Hey Kids… I’m working on a set list for our band “The Jolly Clamdiggers” and I’m looking for some more upbeat / fun / rockin tunes like “Patrick Street” or “The Jolly Beggar”. Anyone have .02¢?
“Finnegan’s Wake” is really fun, also “Monto”. “I’m A Rover” “Rocky Road To Dublin” are some other songs that my friends like to sing.
Hope this helps a bit!
Kaitlin
Monto
Well if you got a wingo,
Take her up to ringo,
Where the waxies sing o all the day,
If you´ve had your fill of porter,
And you can´t go any further,
Give yer man the order “Back to the Quay”
And take her up to Monto, Monto, Monto,
Take her up to Monto, langeroo, to you.
The Dirty Duke of Gloucester
The dirty old imposter,
Took his mot and lost her up the Furry Glen,
He first put on his bowler,
Then he buttoned up his trousers,
And he whistled for a growler
And he said “My man”,
Take me up to Monto, Monto, Monto,
Take me up to Monto, langeroo, to you.
You see the Dublin Fusiliers,
The dirty old bamboozileers,
They went to get the childer one, two, three,
Marchin´ from the linenhall
There´s one for every canonball,
And Vicki´s going to send yis all o´er the sea,
But first go up to Monto, Monto, Monto,
First go up to Monto, langeroo, to you.
When the Tzar of Russia
And the King of Prussia,
Landed in the Phoenix Park in a big balloon,
They asked the Police band to play
The Wearing of the Green,
But the buggers in the Depot
Didn´t know that tune,
\
Legolas Greenleaf long under tree
In joy thou hast lived. Beware of the Sea!
If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore,
Thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more.
[ This Message was edited by: Elerosse on 2003-02-21 19:08 ]
Here’s the lyrics from Mudcat Cafe - Digital Traditions Lyric Database (and a link to the midi) for:
The Excuse a.k.a The Bricklayers Lament a.k.a.
WHY PADDY’S NOT AT WORK TODAY (Excuse Note)
(Pat Cooksey)
Dear Sir I write this note to inform you of my plight
And at the time of writing I am not a pretty sight
My body is all black and blue, my face a deathly gray
I write this note to tell why Paddy’s not at work today
While working on the fourteenth floor, some bricks I had to clear
And to throw them down from off the top seemed quite a good idea
But the gaffer wasn’t very pleased, he was an awful sod
He said I had to cart them down the ladder in me hod.
Well clearing all those bricks by hand, it seemed so very slow
So I hoisted up a barrel and secured the rope below
But in my haste to do the job, I was too blind to see
That a barrel full of building bricks is heavier than me.
So when I had untied the rope, the barrel fell like lead
And clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead
I took off like a rocket and to my dismay I found
That half way up I met the bloody barrel coming down.
Well the barrel broke my shoulder as on to the ground it sped
And when I reached the top I banged the pulley with me head
I held on tight, though numb with shock from this almighty blow
And the barrel spilled out half its load fourteen floors below
Now when those building bricks fell from the barrel to the floor
I then outweighed the barrel so I started down once more
I held on tightly to the rope as I flew to the ground
And I landed on those building bricks that were scattered all
around.
Now as I lay there on the deck I thought I’d passed the worst
But when the barrel reached the top, that’s when the bottom burst
A shower of bricks came down on me, I knew I had no hope
In all of this confusion, I let go the bloody rope.
The barrel being heavier, it started down once more
And landed right on top of me as I lay upon the floor
It broke three ribs and my left arm, and I can only say
That I hope you’ll understand why Paddy’s not at work today.
Copyright Celtic Music
recorded by Ian MacIntosh
filename PADYWORK
TUNE FILE: PRATIGRO
CLICK TO PLAY
A fellow sings this at one our sessios from time to time. We also occasionally hear Old Dun Cow.
\
Enjoy Your Music,
Lee Marsh
From Harper’s Mill, MD.
[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2003-02-19 19:21 ]
Right now the most fun pieces I’m working on are “Ye Banks and Braes” and “Minstrel Boy”. 
Edit: Oh, and also “The Rakes of Mallow”. All those C nats are a workout!
[ This Message was edited by: Soineanta on 2003-02-19 20:20 ]
Hey Lee,
I didn’t know that song had a recognized author, I assumed it was traditional. Learn something new every day.
As to other songs, there’s Hills of Connemara,
Queen of Argyle, I’s the B’y, Rosin the Beau,
Riley’s Daughter, lots and lots that I know of. Check out the Cantaria website, it’s got tons of songs, many with MP3 files
http://www.chivalry.com/cantaria/
That’s all for now,
Seth
I like “The Mountains of Morne” as a comic song. It has such a beautiful melody that it is a surprise to hear the funny lyrics. It’s the story of an Irishman who has gone to London to seek his fortune and is writing a letter to his sweetheart back home; sort of like the country boy gone to town. I wish I had a link to the lyrics for those who don’t know it. Maybe someone could find a link.
I really like playing Drowsie Maggie.. quite a workout for me getting the “stepped scale down” just right every time (like that happens often )
It’s a fun song that you can put a ‘dramatic pause’ into to kinda get the audience going, and good spots for solos. I’ve done rounds with it before… everyone in the session takes a solo
take care,
John
I’m still thinking ‘humourous’ in relation to fun songs, although some people have posted names of tunes (I know, let’s not go there again…)
One funny song is “The Rich man and the Poor Man”.
Someone mentioned “The Mountains of Mourne”
This was written by Willian Percy French - who wrote quite a few hilarious songs. One of my favourites is “Phil The Fluter”.
The lyrics to Mountains of Mourne are quoted below.
Cheers,
Jeroen
MOUNTAINS OF MOURNE
(William Percy French, 1854-1920)
Oh, Mary, this London’s a wonderful sight
With people here working by day and by night
They don’t sow potatoes, nor barley nor wheat
But there’ gangs of them digging for gold in the streets
At least when I asked them that’s what I was told
So I just took a hand at this diggin’ for gold
But for all that I found there I might as well be
Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.
I believe that when writin’ a wish you expressed
As to how the fine ladies in London were dressed
Well, if you believe me, when asked to a ball
Faith, they don’t wear no top to their dresses at all.
Oh, I’ve seen them myself and you could not in trath
Say if they were bound for a ball or a bath
Don’t be startin’ them fashions now, Mary Macree,
Where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.
I’ve seen England’s king from the top of a bus
And I’ve never known him, but he means to know us.
And tho’ by the Saxon we once were oppressed,
Still I cheered, God forgive me, I cheered with the rest.
And now that he’s visited Erin’s green shore
We’ll be much better friends than we’ve been heretofore
When we’ve got all we want, we’re as quiet as can be
Where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.
You remember young Peter O’Loughlin, of course
Well, now he is here at the head of the force
I met him today, I was crossing the Strand
And he stopped the whole street with a wave of his hand
And there we stood talkin’ of days that are gone
While the whole population of London looked on
But for all these great powers he’s wishful like me
To be back where the dark Mourne sweeps down to the sea.
There’s beautiful girls here, oh, never you mind
With beautiful shapes nature never designed
And lovely complexions all roses and cream
But O’Loughlin remarked with regard to the same
That if at those roses you venture to sip
The colours might all come away on your lip
So I’ll wait for the wild rose that’s waitin’ for me
Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.
Ah, what the heck. Here’s the words to Phil the Fluter
Phil the Fluther’s Ball
(Percy French)
Have you heard of Phil the Fluther, of the town of Ballymuck?
The times were going hard with him, in fact the man was broke.
So he just sent out a notice to his neighbours, one an all
As to how he’d like their company that evening at a ball.
And when writin’ out he was careful to suggest to them,
That if they found a hat of his convanient to the dure,
The more they put in, whenever he requested them
The better would the music be for battherin’ the flute.
With the toot of the flute,
And the twiddle of the fiddle, O;
Hopping in the middle, like a herrin’ on the griddle, O.
Up! down, hands aroun’,
Crossing to the wall.
Oh! Hadn’t we the gaiety at Phil the Fluther’s Ball.
There was Mister Denis Dogherty, who kep’ the runnin’ dog;
There was little crooked Paddy, from the Tiraloughett bog;
There was boys from every Barony, and girls from ev’ry ``art’’
And the beautiful Miss Bradys, in a private ass an’ cart,
And along with them came bouncing Mrs. Cafferty,
Little Micky Mulligan was also to the fore,
Rose, Suzanne, and Margaret O’Rafferty,
The flower of Ardmagullion, and the pride of Pethravore.
First, little Micky Mulligan got up to show them how,
And then the Widda’ Cafferty steps out and makes her bow,
I could dance you off your legs, sez she, as sure as you are born,
If ye’ll only make the piper play, ``The hare was in the corn.‘’
So Phil plays up to the best of his ability,
The lady and the gentleman begin to do their share;
Faith, then Mick it’s you that has agility,
Begorra Mrs. Cafferty, yer leppin’ like a hare!
Then Phil the Fluther tipped a wink to little Crooked Pat,
I think it's nearly time,'' sez he, for passin’ round the hat.‘’
So Paddy pass’d the caubeen round, and looking mighty cute.
Sez, Ye've got to pay the piper when he toothers on the flute.'' Then all joined in wid the greatest joviality, Covering the buckle, and the shuffle, and the cut; Jigs were danced, of the very finest quality, But the Widda' bet the company at handling the fut.‘’
Wow! Thanks everyone! I"ve got a lot to go on… But please keep em coming if youv’e got more ideas… Yep, I was refering more to fun singing songs than tunes… Tunes for me are never in short supply!
If you’re looking for something with words, might I recommend the Rattlin Bog (see related thread) and “The Bricklayer,” also known as “Why Paddy is not at work today.”
Have fun!
TOm
Johnny Jump Up.
“The Humors of Whiskey” is another good one. I sing this as a bit of a party piece at some of my ceili’s…
Bri~
Check out “Johnny Tarr” by Gaelic Storm on their disc “Tree”. It’s a song about a guy who drinks so much he dies…of thirst. Come to think of it, “Go Home, Girl!” on the same disc is fun, too.
What about Johnny be Fine? Always gets a laugh and is fun to sing. I love the line:
“the boys are all me brothers and me father is the cause”
There is a stack of songs with abc tunes in a file called dt-songs.abc on the web.
Forget where I found it but I’m sure a search should turn it up. It’s got fast and folksy (Drill ye tarries drill, etc), funny, a couple of good rude songs from the ‘60s English folk club scene, as well as many really good Irish and Scottish folk songs: Locke Hospital, Cliffs of Dooneen, Baron o’ Brackley, etc.
A good humourous song in the come-all-ye style if you’ve the breath for it is “The Good Ship Calibar” about a canal barge. God knows where you will find the lyrics for it. Any comalye tune will do for it if you do.
“The Cruise Of The Calabar” aka “The Good Ship Calabar” can be found in a songbook called “Songs Of Dublin” by Frank Harte, available from http://www.ossianusa.com in New Hampshire. I think they also would have the book entitled “The Songs Of Percy French”. Percy French wrote many humourous songs and the book is well worth having.
Blaine, “Foolish questions” is another cracker which allows audience participation (a slippery slope if there ever was one). I also learned a great parody of “Wild Rover” called “Drunk Driver” from a Connemara man a few years ago. If you’re interested in either one, drop me an e-mail with your address and I’ll post them off to you (my e-mail is on the blink at the moment. Hopefully it’ll be up and running soon). “Biddy McGrath,” a parody of “Mrs. McGrath” is another funny song as are “The Glendalough Saint” and “3 Lovely Lassies From Kimmage” which are old Dubliners songs. Hope this helps.
Ok, I didn’t read really closely so if someone already posted this… sorry to be redundant…
Rolling in the Ryegrass
Not sure if there’s any words to it or not, but if you want to hear it, it’s on Clips n Snips in the reels section. Someone by the nickname “Sweetone” is the one who posted it.
If it’s singing tunes only you’re looking for I don’t know… but if you are looking for a tune to play… this absolutely rocks!!!
I just now figured it out, and am bringing it up to speed. I am definately adding it to the session!!!
Take care all,
John
edit
You guys are amazing! I’ve got a ton of tunes to check out! Haven’t had a chance yet this week… Weeks been busy… And I just got home from playing Bass in my friends rock band… (I’m not a bass player but just play one on TV lol!) My ears are ringing. Grrr! After the gig, there was a piano by the stage… I couldn’t resist but play some Airs on the ol’ upright… Calmed me down… Soothed me soul! Well… Maybe sometime this weekend I’ll be able to check some of these out! I’ll let you know what I pick out! I hope you all are playing in St. Patrick related activities!