria has a daughter fine and grand
Perhaps she'd take it into her head for to marry an Irishman
And if I could only get the chance to have a word or two
Perhaps she'd take a notion in the bold O'Donahue.

The Parting Glass                                           Return To List Of Songs
Oh, all the money e'er I had, I spent in good company,
And all the harm I've ever done, alas it was to none but me.
And all I've done for want to wit to memory now I can't recall.
So fill to me the parting glass, Good night and joy be with you all.
 
Oh all the comrades  e'er I had They're sorry for my going away.
And all the sweethearts e'er I had, They'd wish me one more day to stay.
But since it falls unto my lot, That I should rise and you should not.
I gently rise and softly call, Good night and joy be with you all.
 
If I had money enough to spend, And leisure time to sit awhile.
There is a fair maid in this town, That sorely has my heart beguiled.
Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips, I own she has my heart in thrall.
Then fill me with the parting glass, Good night and joy be with you all.

Seven Old Ladies                                      Return To List Of Songs
Chorus:
Oh dear what can the matter be?
Seven old ladies locked in the lavatory
They were there from Sunday to Saturday
Nobody knew they were there
 
They said they were going to chat with the Vicar
They went in together they thought it was quicker
The lavatory door was a bit of a sticker
And the Vicar had tea alone
 
The first was a wife of the Deacon of Dover
Always  was known as a bit of a rover
She passed out in the ladies napkin disposal
And nobody knew they were there
 
The next old lady was dear Mrs. Bickles
Found herself in a bit of a pickle
Locked out of the stalls for she hadn't a nickel
And nobody knew they were there

The next was the Bishop of Chichester's daughter
She couldn't wait so she used the basin
Unaware it was the basin a pope had washed his face in
And nobody knew they were there
 
The next old lady was Abigail Humphery
Who settled in and made herself comfy
Tried to get up but couldn't get her bum free
And nobody knew they were there
 
The next old lady was Elizibeth Spender
Was doing all right 'til her vagrant suspender
Got all twisted up in her feminine gender
And nobody knew they were there
 
The last was a lady named Jennifer Tripp
She couldn't wait, couldn't wait to get started
But when she sat down she only farted
And nobody knew they were there

Courting in the Kitchen                   Return To List Of Songs
Come single belle and beau unto me pay attention
Don't ever fall in love it's the devil's own invention
For once I fell in love with a maiden so bewitchen'
Miss Henrietta Bell down in Captain Kelly's Kitchen
Chorus:
 
Chorus:
Singin' Toor rah loo rah lay
Singin' Toor rah roo rah laddie
Singin' Toor rah loo rah lay
Singin' Toor rah roo rah laddie
 
At the age of seventeen I was apprenticed to a grocer
Not far from Steven's Green where Miss Henri' used to go sir
Her manners were so fine she'd set me heart a twitchen'
When she invited me to a hooley in the kitchen
Chorus:
 
Sunday being the day we were to have the flare up
I dressed myself quite gay and I frizzed and oiled my hair up
The Captain had no wife and he'd gone off a fishin'
So we kicked up high life below the stairs in the kitchen
Chorus:
 
With me arms around her waist she slyly hinted marriage
When to the door in haste came Captain Kelly's carriage
Her look told me full well and they were not bewitchin'
That she wished I'd get to hell or somewhere from the kitchen
Chorus:

She flew up off my knee, Full five feet up or higher
And over head and heels threw me slap into the fire
My new Repealer's coat that I bought from Mr. Mitchell
With a thirty shilling note went to blazes in the kitchen
Chorus:
 
I Grieved to see me duds besmeared with smoke and ashes
With a tub of dirty suds right in my face she dashes
As I lay on the floor the water she kept pitchin'
Till a footman broke the door and came chargin' in the kitchen
Chorus:
 
When he captain came downstairs tho' he'd seen me situation
Despite of all me prayers I was marched off to the station
For me they had no bail tho' to get home I was itchin'
And I had to tell the tale of how I came into the kitchen
Chorus:
 
I said she did invite me but she gave a flat denial
For assault she did indict me and I was sent for trial
She swore I robbed the house in spite of all her screechin'
And I got six months hard, for me courting in the kitchen
Chorus:

Henry Me Son  Return To List Of Songs
Where have you been all day Henry me son
Where have you been all day my beloved on
Away in the meadow Away in the meadow
Make my bed I've a pain in me head
And I want to lie down
And what did you have to eat Henry me son
And What did you have to eat, My beloved one
Poison beads Poison beads
Make my bed I've a pain in me head
And I want to lie down
And what will you leave your mother Henry me son
And what will you leave your mother, my beloved one
A woolen blanket A woolen blanket
Make my bed I've a pain in me head
And I want to lie down
And what will you leave you children Henry me son
And what will you leave you children my beloved one
The keys to heaven
The keys to heaven
Make my bed I've a pain in me head 
And I want to lie down
And what will you leave your sweetheart henry me son
And what will you leave your sweetheart my beloved one
A rope to hang her
A rope to hang her
Make my bed I've a pain in me head
And I want to lie down

Waxies Dargel                          Return To List Of Songs
Says my aul one to your aul one
Will yeh come to the waxies dargel
Says my aul one to your aul one
Sure I haven't got a farthing
I've just been down to Monto Town
To see young Kill McArdle
But he wouldn't lend me half a crown to go
To the waxies dargle
 
Chorus:
What are you have'in will you have a pint
I'll have a pint with you sir
And if one of you doesn't order soon
We'll be thrown out of the Boozer
 
Says my aul one to your aul one
Will you come to the Galaway Races
Says your aul one to my aul one
With the price of my aul lad's braces
I went down to Chapel street
To the 'ol money lender
But he wouldn't give me
A couple of bob on
My aul lad's red suspenders
Chorus:
 
Says my aul one to your aul one
We have no beef or mutton
But if we go down to Monto town
We might get a drink for nuttin
Here's a piece of advise
I got from an old fish monger
When the food is scarce
And you see the hearse
You'll know you died of hunger
Chorus:

Fiddler's Green                                        Return To List Of Songs
As I walked by the dockside one evening so fair
To view the salt water and take the sea air
I saw an old fisherman singing a song
"Won't you take me away boys my time is not long
Chorus:
 
Chorus
Wrap me up in my oil skin jumper
No more on the docks I'll be seen
Just tell me oul ship mates I'm takin' a trip mates
And I'll see you someday on Fiddler's Green
 
Now Fiddler's Green is a place I heard tell
Where the fishermen go when they don't go to hell
Where the skies are all clear and the dolphins do play
And the cold coast of Greenland is far far away
Chorus
 
When you get on the docks and the long trip is through
There's pubs and there's clubs and Lassies there too
Where the girls are all pretty and the beer it is free
And there's bottles of Rum growin from every tree
Chorus:
 
Now I don't want a harp nor a Halo not me
Just give me a breeze and a good rolling sea
I'll play me old squeeze box as we sail along
With the wind in the rigging to sing me a song
Chorus:

The MoonShiner                       Return To List Of Songs
Chorus:
I'm a rambler I'm a gambler I'm a long way from home
And if you don't like me well leave me alone
I'll eat when I'm hungry I'll drink when I'm dry
And if the moonshine don't kill me I'll drink till I die
 
I've been a moonshiner for many a year
I've spent all my money on whiskey and beer
I'll go to some hollow and set up me still
I'll make you a gallon for a ten shilling bill
 
I'll go to some hollow in the country
Ten gallons of wash I can go on a spree
No woman to follow and the world is all mine
I love none so well as I love the moonshine
 
Moonshine dear moonshine oh how I love thee
You killed me poor father but dare you try me
Bless all the moonshiners and bless all the moonshine
It's breath smells as sweet as the dew on the vine
 
I'll have moonshine for Liza and moonshine for May
Moonshine for Lu she'll sing all the day
Moonshine for my breakfast, Moonshine for my tea
Moonshine me hearties, it's moonshine for me





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March 12, 1998 by
declaris@minerva

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