Lyr Add: Peelers of Ballinamore

Subject: Lyr Add: Peelers of Ballinamore
From: GUEST,Wolfgang
Date: 15 Jul 15 - 07:41 AM

This is my attempt at transcribing The peelers of Ballinamore from the Irish Songs from Old New England CD. I have put in parentheses bits I'm not content with which of course does not mean that all other lines are correct. Corrections are invited.

Wolfgang

The Peelers of Ballinamore

Oh, Tim Daly's me name, from Leinster I came
to the sweet Co. Leitrim I fortuned to try
to earn a living by cheerfully singing
the praises of Erin and I will 'til I die.
I was always as willing for to spend a shilling
as any man living 'round the Irish shore
and I ne'er was molested by police or peelers
until I arrived in Ballinamore.

Til lara til lara til lalte tol lara
til lara til lara til lalte tol day (or any other spelling of the lilting)

It happened one evening when market was over
'twas into an alehouse I chance for to pump.
I rapped on the counter and called for the waiter
to bring me a glass of the best in the (shump).
She showed me a room where there was a big table
I called for good liquor and drank in galore
and whenever the waiter she chanced to delay me
I kept meself cheered by the verse of the song:

Til lara til lara til lalte tol lara
til lara til lara til lalte tol day

That evening I spent with no cause to repent
while drinking of liquor that was pure and strong
and I cared not a damn for those (pulpit/purpit) or peelers
that watched all the tobers* of Ballinamore.
On my going home great was my misfortune
my heart being merry and free from all care
just as I was passing by the peelers barracks
they rushed out like hellhounds and collared me there.

Til lara til lara til lalte tol lara
til lara til lara til lalte tol day

"If you haven't a crown for to lay it down
I fear for your drinking you will suffer sore
don't you know that the peelers (has gone toleration)
to watch all the tobers of Ballinamore."
The seargent he came with tow or three others
they marched me a prisoner straightway through the town
and you'd think (having) killed all their fathers and mothers
and thumped to overturn the crown.

Til lara til lara til lalte tol lara
til lara til lara til lalte tol day

Oh, they marched me along by the verse of me song
and is in prison strong they did me secure.
I had nothing to cheer me nor friends to come near me
I lay like a dog with a wisp on the floor.
I lay meself down for to take a slumber
but when I awoke sure me sights they were sore
which cause me to curse (young Briggs and his large ants/lurchins)
and likewise the peelers of Ballinamore.

Til lara til lara til lalte tol lara
til lara til lara til lalte tol day

Long life to the chief, he did liberate me,
to hold me for drinking he thought it not fair
since peelers and parsons and preachers and doctors
they all take a drop for the bonny (shtol care).
Now I (lame/laying Sir maiden) 'round this Irish nation
each jailhouse and taverns I chance for a roar
and I'll toast to the membeers, those lads and the lassies
that dance 'round the borders of Ballinamore.

Til lara til lara til lalte tol lara
til lara til lara til lalte tol day

*tober: person inclined to pick a fight and win it

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Peelers of Ballinamore
From: Paul Burke
Date: 15 Jul 15 - 08:50 AM

'twas into an alehouse I chance for to pump.
.. to bring me a glass of the best in the (shump)

Probably pop and shop

tobers - topers?

(pulpit/purpit) or peelers poor petty peelers?

they all take a drop for the bonny (shtol care)
for to banish all care

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Peelers of Ballinamore
From: MartinRyan
Date: 15 Jul 15 - 09:37 AM

Hi Wolfgang - nice to hear from you!

Haven't heard this one for a long time. Paul's suggestions seem to make sense, certainly. I'll see what I can find...


Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Peelers of Ballinamore
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 15 Jul 15 - 11:04 AM

"*tober: person inclined to pick a fight and win it"
Not sure where this came from but I've never come across it with this meaning.
Thravellers use the word as meaning a road (Shelta) and elsewhere it is an impermanent site used for a fair.
Either would do in this context.
A 'Tobar' is a holy or spring well.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Peelers of Ballinamore
From: MartinRyan
Date: 15 Jul 15 - 11:36 AM

"toper" is the likely answer, as Paul Burke suggested. 19C. word that well fits with the diction of the song.

Incidentally, it's possible that "lame" in the last verse is the Irish word "léim", pronounced similarly - it means "jump" or "leap".

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Peelers of Ballinamore
From: Wolfgang
Date: 15 Jul 15 - 01:50 PM

I had found tober in an urban slang dictionary with the mention of a Scottish origin.
Toper (new to me) of course makes much more sense.
Banish all care is perfect.
For the rest I'll have to listen some more times.
Thanks a lot, all.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Peelers of Ballinamore
From: Paul Burke
Date: 15 Jul 15 - 03:27 PM

but when I awoke sure me sights they were sore .. sides?

Briggs - bricks>

Now I (lame/laying Sir maiden) 'round this Irish nation
each jailhouse and taverns I chance for a roar
and I'll toast to the membeers, those lads and the lassies
that dance 'round the borders of Ballinamore.


This sounds like Forty Shades of Mondegreen.

I'd like to bet jailhouse should be alehouse.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Peelers of Ballinamore
From: Wolfgang
Date: 15 Jul 15 - 03:41 PM

Thanks, Paul, alehouse makes more sense than jailhouse

young Briggs and his large ants/lurchins.
New guess: John Briggs and his large inns
But none of the many Briggs in Wiki seems to have anything to do with large inns.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Peelers of Ballinamore
From: MartinRyan
Date: 15 Jul 15 - 05:11 PM

No - there's something going on there, alright. Len Graham sings it - I'll do some checking.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Peelers of Ballinamore
From: Paul Burke
Date: 16 Jul 15 - 12:57 PM

Maybe getting somewhere... large inns = lodgings?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Peelers of Ballinamore
From: zozimus
Date: 16 Jul 15 - 05:38 PM

In the notes with CD, A toper is a tippler, a guy who is fond of drink,   in this case a ballad singer who will sing for drink. He is surprised that the peelers have "stopped toleration", and see being drunk as an offence.In verse 2 "pop" and "shop" are correct
verse 3 "And I cared not a damn for those poor bitter peelers"
verse 5 "Which caused me to curse John Briggs and his Lodgings"
verse 6 "They all take a drop for to banish all care
         Now I'm circumvatin' round this Irish nation"
Ages ago I asked Len Graham could I have this song and he said "No problem, I'm finished with it"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Peelers of Ballinamore
From: Wolfgang
Date: 17 Jul 15 - 05:32 AM

Thanks a lot for all your help. So here's the version with all corrections added and two typos eliminated.

Wolfgang

The Peelers of Ballinamore

Oh, Tim Daly's me name, from Leinster I came
to the sweet Co. Leitrim I fortuned to try
to earn a living by cheerfully singing
the praises of Erin and I will 'til I die.
I was always as willing for to spend a shilling
as any man living 'round the Irish shore
and I ne'er was molested by police or peelers
until I arrived in Ballinamore.

Til lara til lara til lalte tol lara
til lara til lara til lalte tol day (or any other spelling of the lilting)

It happened one evening when market was over
'twas into an alehouse I chance for to pop.
I rapped on the counter and called for the waiter
to bring me a glass of the best in the shop.
She showed me a room where there was a large table
I called for good liquor and drank in galore
and whenever the waiter she chanced to delay me
I kept meself cheered by the verse of the song:

Til lara til lara til lalte tol lara
til lara til lara til lalte tol day

That evening I spent with no cause to repent
while drinking of liquor that was pure and strong
and I cared not a damn for those poor bitter peelers
that watched all the topers of Ballinamore.
On my going home great was my misfortune
my heart being merry and free from all care
just as I was passing by the peelers barracks
they rushed out like hellhounds and collared me there.

Til lara til lara til lalte tol lara
til lara til lara til lalte tol day

"If you haven't a crown for to lay it down
I fear for your drinking you will suffer sore
don't you know that the peelers have stopped toleration
to watch all the topers of Ballinamore."
The seargent he came with two or three others
they marched me a prisoner straightway through the town
and you'd think I had killed all their fathers and mothers
and thumped to overturn the crown.

Til lara til lara til lalte tol lara
til lara til lara til lalte tol day

Oh, they marched me along by the verse of me song
and is in prison strong they did me secure.
I had nothing to cheer me nor friends to come near me
I lay like a dog with a wisp on the floor.
I lay meself down for to take a slumber
but when I awoke sure me sides they were sore
which cause me to curse John Briggs and his lodgins
and likewise the peelers of Ballinamore.

Til lara til lara til lalte tol lara
til lara til lara til lalte tol day

Long life to the chief, he did liberate me,
to hold me for drinking he thought it not fair
since peelers and parsons and preachers and doctors
they all take a drop for to banish all care.
Now I'm circumventin' 'round this Irish nation
each alehouse and tavern I chance for to roar
and I'll toast to the members, those lads and the lassies
that dance 'round the borders of Ballinamore.

Til lara til lara til lalte tol lara
til lara til lara til lalte tol day