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Lyr Add: A Pint of Plain is Your Only Man
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Lyr Add: A Pint of Plain is Your Only Man |
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Subject: ADD:Pint of Plain is Your Only Man/Workman's Frien From: Snuffy Date: 24 May 00 - 07:22 PM The current thread on Gaelic 'Mots d'Heures' mentions Myles na gCopaleen, aka Flann O'Brien. It reminded me of this piece of his in praise of Black Porter. Has this ever been set to music/recorded? Or would anybody like to try? THE WORKMAN'S FRIEND ("Jem Casey") When things go wrong and will not come right, Though you do the best you can, When life looks black as the hour of night - A PINT OF PLAIN IS YOUR ONLY MAN. When money's tight and is hard to get, And your horse has also ran, When all you have is a heap of debt - A PINT OF PLAIN IS YOUR ONLY MAN. When health is bad and your heart feels strange, And your face is pale and wan, When doctors say that you need a change - A PINT OF PLAIN IS YOUR ONLY MAN. When food is scarce and your larder bare, And no rashers grease your pan, When hunger grows as your meals are rare - A PINT OF PLAIN IS YOUR ONLY MAN. In time of trouble and lousy strife, You have still got a darlint plan, You still can turn to a brighter life - A PINT OF PLAIN IS YOUR ONLY MAN. By Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan) in the novel "At Swim-Two-Birds" (1939) VRH
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A Pint of Plain is Your Only Man From: MsMoon Date: 24 May 00 - 07:53 PM How strange! Just the other night, driving back from a band rehearsal, I thought to myself "Wouldn't that "Pint of Plain" make a great song? I should set it to music..." I'll work on it, and get back to you! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A Pint of Plain is Your Only Man From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 24 May 00 - 08:41 PM I think the Dubliners recorded it. Probably other people have as well. I don't know if it's got an agreed tune. In a setting where it's be appropriate to sintg it there's a sort of ur-melody that attaches itself to words like these.
It's really more of a monologue with a bellowed chorus line.
The sad thing is that you can't get Plain anymore - it was a porter with a little less body than the Guinness they sell now, which was the next grade up(that's why it's got all those Xs, and it's called Guinness Extra Stout). You could drink more of it without ill effects, they say. But they phased it out before my time. Another blow to the drinkin' man. And the drinkin' woman.
I sometimes wonder if St James Infirmary has anything to do with St James's Gate... |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A Pint of Plain is Your Only Man From: Leadfingers Date: 12 May 16 - 07:00 PM The late Tony Goldsmith (of 'Pigfoot' ) did a nice setting which I still sing regularly. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A Pint of Plain is Your Only Man From: Joe Offer Date: 12 May 16 - 07:52 PM There are some interesting YouTube recordings of this piece: |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A Pint of Plain is Your Only Man From: mayomick Date: 12 May 16 - 08:13 PM you can still get plain in The John Hewitt pub in Belfast . |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A Pint of Plain is Your Only Man From: GUEST Date: 17 Jan 17 - 05:01 PM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Yyhof5hho A Pint O' Plain Gerry McGowan Gerry McGowan |
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