Lyr Req: The Irish Were Egyptians Long Ago

Subject: Lyr Req: It must have been the irish
From: GUEST,Cookyless Gulliver
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 05:13 PM

Looking for the words of this song, probably written by Jimmy O'Dea, that starts off:

It must have been the Irish, who built the pyramids,
For no one else could carry up the bricks.
It must have been a Doyle, who swam the river Nile,
For no one but an Irishman could fight a crocodile.

Thanks in advance, Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: It must have been the irish
From: Peace
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 05:20 PM

It must have been the Irish, who built the pyramids,
For no one else could carry up the bricks.
It must have been a Doyle, who swam the river Nile,
For no one but an Irishman could fight a crocodile.
And every Houlihan once led a caravan;
They say the same for every Mc and O.
When Moses came to Egypt and saw those Irish faces,
He took the name of Callahan and changed it to O'Asis.
Now all the Houlihans and all the Gilligans
Must have been Egyptians long ago-o-o-o-o-o.

---

from http://www.madinpursuit.com/Family/Price/irish_songs.htm???
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: It must have been the irish
From: Peace
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 05:23 PM

Hang on.

Title: Irish were Egyptians long ago
Composer: Smith, Chris
Lyricist: Bryan, Alfred
Publication: New York: Jerome H. Remick & Co., 1920

You can view the sheet music here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: It must have been the irish
From: Peace
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 05:37 PM

Also, for some reason I think this has been addressed on Mudcat before. But it's a hazy memory.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: It must have been the irish
From: Peace
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 05:53 PM

NOTE the song title is "The Irish Were Egyptians Long Ago".

Song harvesters: it isn't in the DT.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: It must have been the irish
From: Mickey191
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 05:57 PM

One more Question Peace: What color were Chris Smith's eyes?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: It must have been the irish
From: Peace
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 05:59 PM

I would expect Black (as was the man himself).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: It must have been the irish
From: Peace
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 06:05 PM

(Dark brown anyway.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: It must have been the irish
From: Peace
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 06:44 PM

Please note (I'm making a mess of this) that there are more words to the song than are in the post above. I will try to get the whole song transcribed from the sheet music in the next few days.

AND please note that page 6 of the sheet music is actually another song enttiled "My Isle of Golden Dreams". FYI.

(I'll transcribe that, too.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: It must have been the irish
From: Peace
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 08:13 PM

NOTE

Some lyrics are missing from the sheet music due to damage. Where words are missing, I will use [ . . . ] to indicate so.

The lyrics.



[ . . . ] studied things Egyptic
Those writings weird and cryptic
Upon the tombs that dot Sahara's sands
I've solved each strange inscription
Left by each wise Egyptian
And hold the mystic secret in my hands

The Irish were Egyptians long ago
Just read between the lines and you will know

It must have been the Irish who built the pyramids
For no one else could carry up the bricks
It must have been a Doyle who dug the river Nile,
For no one but an Irishman would fight a crocodile

I think the Micks were Turks, Mohammedans and Ghurks
They spoke of "Irish Turkey" till today
Cleopatra was a cor[ . . . ]
Came from Connemara
She lost her nationality while roaming in Sahara
So all the Hooligans and all the Dooligans
Must have been Egyptians long ago.




It must have been the Irish who built the pyramids
For no one else could carry up the bricks
It must have been a Doyle who dug the river Nile,
For no one but an Irishman would fight a crocodile

Now ev'ry Houlihan once drove a caravan
I'll say the same for ev'ry Mac and O
And when Moses went to Egypt[ . . . ]
[ . . . ] saw those Irish faces
He took the name O'Callahan and chang'd it to Oasis
So all the Hooligans and all the Dooligans
Must have been Egyptians long ago.



It would be great if someone who reads sheet music would ensure I've done things properly. If not, would you please correct it for the DT?

Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: It must have been the irish
From: Peace
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 08:17 PM

My best guess at the missing pieces would be as follows:


[ . . . ] studied things Egyptic       [I've or I have]


Cleopatra was a cor[ . . . ]             [corrina (?)]


And when Moses went to Egypt[ . . . ]    [places]
[ . . . ] saw those Irish faces          [And saw]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: It must have been the irish
From: Peace
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 08:23 PM

And when Moses went to Egypt[ . . . ] or Egypt[ian places]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: It must have been the irish
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Sep 07 - 12:28 PM

Well, I guess we're still at the "fragment" stage, although we almost have a full set of lyrics. Can anybody fill in the blanks?

It was recorded by Billy Murray in 1942, and the Roches sang it on the Dick Cavett Show in 1985 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBWLGzA0byw]. I can't download the YouTube with my dialup connection.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: It must have been the irish
From: Peace
Date: 28 Sep 07 - 03:13 PM

I'll get to the Youtube this evening.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: It must have been the irish
From: Gulliver
Date: 28 Sep 07 - 03:56 PM

Thanks, Peace! You're a marvel!

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: It must have been the irish
From: Peace
Date: 29 Sep 07 - 12:16 PM

I, I've studied things Egyptic
Those writings weird and cryptic
Upon the tombs that dot Sahara's sands
I've solved each strange inscription
Left by each wise Egyptian
And hold the mystic secret in my hands

The Irish were Egyptians long ago
Just read between the lines and you will know

It must have been the Irish who built the pyramids
For no one else could carry up the bricks
It must have been a Doyle who dug the river Nile,
For no one but an Irishman would fight a crocodile

I think the Micks were Turks, Mohammedans and Ghurks
They spoke of "Irish Turkey" till today
Cleopatra was a colleen
Came from Connemara
She lost her nationality while roaming in Sahara
So all the Hooligans and all the Dooligans
Must have been Egyptians long ago.




It must have been the Irish who built the pyramids
For no one else could carry up the bricks
It must have been a Doyle who dug the river Nile,
For no one but an Irishman would fight a crocodile

Now ev'ry Houlihan once drove a caravan
I'll say the same for ev'ry Mac and O
And when Moses went to Egypt
And saw those Irish faces
He took the name O'Callahan and chang'd it to Oasis
So all the Hooligans and all the Dooligans
Must have been Egyptians long ago.





Please note: the blanks have been filled in from the YOUTUBE broadcast, but it appears the gals were not working from the sheet music because they differ in other parts of the song (with phrasings and some words). However, unless someone can come up with sheet music that isn't damaged, I expect this may be as good as it gets. The song in this post needs fixin' up. If anyone reads sheet music, please correct the way this thing looks for the DT. Thanks.

Subject: LYRIC ADD--see post above.
From: Peace
Date: 29 Sep 07 - 07:04 PM

Subject: Lyr Add: THE IRISH WERE EGYPTIANS LONG AGO
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 09:52 PM

The Archive of Popular American Music at UCLA also has a copy of the sheet music, minus its cover. I have put the words in boldface that were missing or wrong in the transcription above. I also put 4 lines of each chorus in italics so you can more easily see how the 2 choruses differ.

THE IRISH WERE EGYPTIANS LONG AGO
Words, Alfred Bryan. Music, Chris Smith.
From "Shubert Gaieties of 1919"
New York: Jerome H. Remick & Co., © 1920.

VERSE: I've studied things Egyptic,
Those writings weird and cryptic
Upon the tombs that dot Sahara's sands.
I've solved each strange inscription
Left by each wise Egyptian
And hold the mystic secret in my hands.
The Irish were Egyptians long ago.
Just read between the lines and you will know.

CHORUS 1: It must have been the Irish who built the pyramids,
For no one else could carry up the bricks.
It must have been a Doyle who dug the river Nile,
For no one but an Irishman would fight a crocodile.
  I think these Micks were Turks, Mohammedans and Ghurks.
  They speak of "Irish Turkey" till today.
  Cleopatra was a colleen who came from Connemara.
  She lost her nationality while roaming in Sahara,
So all the Hooligans and all the Dooligans
Must have been Egyptians long ago.

CHORUS 2: It must have been the Irish who built the pyramids,
For no one else could carry up the bricks.
It must have been a Doyle who dug the river Nile,
For no one but an Irishman would fight a crocodile.
  Now ev'ry Houlihan once drove a caravan.
  I'll say the same for ev'ry Mac and O,
  And when Moses went to Egypt and saw those Irish faces,
  He took the name O'Callahan and chang'd it to Oasis,
So all the Hooligans and all the Dooligans
Must have been Egyptians long ago.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Irish Were Egyptians Long Ago
From: GUEST,EmilyCavanaugh
Date: 20 May 08 - 07:12 PM

I loved your play . How do you get on the web site . I thought there were movies .WE LOVED THE DULLIGANS HOLLIGANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!






                                                    From ,
                                              Central School,
                                              Emily Cavanaugh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Irish Were Egyptians Long Ago
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 May 08 - 07:55 PM

Amazing!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Irish Were Egyptians Long Ago
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 May 08 - 09:41 PM

You Irish Peace ....?

I always hoped you were a born again Canadian.

the micks are alright, but they are argumenative beyond the borders and bournes of commonsense.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Irish Were Egyptians Long Ago
From: 12-stringer
Date: 21 May 08 - 12:11 AM

For an .mp3 of the song, go to this page and scroll down a little:

http://www.archive.org/details/HarrysTavernBandwithBillyMurray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Irish Were Egyptians Long Ago
From: GUEST,ojoemko
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 03:01 PM

FYI - The Cardinal - an Otto Preminger movie of the 60s - loosely based on the novel by Henry Morton Robinson which was believed to be loosely based on the life of Francis Cardinal Spellman of New York.

The protagonist "Fr. Fermoyle" - his sister becomes engaged and his brother is playing this song in the background at her engagement party.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Irish Were Egyptians Long Ago
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 05:31 PM

Re link http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/sheetmusic/devincent.do?&id=LL-SDV-149046&q1=LL-SDV-149046&sid=374380f18b2479fcae4edf9dee53a048

Message
Peace - PM
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 05:23 PM
refers above

Indiana University Sheet Music replaced by IN Harmony: Sheet Music from Indiana

The Indiana University Sheet Music web site has been replaced by IN Harmony: Sheet Music from Indiana:

http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/collections/inharmony

Please visit the new web site address and update your bookmarks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Irish Were Egyptians Long Ago
From: GUEST,micky mac
Date: 03 Jul 13 - 08:02 AM

(I HAVE)STUDIED E.T.C.   CLEOPATRA WAS A( CAILIN)E.T.C. AND WHEN MOSES WENT TO EGYPT (AND)SAW THOSE IRISH FACES E.T.C.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Irish Were Egyptians Long Ago
From: open mike
Date: 04 Aug 20 - 01:55 PM

Cleopatra was a colleen....   The Roches sing on the Dick Cavett Show