Got here, belatedly, trying to check the lyrics of "The Soddin", a song we adopted for family song sessions since "Ireland Sings" came out on Pye 1965. I'd transcribed the words fr LP but never was happy with "the widow she manfully takes off her cant" ... I'd assumed, being a lazy Scot, that "cant" was some oirish word for veil or bonnet, but could never find dictionary confirmation.

So thanks, Joe Offer, if yer still around, for the published words, I can understand "tales off her cant" cos I know "cant" from traveller tongue, BUT, replaying the album, I'd swear Dom sings "takes off". But who cares, its a wonderful rant. We could use more of them these days. If yer singing this song, be aware that Dominic sings "begod" rather than Joe's quoted "bejeyes" in verses 1 and 6 ... and rightly so, it scans better to the tune.

Thx for the interesting thread, and now I have directions to the pub after my planned Glasnevin visit in October
don