The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #68767   Message #1219535
Posted By: Jim Dixon
05-Jul-04 - 06:50 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Irish songs about balls, wakes, soirees
Subject: Lyr Add: THE FINNEGAN CALICO BALL (Cohan, 1881)
From The Library of Congress American Memory Collection

THE FINNEGAN CALICO BALL
Words by J. Cohan. Arr'd by Robert Recker, 1881.

1. "Bismarck Finnegan, Esquire," that's my cognomen in full,
Statesman by occupation, a Democrat dyed in wool.
Gay, grand, high-ton'd and dacent are all the Finnegans bright.
Come one and all to the calico ball at the Finnegan mansion tonight.

CHORUS 1: Finnegan's great, and Finnegan's grand.
Hear the sweet music of the Finnegan band.
Josies, Jennies and Bridgets dress'd in their calicos all,
Ate, drink, laugh and be merry at the Finnegan calico ball.

2. Roses, nosegays and posies fragrantly filling the room,
Smelt by Irish pug-noses on faces wid pleasure's bloom,
Music wafting with laughter rippling from lips all aglow,
Teeth like pearls of the first water, the Finnegan beauties show.

CHORUS 2: Finnegan's common, and Finnegan's grand.
Finnegan music from Finnegan's band.
Patsies, Katies and Arthurs, Julias, Dans, Marys and all,
Wealth, style, beauty and brains at the Finnegan calico ball.