Lyr ADD: Are You There, Moriarity?

Subject: Moriarity
From: Fiolar
Date: 03 Jul 99 - 05:53 AM

Am seeking the words to a song entitled "Moriarity" at least I think that is the name. The chorus is as follows: I'm a well known bobby, Of the stalwart squad. I belong to the DMG, And the people cry As I passs by Aren't you Moriarity

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Lesley N.
Date: 03 Jul 99 - 08:32 PM

I was drawn to this thread because of my fondness for Sherlock Holmes! (For those who aren't Conan Doyle fans - Moriarty was Holmes' archnemisis.) It strikes me funny to have a bobby named Moriarty! (No offense to any other Moriartys out there....

Incredibly I found a tune named Sherlock Holmes in the Scottish Students' Songbook... It must have been writteen shortly after Holmes' perished with the non-bobby Moriarty because the last verse says the Swiss story is a plant! (And Doyle did eventually bring him back)

That's as close as I got. Hope someone else will be able to help!

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Peter T.
Date: 04 Jul 99 - 01:57 PM

This sounds a bit like T.S. Eliot's cat book.
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 10 Jul 99 - 08:16 PM

DMP = Dublin Metropolitan Police! I know the song =- not sure if I have a set of words.

Regards

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 11 Jul 99 - 06:57 PM

And speaking of Conan Doyle.... I heard a friend of mine singing a very nice setting of a poem of Doyles called (I think) "Cremona" - about one of the battles of the Wild Geese .

Regards

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Lesley N.
Date: 11 Jul 99 - 07:35 PM

Yes, he's a very interesting man - wrote a lot of historical novels besides Sherlock. There's a neat bio of him at the The Conan Doyle Society (http://www.ash-tree.bc.ca/acdsbio.html). Tried to do a search for Cremona and Doyle - got mostly violin stuff! Guess It will have to wait for a visit to the library - darn, I must prefer instant gratification!

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Jul 99 - 10:38 PM

Lesley N: Did you ever read the Seven Percent Solution? Not by Doyle, but about Holmes & fun nevertheless. There was a movie mad eof it many about 20 years ago; can't remember much of it, except that it made me want to read the book, which I did, too many mons ago to say much except that I know I enjoyed it!

katlaughing&worriedaboutthelittlegraycells!

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Jul 99 - 03:32 AM

I'm still hoping somebody will come up with the lyrics to this song. Is it possible?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Lesley N.
Date: 12 Jul 99 - 08:00 AM

Sorry Joe! I AM trying to keep it alive though so someone will notice because I'd like them too!

katlaughing, I went through a Holmes phase where I read everything (Holmesian (well, not quite, don't think that's possible) - by anyone - Gardiner, Adrian Doyle, etc. Watched every Holmes movie too. There's even a new rececent series where a woman becomes his partner and marries him (the bee keepers apprentice) and, of course an Irene Adler series and series about his son (by Irene Adler) being a detectivein New York - an incomlete list of new stuff to be sure! Saw lots of movies too. Loved seven percent solution, both the book and movie - Nicholas Meyer, I think. My guilty pleasure is the TV movie the return of sherlock holmes with Michael Moriarty and Maragaret Colin - she revives him after 100 years... I'll never get into the Baker Street Irregulars if that goes public!

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 12 Jul 99 - 02:29 PM

More-ee-are-eye-tee! I don't have words to hand - but should be able to pick up a set over the next week, if they don't appear here before then.

Regards

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 16 Jul 99 - 04:27 PM

Found a set of words (including verses I don't think I've ever heard) in, curiously enough, a Burl Ives Irish SongBook. He ascribes it to a Mr. Louis Tierney. I don't have time to transcribe it at the moment.

Regards

Subject: ADD: ARE YOU THERE, MORIARITY? (from Burl Ives)
From: Lesley N.
Date: 17 Feb 00 - 11:29 PM

I found the Burl Ives book and recalled this thread and thought I'd check to see if it had ever been complete. Don't know if anyone is still interested, but here goes -as per Burl Ives, "Are You There, MO-RI-AR-I-TY?":

ARE YOU THERE, MORIARITY?
(from Burl Ives)

Whin first I kem to Dublin town
'Twas in eighteen eighty three,
I wint direct, wid me head erect,
For to join the D.M.P.
Me majestic feet woke Kevin Street,
As I walked up proud an' free;
For well I knew they could nto do
Wid out me, MORIARITY!

Chorus:
I'm a well known bobby of the stalwart squad,
I belong to the D.M.P.
And the girls all cry as I pass by:
Are you there, MORIARITY?

On, on, I wint widout accidint,
Till the station came in view,
Then meself I saw as a limb of the law,
Dressed out like a big Boy Blue.
As thro' the gate of me future fate
I sthrode on manfully,
All the polis creid when they seen me sthride,
"An' is this MORIARITY?"

Chorus

Wid no delay, I drew me pay
And began for to study too,
A polisman I soon beame,
Prepared for me job to do.
Theives, far and near, I filled with fear,
Gaol-birds avoided me;
Malefactors trembled when they heard,
"Here's MORIARITY!"

Chorus

Whin to coort I went, on business bent,
The Jedge on his binch looked grim;
But after awhile I's see him smile,
If I happened to glance at him.
Thin I'd hear him say in a solemn way:
"Now, and who could that man be?"
"My Lord," said the clerk, "he's a man of mark,
Name of MO-RI-AR-I-TY."

Chorus

The Latin I knew in a week or two,
And I gave them soon a shock
Whin I hurled a junk av a "quid pro nunc."
With a "post" and a "propter hoc."
A "habeas corpus" or "aqua fortis,"
Was all the same to me!
Whin I'd take the floor the crier would roar:
"Wisha! Here's MO-RI-AR-I-TY!"

Chorus

The ladies too, I very soon knew,
Wor smitten, wan and all;
For beneath me spell, they quickly fell,
And I held them in me thrall.
Wid me handsome face, wid me charm and grace,
They thought and they dreamt of me;
And whin I'd pass by I could hear them sigh:
"Oh, I love MO-RI-AR-I-TY!"

Chorus

Whin me work is done and me coorse is run,
And I've walked on me last long beat,
And to Heaven's shore I'll quickly soar,
Saint Peter there to meet,
Sure, I hope he'll say, in a kindly way,
"Is it there, Tim, yerself I see;
Yer reward you've won for yer work well done,
Shtep in! MO-RI-AR-I-TY!"

Chorus

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Mbo
Date: 17 Feb 00 - 11:40 PM

Ahh...this is very interesting. My sister is a rampant Doyle afficianado, and is a member of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Society. She has tons & tons of his poems, including "Cremona" which is VERY good. I've put 2 of Doyle's poems to music. If yer needing any info on Doyle, my sister's the one to ask--and I'll be glad to tell her if anyone has a poem request.

--Mbo (also a Doyle fan as well)

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Crowhugger
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 12:12 AM

Peter T, isn't that Macavity?

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Mbo
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 12:14 AM

His powers of levitation could make a fakir stare!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: GUEST,Bud Savoie
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 07:17 AM

In one of O'Casey's plays, a fellow is singing, more or less in the background, "Me pipe I'll smoke as I dhrive [sic] me moke. Are ye there, Mor-e-ar-i-tee?" Sounds like Lesley's Burl Ives model. Wish I knew the tune.

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 08:26 AM

Of course Moriarty was suspected of being a "dirty old spy" in the "Fenians of Calacaveen (?sp lost the cover to my tape with it on).

Jon

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 08:34 AM

Crowhugger, Macavity is Cleigh's reply to, "Why does Spaw love you so much?"

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Troll
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 08:35 AM

"But when you come to the scene of crime, Macavity's not there!"

troll

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Lesley N.
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 08:44 AM

Bud, As I'm home for the day (snowed in) I'm working on a midi of the tune. Should have it done some time today. I'll post here when it's done.

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Wolfgang
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 08:47 AM

for Jon Freeman: Cahirciveen is the name and you mixed the story up: Captain Moriarty is the good one betrayed by the action of a 'dirty old spy' (click for check). Though with the name of Moriarty for a hero it is easy to make a slip of memory. (grin)

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 09:07 AM

Thanks Wolfgang and I stand corrected. Thanks also for refreshing the thread with the lyrics. I have just played my copy of the Johnstones "Ye Jacobites By Name" and notice that you have more verses.

Jon

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Lesley N.
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 09:43 AM

And a midi and information from Burl Ives is here (http://www.contemplator.com/folk6/moriarty.html).

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 01:53 PM

Ha! So that's why I had a copy of this song in a file! I'd forgottesn the thread, having gone to the trouble of copying it from the Burl Ives book. Here's his notes on same:

"This song became generally popular through the singer Gerard Crofts in the internment camps set up after the 1916 rebellion. A few of the references that might not be familiar to us in the States are:
DMP : Dublin Metropolitan Police, supereseded after the treaty of 1921 by the Civic Guards, Metropolitan Division.
Polis (pr. poe-liss)policeman: local pronunciation
Bobby: The police forces in England and Ireland were first established by SIr Robert Peel, Policemen are also known as Peelers.
Kevin Street refers to a Dublin police precinct."

To which I would only add that Kevin Street police station still exists, next door to St. Patrick's cathedral in Dublin. In fact, I think it was originally the Dean's House or some such part of the cathedral foundation.

Regards

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From:
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 01:29 PM

All the Irish versions of "Are You There, Moriarity?" are derived from the Irish-American original, published in 1876, with words by Edward Harrigan (of Harrigan and Hart) and music by David Braham.

Several Harrigan songs became popular in Irish music halls, some with new melodies, others with lyrics adaptated to the local scene, such as the transformation of the NY Metropolitan Police to the Dublin Metropolitan Police in "Moriarity."

Jimmy Crowley of Cork sings "Moriarity," and probably recorded it somewhere.

You can view images of the original sheet music on the website of the Lester Levy sheet music collection

http://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu

https://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/sites/default/files/collection-pdfs/levy-072-002.pdf

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: MartinRyan
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 02:16 PM

Very interesting! Thanks, Guest.

Regards

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Greyeyes
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 02:21 PM

So the Moriarty in the song predates Conan Doyle's Moriarty? Interesting, I wonder if he was familiar with the song.

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 02:30 PM

And while we're about it, has anyone got the words of a monologue "Moriarty's Christmas" or Moriarty's Homecoming" or something like that. I've asked before, but noone's come up with it so far.

No relation at all to the good old Dublin peeler - it's about a man working over in England who puts off going home to see his poor old mother just a little bit too long, and gets home for Christmas at last, just in time to miss her funeral.

Subject: Lyr Add: LITTLE PUB IN LONDON
From: Greyeyes
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 03:09 PM

McGrath of Harlow, is this the one?

LITTLE PUB IN LONDON

In a little pub in London, Moriarty drank his beer
And recited wondrous stories of his exploits far and near.
"Sing an Irish song" said Kelly, "Best of order one and all"
Then Moriarty sang for them, 'The Hills of Donegal'.

There was cheering at the finish and they called Encore! Encore!
Moriarty said "Listen lads, I can't sing anymore".
He stood there sad and silent and gazed into his beer
And in his eyes there glistened, the starting of a tear.

"Are you going home for Christmas" the kindly barmaid said
Moriarty fixed his gazed on her and slowly shook his head.
"Sure I haven't been to Ireland for, twenty years or more
My mother would hardly know me, if I walked up to the door."

"I was born" said Moriarty "On an island off the west
The last place God created but the first place that he blessed.
We were poor but we were happy, in our simple little way,
My God, I wish I was a boy again, to live my youthful days."

"My Father, God be good to him, was drowned one woeful night
My Mother, left all lonesome and myself, to work and fight.
So with Donald Rue McCarty and young Michael Og O'Shea
I came across to England, to earn an honest pay."

"I told my dear old Mother, I'd soon be home again
But the curse-of-drink came over me and enslaved me in its chain.
So I haven't been to Ireland now for, twenty years or more
But I know, she's still there waiting, for my footsteps at the door."

Then someone started singing, 'See Amid the Winter Snow'
It was like an old bell ringing, far away and long ago.
Moriarty stood and listened, then pushed his glass away
And he made a solemn promise, he'd go home for Christmas day.

So he scraped up every penny, he could get into his hand
And coming up to Christmas, he sailed for Ireland.
His heart was filled with gladness and he felt content at last
As the train rolled through the midlands and brought him to the west.

In the village of Kinshela, that night upon the shore
Far across the deep blue waters, he saw his island home once more.
The stars were shining brightly, sure they glistened like a dome
On that little white-washed cottage, that was Moriarty's home.

"Tis a grand night for the sailing" said the boatman Thomas Bawn
Moriarty didn't know him, for he'd been away so long
So they climbed into the bolleen and the boatman heard him say
"Thank God! Thank God in heaven, I'll be home for Christmas day."

In a little room in London, Moriarty's poor abode
On a table in the hallway, a message lay unread
The message said, "Dear Danny, your poor mother has passed away"
She'll be buried in Kinshela, after Mass, on Christmas day.

(Trad/Arr. Kerr) Outlet Music.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 3-Jun-02.

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: nutty
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 05:53 PM

Mbo
I am also a lover of Doyles poetry and have set one song to music...The Old Grey Fox....which my group sing and which always goes down well with folkies

I would love to know which songs you do

If this is going to muck up the thread you could let me know in a PM , please

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 07:21 PM

Thanks Greyeyes! - the Mudcat shows it's magic side once more. I see the man got home for the funeral after all, so that's something anyway.

I don't suppose anybody's got any idea who wrote it? (I know it says traditional, but that just means the fella that put it down didn't know who wrote it, but didn't have the dishonesty to say he had.)

I see it says "music by" - but would that be sung with a tune, or just spoken against a backing? I'm pretty sure when I heard it it was spoken.

A tearjerker anyway.

Subject: RE: Moriarty
From: Greyeyes
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 01:52 PM

Can't help, but it was described as a recitation on the site I found it at, so most probably spoken against a backing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Are You There, Moriarity?
From: greg stephens
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 07:22 AM

"Are you there Moriarty?" is an excellent party game, preferably after plenty of beer. For those who havent experienced its delights, here is how you play it.
Two people are blindfolded, and lie face down on the floor with their heads towards each other.They extend their left hands and clasp each other. In their right hands they hold a rolled up newspaer. Player A says"Are you there Moriarty?". Player B says "Yes", and simultaneously moves his head(or, as the case may be, doesnt move his head). Because Player A, as soon as he hears the "Yes" attempts to hit Player B on the head with the newspaper. This continues alternately for a while, with spectators shouting encouragemnt, and then two more become the players.
   Presumably the game acquired its title from the song. Possibly it existed before the song with another name? Anyway, it is strongly recommended.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Are You There, Moriarity?
From: cobber
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 04:46 AM

The Moriarty game Greg talks about was apparently a favourite of old time shearers in Australia although according to the book I've got, it was played with beer bottles (ouch). We tried it at a dance once using those foam rubber clubs and people still got knocked about so it's hard to see the attraction for the old blokes. I guess shearing sheep must be pretty boring!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Are You There, Moriarity?
From: GUEST,Sidewinder
Date: 19 Jan 05 - 01:53 AM

I saw the thread and assumed it had something to do with "The Goons" unfortunately not "you can't get the wood, you know".

Best Wishes

Sidewinder.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Are You There, Moriarity?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 08:22 AM

McGrath Little pub in London was always recited I have it on a Double Cassette called Cream of Irish Folk, it is recited by John Kerr.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Are You There, Moriarity?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 08:27 AM

Martin Ryan, Are you old enough to go back to the old wireless days [early 1950s] of Din Joe on Radio Eierann?, I can recall Moriarty being sung on the programme nearly every Sunday.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Are You There, Moriarity?
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 08:35 AM

I am indeed! Wireless dancing...

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Are You There, Moriarity?
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 08:36 AM

Forgot to put my name on that one....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Are You There, Moriarity?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 12:57 PM

Martin, The name of that Din Joe programme was, Take the floor, and referring to dancing Rory O`Connor the old Irish dancing champion was a regular guest, he rattled out all kinds of Jigs, Reels, and Hornpipes, you had to really use your imagination.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Are You There, Moriarity?
From: GUEST,DUCKSY
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 05:52 PM

DIN JOE CAME FROM CORK CITY AND HIS REAL NAME WAS DENIS FITZGIBBON.I THINK HIS INTRO TO THE SHOW WAS   LIFT THE LATCH OPEN THE DOOR   STEP RIGHT IN AND   TAKE THE FLOOR.MAYBE IT WAS CHARLES LYNCH WHO SANG 'MORIARITY' AND YES JIMMY CROWLEY DID RECORD THE SONG.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Are You There, Moriarity?
From: MartinRyan
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 08:58 PM

JOe Lynch?

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Are You There, Moriarity?
From: GUEST,DUCKSY
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 03:58 PM

WAS IT CHARLIE BYRNE THE BALD HEADED GUY?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Are You There, Moriarity?
From: MartinRyan
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 04:48 PM

Nearly there.....

Charlie Byrne was the bald headed bass singer (what was his catch phrase?)
Joe Lynch was the broth of a boy, basically
Charles Lynch was the Cork (classical) piano player!

God be with the days!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Are You There, Moriarity?
From: GUEST,DUCKSY
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 09:06 AM

CANNOT REMEMBER THE CATCH PHRASE MARTIN.DID DIN JOE ALSO HAVE A WHISTLER ON THE SHOW?

                                                    THANKS.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Are You There, Moriarity?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 10:23 AM

Joe Lynch will be remembered by UK `catters for appearing in the comedy series, "Never mind the quality, feel the width".
Joe sang Cottage by the Lee and also toured around Ireland in the early 50s, doing stand-up comedy and always finishing with a song, he passed away about 5 years ago.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Are You There, Moriarity?
From: GUEST,Michael McNicholas
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 04:48 PM

Here's a different version, recorded by the Irish singer Willie Brady in about 1960 or so. The reference to Harvey Duff is an old slur used against police officers, taken from an 1874 play, CON THE SHAUGHRAN by Dion Boucicault. Harvey Duff was the villain in the play, a police spy who announced himself with a memorable whistle.

ARE YOU THERE, MORIARITY?
(As sung by Willie Brady) (Moriarity is pronounced More-ee-ARE-eye-Tee.)

When first I came to Dublin Town, to good old Baile Atha Cliath,
I went direct, with head erect, for to join the D.M.G.
And me ponderous feet walk Kevin Street for I walked with alacrity,
For well I knew they could not do … without Guard Moriarity.

I'm a well known bobby of the stalwart squad / I belong to the D.M.G.
And as I pass by, the ladies cry / "Are you there, Moriarity?"

Well the sergeant looked me up and down and down and up and then,
With a friendly smile on his honest dial, he stroked his rugged chin,
And as he took the station book, "Your name, a mhic?" said he.
And out I stuck me chest like a duck, and says "I'm Moriarity."

For I'm a well known bobby of the stalwart squad / I belong to the D.M.G.
And as I pass by, the ladies cry / "Are you there, Moriarity?"

Well the childher' love to have me near and I care not a straw when they
Used to sing that stuff about Harvey Duff In their own most engaging way.
And when some wee maid from Armagh has strayed she will surely by found by me
For over she'll run, (affecting an Armagh accent) "Oh hello old son! Aren't you Moriarity?"

For I'm a well known bobby of the stalwart squad / I belong to the D.M.G.
And as I pass by, the ladies cry / Are you there, Moriarity?

When me work is done and me course is run and I've walked on me last long beat
Up to heaven's shore I will quickly soar, and St. Peter up there I'll meet.
And I hope he'll say in a kindly way "Is it you Timothy, I see?
Your reward you've won for work well done. Flap your wings, Moriarity."

For I'm a well known bobby of the stalwart squad / I belong to the D.M.G.
And as I pass by, the ladies cry / Are you there, Moriarity?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Are You There, Moriarity?
From: Anglo
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 02:39 AM

This is one of the songs on Mick Moloney's new CD, "McNally's Row Of Flats," songs of the American Irish experience written by Ned Harrigan, usually with partner David Braham providing the music. For what it's worth I think it's a great CD, (not only because I get to sing harmony on a few cuts). It was co-produced by John Doyle, and there is an all-star primarily American-Irish lineup of musicians supporting Mick. Every home should have a copy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Are You There, Moriarity?
From: An Pluiméir Ceolmhar
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 12:19 PM

This is an attempt to update to the post-independence situation, hence the reference to "Guard Moriarity" in the first stanza, but there was no such thing as the DMG, it looks like a spurious retrofit of G for Gardai onto the DMP.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Are You There, Moriarity?
From: GUEST,Michael McNicholas
Date: 05 Sep 06 - 02:14 PM

I couldn't quite figure out the DMG reference either but I thought there might have been a DMG before it was the DMP. Not a chance of it. However, distinctly it can be heard that he sings G, not P. Go figure.