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Lyr Add: The Mountjoy Hotel |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE MOUNTJOY HOTEL^^ From: GUEST,Crazy Eddie Date: 05 Sep 00 - 07:33 AM Several years ago, I worked in a small hotel. Occasionally, (very occasionally) a singing session would occur. The night porter's party-piece was a song that I never heard (or heard mentioned) anywhere else. I have no idea of the song's history, or where he got it.
A recent visit to the hotel brought back some memories, and it occurred to me, that it is just possible that I'm the only person alive who knows this song. It is not,(imho) a great song, but it does have a certain novelty value, plus the advantage that you already know the tune (The Mountains of Mourne). THE MOUNTJOY HOTEL
Now In Dublin's big town, we have first-class hotels,
Well, after the bath I was very nigh froze, |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Mountjoy Hotel From: paddymac Date: 05 Sep 00 - 03:00 PM Crazy Eddie - Who ever wrote it was a brilliant satirist. Thanks for putting it out here for the rest of us. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Mountjoy Hotel From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 05 Sep 00 - 05:17 PM Dominic Behan recorded a song called The Mountjoy Hotel on a Topic record, Peelers and Prisoners (TOP85) in 1963; whether or not this is the same one, I don't know. Malcolm |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE MOUNTJOY HOTEL ^^ From: paddymac Date: 06 Sep 00 - 10:33 AM Malcolm's note reminded me that I had a song book by Behan, which I then dug out. This version of "The Mountjoy Hotel" is from Dominic Behan's "Ireland Sings: An anthology of Irish songs and ballads"; 1973; ISBN 0-8256-9341-1. It's shown as "Copyright 1965 Coda Music Ltd." And as "New words, tune adapted by Dominic Behan". That phrase "new words" (as opposed to "Lyrics by" or "Words by") suggests that the song had been around for some time before DB "updated" it. Behan's lyrics differ significantly from those posted above by Crazy Eddie, but both versions deliver the same message with brilliant satire. It's hard to say which came first, or whether there may be yet more versions of the song somewhere out there in the collective consciousness. The tune is essentially that used for "Mountains of Mourne", which is itself a traditional air adapted for French's song by his collaborator Collison(sp?)(Can't put my hands on my source for this at the moment.) ***************************************** "THE MOUNTJOY HOTEL"
In Dublin's big town there are first class hotels
One stipulation of this fine resort
For the entrance they've built up three beautiful gates
One thing about this, all the service is free |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Mountjoy Hotel From: GUEST Date: 07 Sep 00 - 01:19 AM Well paddymac, I think I prefer your version. The second verse really appeals to me "presented ar court" indeed! I may just have to nick that verse, lose one from the version I posted, and try it at a session next time I'm home. Thanks. Eddie |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Mountjoy Hotel From: Joe Offer Date: 07 Sep 00 - 04:44 AM Say, Eddie - you've posted some great songs, and I've harvested some of them for inclusion in the Digital Tradition database. You aren't required to be a member, but I wondered if you'd like to e-mail me your initials (or your name) so I can credit you post for posting the song. Thanks. -Joe Offer (click to e-mail)- |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Mountjoy Hotel From: paddymac Date: 07 Sep 00 - 02:24 PM Well, I did a bit more digging and found my source in re the melody for "Mountains of Mourne". "Soodlum's Irish Ballad Book", 1982, US ISBN 0-8256-0284-x, @ 36, says of Mountains of Mourne: "The lyrics of this beautiful ballad were written by Percy French (1854-1920). They were sent to Houston Collison on the back of a post-card and he set it to the ancient Irish air 'Carrigdhoun'." |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Mountjoy Hotel From: Wolfgang Date: 08 Nov 00 - 07:24 AM As an addendum I'll post here the notes from Dominic Behan to this song as printed in the book 'Ireland sings' that Paddymac has used above as a source for posting Behan's great version: A music transcriber working on the tunes in this book asked, "Say, what's with this hotel commercial?" I explained that it was a little bit of jail satire, Mountjoy being Dublin's Prison. "What a name for a nick'." said Ewan McColl, It must have been some right twisted bastard thought that one up". This has been extensively rewritten from the original by Phil O'Neill. I read this bit as indicating that O'Neill is the author of the first version posted above by Crazy Eddie. Am I right? Wolfgang |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Mountjoy Hotel From: paddymac Date: 08 Nov 00 - 10:59 AM Wolfgang - this is a classic case where punctuation would clarify the meaning. "This has been extensively rewritten(insert comma) from the original by Phil O'Neill" would clearly mean that O'Neill was the original author. Since Behan is the author of the line you quote, it does seem reasonable to interpret it as you have, but the language doesn't clearly say that. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Mountjoy Hotel From: GUEST,Wolfgang Date: 08 Nov 00 - 12:15 PM Paddymac, yes, a good example for that case. I wish the book ('Ireland sings') could also be trusted about another aspect of this song: All rhymes (Behan version) are perfect except for the before last line which would rhyme e.g. like this '...to me they did tell' or any other line using 'tell' as last word. But who am I to correct even a single word by Behan, whatever the first name may be. However, is this line ending really from Behan, who showed himself being a master of words in the rest of the book? Wolfgang |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Mountjoy Hotel From: Snuffy Date: 08 Nov 00 - 06:51 PM "This has been extensively rewritten(insert comma) from the original(insert comma) by Phil O'Neill" would clearly mean that O'Neill was not the original author.
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Mountjoy Hotel From: MartinRyan Date: 08 Nov 00 - 08:09 PM comma-gain? Regards |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Mountjoy Hotel From: GUEST,mr. g Date: 05 Feb 11 - 09:59 PM where can i get a recording of this song??? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Mountjoy Hotel From: zozimus Date: 06 Feb 11 - 01:21 PM This song was writen by Phil O Neill in 1918. I imagine Dominic got it from Patrick Galvin, who recorded it on his Riverside L/P " Irish Humor Songs". However, Patrick Galvin sings it to the tune "Villikins and His Dinah". Send me a PM if you want a copy. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Mountjoy Hotel From: MartinRyan Date: 06 Feb 11 - 01:41 PM I seem to remember Houston Collison describing the Mountains of Mourne tune as a variant of The Bendemeer Stream, rather than referring to Carrigdhoun. Regards |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Mountjoy Hotel From: zozimus Date: 06 Feb 11 - 02:50 PM Hi Martin, Brendan O Dowda, an expert on Percy French, claims that French admitted using "Carrigdhoun" as a template for "The Mountains of Mourne" However, it seems very likely that whoever set music to Denny Lane's poem, "Carrigdhoun," used Moore's "The Bendemeer Stream". The big question is, where did Moore get it. Most of Moore's melodies were adapted from traditional tunes. See you in Inishowen |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Mountjoy Hotel From: GUEST Date: 30 Apr 12 - 09:54 AM in Dublin's fair city Where there's first class hotels And they give bord and lodging To all the big swells I was there once myself, and, I'm able to tell That there's no digs in Dublin Like the Mountjoy hotel I was met at the train By a porter and bus And, they took me along With a great deal of fus We drove through the streets Like a viceroy in state And,never drew rein Till we stopped at the gate I was brought to a room Where they took down my name They asked my address, and the reason I came When I answered those questions A clark rang a bell, And, I was ordered a bath At the Mountjoy hotel When i got through the bath, Well, my blood well neigh froze And, the attendant, he brought me A new suit of clothes. The finish was fine, And the pattern was grand And, over it all was A beautiful brand Noiw, the beds; they were snug And, cozily kept And, when I lay down to rest I immediately slept But, early next morning without "bye your leave, Get up,"said the boots, Here's hot water to shave. Breakfast consisted of fish, Ham and eggs. But, I drained The old stirabout mug To the dregs. We went for a walk every day Round the grounds. For ,the guests,as you know They must keep within bounds. I asked for my pipe. For, I wanted a smoke' Said the boss, with a scowl "Do you think it's a joke?" 'Well,I'm'msorry', said I, 'If you're taking it so, 'But,now, for the brandy and soda 'Please go' Bread and water' said he. perhaps it'll do you as well And, i got it that week At the Mountjoy hotel. Well, at last came the day when I had to depart And,I nearly went wild With the Joy in my heart Some pro-German devil, A rope ladder did throw. And, twenty Sinn Feiners, - Like acrobat trainers, Escaped out of prison Alive, alive oh! I'll finish my rhyme now I think it's near time now. All the people are laughing. Wherever I go. The auther was John Corrigan, battallion adjucant of the North Offally/South Westmeath brigade, who spent a stint in the Joy, in which He carried in a gun to spring Sean McKeon. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Mountjoy Hotel From: Charley Noble Date: 30 Apr 12 - 03:49 PM This song kind of reminds me of a Gold Rush song collected in the Russian River area of Northern California which has this chorus: So step up every man of you all in a line, From the cell to the stoneyard you all must keep time; You work like a Turk till the clock it strikes one, In that grand institution just over the Don. Charley Noble |
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