Foot and mouth is, of course, no joke. Here are the two songs which appeared in recent threads. I hear rumours of at least one from the 1940's outbreak in Ireland, but haven't found it yet. No sign of one from the current outbreak.

Regards

Here's the two songs about Foot and Mouth that have appeared in recent threads

Song 1: From 1967
Foot and Mouth Disease
(J Burke, Donegal)

Though you may boast of foreign lands, there's trouble everywhere
When you hear the farmers talking at the markets and the fairs
For we must take this warning at home or overseas
If we want to keep our country free from foot and mouth disease

'Tis raging over in England - in most places can be found
And it's bad news for our exiles - 'twill devaluate the pound
Should anyone return home, take all precautions please
To protect your native birthplace from the foot and mouth disease

Our statesmen are all working hard to give them all their dues
Don't enter fair or market till you disinfect your shoes
For if you do you'll break the law, no decent man you'll please
As we fight the epidemic of the foot and mouth disease.

They've had to ban all racing from our sportsmen one and all
And they could make no distinction right from Cork to Donegal
But we cannot grumble when we hear what Mister Wilson says
Of how many beasts they've slaughtered from the foot and mouth disease

Before I do lay down my pen, I'll say these few words more
May the Lord protect our Irish soil and keep it from our shore
Our racehorses too will get a rest and our greyhounds we can't praise
Till we can keep old Ireland free from foot and mouth disease!

The suggested air was "The Bonny Boy".

---

Song 2 : circa 1910? Posted by McGrath of Harlow

Air: The Groves of Blarney

As I walked over to Magheraroarty
On a summer evening not long ago,
I met a maiden most sadly weeping,
Her cheeks downstreaming with the signs of woe.
I asked what ailed her, as sure became me
In manner dacent with never a smile.
She said, I'll tell you, O youthful stranger,
What is my danger at the present time.

On my father's land there are many mansions
With sheep and cattle and pigs go léor,
Until the Saxon came over the border
With detention orders that raked him sore.
His herds they plundered and killed five hundred,
And the rest they sundered, north, east and south,
Saying keep the hides and the woollen fleeces
For the beasts have diseases of the foot and mouth!

With these words deceitful sure he was cheated,
Not a mouth was dropping, not a hoof was sprung,
But the only disease came over from England
The Cloven Hoof and the Dirty Tongue.
Now what can avail me, O youthful stranger
To save the beasts and my father's life,
And my marriage portion that's my only fortune
For the lad that's courting me to be his wife?
^^