Are there rules to lilting? What syllables you are supposed to use when, and which not, and so forth. I am not so much concerned with getting it right (I’ll diddle anyway I please), but in finding out about the traditional way of doing it. For all I know there may a lilting orthodoxy, then again there may not be.
Thanks
I think that as long as you steer clear of utterances such as “hey nonny nonny” or “shoo-bop shoo-wop”, you ought to be OK. 
Deedily iten diten dop doodly wap dum diddy
deetin-dieten-dideedly-odin-deedly-iden edin dodin doh
Can you recognize Chicago Reel?
Yes, but I think you’re off pitch.
Um, I think you might have meant:
Ratten-datten-diddly-idle-doodly-idle-dum
Ratten-datten-ratten-diddly-idle
Diddly-idle-doodly-idle
Diddly-idle-doodly-idle-diddly-idle-dum
Ratten-datten-ratten-diddly-idle
Doodly-idley-dum
Sorry to get picky …
djm
No way! That’s “The Wise Maid”, but you are doing it in A. 
Oh my God! You’re right! Diddled again … 
djm
And here’s The Repeal of the Union:
A:
ll: Deedle dydle diddy diddle dum-ah diddy diddle dyda
Deedle dydle diddy didda dum-ah diddle diddle dah-uh :ll
B:
Skiddy ditty bit a kitty beat a bite o’ itty bitty
Nitty gritty hit a bit o’ batty ratty deedle dum-ah
Pitter patter scatter litter never know what’s gonna fit her
Wheedle beetle deedle idle pity knittin’ needle dum.
Nanohedron, djm, amazing!
And what’s the technical difference between “lilting” and “dithering?” (Seems like the right place to pose this sort of question.)
The vocables used between verses in one version of “The Rare Ould Mountain Dew” start out with “Hi-the-dithery-all-the-dal . . .”, so may I safely assume that one who sings the tune in this fashion is dithering, and not lilting, or are these activities, in fact, exclusive of one another in their entirety?
Andrew Mac
Boy, I don’t know! The only “dithering” I’ve ever heard about was uncomplimentary and a reference to someone’s babbling a bunch of nonsense. Could be it’s a similar thing to lilting but in a fixed format as part of a song (as in the case you gave us), but that’s just a guess. Lilting as I know it is a way of vocalizing a tune that would otherwise be played on an instrument. I’ve heard a number of ways of going about it. The example you provided could be one style, I think.
Wow. That’s got to be one of the silliest statements ever…I can’t compete with that…how about “Grueling Kazoo Orchestra auditions.”?
I recall a quotation, maybe from Ciaran Carson’s Pocket Guide to Irish music, concerning a lilter who lost a competition for putting in a “diddley-dee” instead of a “diddley-dum.” Or was it the other way around? Anyway.
You should write a detailed email to CCE on this matter, I’m sure they could provide detailed guidelines to correct, true Irish lilting, free of any foreign influence in its pristine purity.
“Dithering” is an adjective, right? Usually used in conjunction with “old fool.” And yes, there is a Kazoo Orchestra.
Kevin, you’ve been undone!
So, why not just admit defeat and stop trying?
I would never start Mountain Dew with such a weak phrase as that. Try something like:
Hyddle diddly-idle-dum, Dyddle diddly-idle-dum, Dyddly dum-di diddly-i day
Mind you, some people have been known to just shout, “Do the Dew”, and jump off a mountain or something. 
djm
In some parts of Ireland, I’m told, lilting is called diddling.
OK, diddley daddies; that’s the only clue I’m giving you.
Oh course, there have always been exceptions. Thus Slim Gaillard:
Laguna O’Rooney
Laguna O’Reenie
Laguna O’Rooney
Lying in the sun and having fun
Next time you’re off to California check it out, McVout.
If you’re interested, there’s a CD that gives a broad view of lilting from various cultures/styles that might serve as an introduction (if you care):
Celtic Mouth Music (Elipsis Arts CD4070, 1997).
djm
Wonderful CD. I think it’s out of print, but i got mine through half.com.
The last track of Garry Shannon’s CD, “Loozin’ Air” contains the most amusing run of lilting I’ve ever heard…it’s worth the price of the album alone. He does the Sally Gardens and the Humours of Tulla and there’s a moment near the end when he gets a bit, um, carried away. Priceless. Totally silly, but priceless.
(edited to spell Garry’s name right…I always forget that he uses two r’s)