Thanks, Pat, for a great song. I had no idea who the author was--didn't even think about that. I got it orally from Seamus MacMathuna in about 1983. He called it "The Bricklayer's Sad Lamentation" and used the name Johnny instead of Paddy or Murphy. The tune he used is "The Garden Where the Praties Grow" which can be found in most of your garden variety "Favorite Irish Songs (of the Danny Boy sort)" books. But it can have great dramatic impact if you depart from the normal steady rhythm of the tune and stretch and condense (as in sean nós) it to better fit the cadence of the words, especially with a pause just before the final phrase of each verse.

I will sing it at our upcoming song circle and from now on properly credit it.

Thanks again,

David