Lyr Req: Barry Gleeson’s “This Is Macaronic”

Subject: Lyr Req: Barry Gleeson’s “This Is Macaronic”
From: GUEST,Julie
Date: 09 Dec 24 - 05:25 PM

Does anyone have the lyrics to Barry Gleeson’s Irish/English song “This is Macaronic”? As the title suggests it alternates Irish and English words and phrases. I can pick up bits and pieces but I’d love to have the whole song.

It’s on his 1995 album “Path Across the Ocean” which is up on YouTube. I was actually hoping the lyrics had been included in the liner notes that somebody might already own as it seems quite challenging to transcribe manually, but there’s no harm in asking…!

Here’s a link, in case such things are allowed:
https://youtu.be/Pz72684-3RI?si=5jfa1BZByuxMUQKX

Thanks in advance!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barry Gleeson’s “This Is Macaronic”
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Dec 24 - 06:18 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barry Gleeson’s “This Is Macaronic”
From: cnd
Date: 15 Dec 24 - 08:52 PM

That's a tough one... I opened it with the intent to put down the English lines and could make out about 3-4 phrases with any certainty. Sure wish I knew what they said, cause it's a fun song.

If you can, put out what you've got so far and maybe someone else can help finish.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barry Gleeson’s “This Is Macaronic”
From: GUEST,Julie
Date: 17 Dec 24 - 12:37 AM

Here’s what I think I’m hearing (but I could be wrong—and probably am!)

I went with Liam Ó Murchú to watch ould Cork being slaughtered
Dúirt sé liom ‘tis looking glum, this time we really bought it

Chorus:
Ó bhí mé ann agus tiddlywinks, this is macaronic
Aililiú I’ve the flu, this is macaronic
Dá réir muna thuigeann mise o[?] the plague is cuts bubonic
Nach tusa a bhí [?] [cocky?] on the midfielders, they’re pussyfoot moronic

A Liam, a chroí, a stór, a ghrá, your English is Etonian
Well, you’ve had your chips, your lads are licked, God love ya, old Corconian
[Now] the real hard men with the Cork Dry Gin mixed in with Coca-Colas
Tá sé cloiste gulping pints and [faucets] scoring goal(a)s

Bhí mé ann…

Canavan, Caffrey, Barney Rock, Anton [Bean? Peen?] agus PJ
Why’s poor Liam Ó Murchú ag caint faoi Peirce agus Nietzsche?
Holden, Hargan, “Paisley” Duff, “Con-eye” Joe McNally
The banks have lost the interest in it, or the [?? trolley, or Trá Lí?]

Bhí mé ann…

Jim-John O and Captain Drumm, rinne siad an “meetful”[?]
Ma thuganin ar aghaidh ‘s [??] they musta had a peetful[?]

Bhí mé ann…

Slán go fóill a [can’t get any of this, maybe ends with Coillte?]
Pairs Uí Cuív is full of “meal”[?]
They’re sorry that they built ya

Bhí mé ann…

So it seems to be about the All Ireland football semifinal in 1983 between Cork and Dublin, which Dublin won. All the names in the third and fourth verses were the Dublin team, known as the 12 Apostles). Parc Uí Cuív is the stadium in Cork, and Liam Ó Murchú was an RTE presenter and personality from Cork. Beyond that, I’m lost. (He can’t be saying “I’ve the flu” and “bubonic plague…can he?)

Maybe someone else can fill in the gaps?

Thanks again!
Julie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barry Gleeson’s “This Is Macaronic”
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Dec 24 - 12:39 AM

Sorry, I typed the second line wrong in the chorus. Should be:

Ó bhí mé ann agus tiddlywinks, this is macaronic
Aililiú I’ve the flu, [me ??] that’s ironic
Dá réir muna thuigeann mise o[?] the plague is cuts bubonic
Nach tusa a bhí [?] [cocky?] on the midfielders, they’re pussyfoot moroni

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barry Gleeson’s “This Is Macaronic”
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Dec 24 - 12:43 AM

And the correct spelling for the stadium should be Pairc Uí Chaoimh.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barry Gleeson’s “This Is Macaronic”
From: GUEST,Julie
Date: 17 Dec 24 - 12:54 AM

and I think “Paisley” Duff might actually be “Hazley, Duff.”

No more footnotes from me!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barry Gleeson’s “This Is Macaronic”
From: cnd
Date: 17 Dec 24 - 07:55 AM

That's a good starting point! Here's hoping someone knowledgeable can bring us across the finish line.

You've already keyed in on the one piece of info I found about the song, via Hot Press: Another example of this off-the-wall humour, ‘This Is Macaronic’, was inspired by the all-Ireland semi-final of 1983 when Dublin beat Cork at Pairc Ui Chaoimh: “I went with Liam O’Murchu to watch oul’ Cork being slaughtered/Duirt sé liom, tis looking glum, this time we’ve really bought it.”

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barry Gleeson’s “This Is Macaronic”
From: cnd
Date: 19 Dec 24 - 08:06 AM

I posted the song to a Gaelic language forum online (click) and someone came back with the following response:

This is what I can hear:

0:00 I went with Liam Ó Murchú to watch ould Cork being slaughtered. Dúirt sé liom, “tis looking glum, this time we’ve really bought it”
0:08 Ó bhí mé ann agus tiddlywinks, this is macaronic
0:12 Aililiú I’ve the flu, [ní ciú dom?] that sardonic
0:15 De réir mar a thuigeann mise, the plague they’ve caught’s bubonic
0:19 Gach tosaí, every tacaí, ar na midfielders, they’re pussyfoot moronic.
0:23 A Liam, a chroí, a stór, a ghrá, your English is Etonian. Well, you’ve had your chips, your lads are licked, God love ya, old Corconian! Now the real hard men with the Cork Dry Gin mixed in with Coca-Colas, Tá siad cliste gulping pints, uafásach scoring goals.
0:39 CURFÁ
0:54 Canavan, Caffrey, Barney Rock, Anton, Bean, agus P.J. Why’s poor Liam Ó Murchú ag caint faoi Pearse agus Nietzsche? Holden, Hargan, Hazley, Duff, Cott’n-Eye Joe McNally
1:06 The banks have lost the interest in it, [or rara?] [late rally?]
1:10 CURFÁ
1:25 Jim-John O and Captain Drumm, rinne siad an needful; Má thugann ar aghaidh ‘s fuinneamh duit, they musta had a feedful.
1:33 CURFÁ
1:49 Slán go fóill, ar aon nós, Liam, bualadh bos isn't tuillte. Páirc Uí Chaoimh is full of now, “They’re sorry that they built it”
1:57 CURFÁ
I'm not certain about the “Aililiú I’ve the flu” line or the “The banks have lost the interest in it” line; I can't make out the words properly.