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Frank Maher Origins: Steve O'Donnell's Wake (31) Lyr Add: STEVE O'DONNELL'S WAKE 11 Aug 00


This was Recorded on Copley Records by "Hum & Strum" who I believe were from Canada.

STEVE O'DONNELL'S WAKE

Steve O'Donnell was a gentleman, so everybody said.
He was loved by all his friends both rich and poor,
And everyone felt sorry when they heard that Steve was dead,
And they saw the piece of crepe upon the door.

The barber came to shave the Galway slagga from his throat,
And cut his hair in a la pompadour.
A red necktie and buttonhole bouquet was in his coat,
And a bunch of shamrocks in his hand he wore.

Undertaker Feeney had the job to lay O'Donnell out
In a casket of the very finest make.
He dressed the corpse in broadcloth and said, "Boys, there'll be no doubt
That they'll all get drunk at Steve O'Donnell's wake."

There were fighters, biters, and Irish dynamiters.
There was beer, gin, whisky, wine and cake.
There were men in high positions. There were Irish politicians,
And they all got drunk at Steve O'Donnell's wake.

There were 50 candles at his head & 20 at his feet,
Plenty flowers sent for friendship sake.
"Oh Steve, me by'e, why did you die?" the grieving widow said,
And we all felt sad at Steve O'Donnell's wake.

Mike McGovern said that Steve O'Donnell was an awful bum.
Of course he only meant it for a joke,
But Paddy Mack got up his back and he made McGovern run,
'Cause he hit him in the eye an awful poke.

They all joined in the fightin' then 'cause everyone was mad,
And blood enough was spilled to form a lake.
They knocked the corpse down on the floor and blew off all the lights.
There was murder down at Steve O'Donnell's wake.

Then the cops came in to stop the brawl to make them understand,
And the corpse was picked up by his brother Dan,
But someone stole the necktie from around O'Donnell's throat.
Mike McGovern said O'Reilly was the man.

O'Reilly's friends got crazy mad and swore they'd have his life.
McGovern saw he made a great mistake.
They fought and fought and danced around until the cops came in,
And arrested all at Steve O'Donnell's wake.


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