Lyr Req: gander song

Subject: Lyr Req: gander song
From: GUEST,sharon Pyne
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 09:36 PM

I would like the lyric to the gander song sung by willie clancy on his Lp from the 70's. Miko Russel also did this song. Thanks for any help. Sharon

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gander song
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Feb 03 - 01:01 AM

Hi, Sharon - do you remember any phrases or distinctive words from the song? that sometimes helps us in our search. I found a little information about the song here (click), although one mighrt assume from the information that it's a tune without lyrics.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gander song
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Feb 03 - 11:17 AM

I found this much, if it's the correct song:

Roodle oh my doddle oh
Roodle all the day
Now all you gay bachelors listen oh to me
Never get wed if you want to stay free
Billy cock, Billy cock
For who will boggle me gander
When I am far away?
Roodle oh my doddle oh
Roodle all the day...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gander song
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 07:52 AM

The words quoted by Sorcha can be found Here with an article about pace egging. (scroll almost to bottom)
The bottom of the page gives an e-mail address for the author of the article who may have more details, or a contact source

Nigel

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gander song
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 11:19 AM

The "Ganderman" of Linctus Peverell(!), coated in marmalade and feathers, is a hoax; and the verse quoted probably owes more to Rambling Sid Rumpo than traditional practice. Nice job, though.

The song Sharon is looking for is likely to be rather different, but a little more information would certainly help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gander song
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 11:22 AM

There are lots of Irish (or thereabouts, pace Malcolm) comic songs about ganders. I don't offhand recall Micho Russell or Liam (?) Clancy singing one - but will check.

Regards

Subject: Lyr Add: ST. KEVIN AND THE GANDER
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 11:53 AM

Found this one, recorded by Micho:

ST. KEVIN AND THE GANDER

And as St. Kevin once was travelling through a place called Glendalough
He met with King O'Toole and he asked him for a shock
Said the saint, You are a stranger and your face I never have seen
But if you have the taste of weed I'll lend you my dugeen
With me fol the dol &c.

While the saint was kindling up the pipe, the monarch gave a sigh
Is there anything the matter, says the saint, that makes you cry?
Said the king, I had a gander that was left me by my mother
And this morning he has cocked his toes with some disease or other

So you're crying for your gander, you misfortunate old goose
Dry up those tears and frettings and the dickens take the use
If you think so much about the bird I'll cure him, said St. Kevin,
If you'll give to me a piece of land that the gander will fly around

Troth I will and welcome, said the king, of what you ask
He bid him bring the gander and there would begin the task
He hooshed him up into the air; he flew thirty miles around
Said the saint, I thank your majesty for the little bit of ground
With me fol the dol &c.

The king to raise a ruction he called the saint a witch
He sent in for his six big sons to heave him in a ditch
But the saint turned himself and his six big sons into seven churches
And he left the gander there to guard about the ruins
With me fol the dol &c.

Apostrophes restored. --JoeClone, 3-Mar-03.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gander song
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 11:55 AM

Apologies for the quarter-apostrophes! I copied the lyrics from HERE

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gander song
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 12:41 PM

Ah, I felt sure there was a gander floating around here, somewhere. Turns out it's in the strangely named "St Kaven" thread:

Saint Kevin and King O'Toole

(A little longer than the text above.)

Subject: Lyr Req: gander song
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 08:50 PM

Does anyone know the words for the Gander song. It is sung by Willie Clancy and Miko Russel on their LPs in the late 70's. thanks froom sharon at [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gander song
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 20 Feb 03 - 11:37 AM

Refresh: so that subsequent request will fall off page!

Nigel

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GANDER (from C Moore, W Clancy)
From: Wolfgang
Date: 25 Feb 03 - 05:09 AM

This is one of the very few times that I can answer a request after Sorcha, Malcolm and Martin have had their say. I enjoy it (grin). Willie Clancy's 'The Gander' (on the LP 'Minstrel from Clare') is a different song from that above. Whether Micho Russell has also sung this song I don't know. Here it is. My source is Christy Moore, One Voice, p. 258. Christy's sole attribution is 'from Willie Clancy'.

Wolfgang

THE GANDER

It being one evening of late as I strayed and rambled through fields
Where oft times I've wandered in haste and very quick speed
I was going to a freak where rakes and factions do meet
There would be drink and strong tea, hot cake, and things that were sweet

The evening been freezing indeed and it was very cold
With corns in my heels, me boys, and cramps in my toes
I thought it no harm to warm my shanks by the fire
Thinking Myra and her daughter they surely would me admire

The teapot came round from the spout we got stuff very strong
Auld Myra said spake or make the verse of a song
Auld Bill in the corner was cursing and swearing with fright
For his gander was stolen and roasted last Saturday night

This gander was old he was noble both sturdy and strong
He never grew cold altho' he lived very long
His feet and his legs were as yellow as the gold that does shine
And his gob it would bore an inch board in a very short time

I've travelled Killarney Kilgarvan Kanturk and Kenmare
Down around by Cork Harbour I was dealing in turkeys and gees
But in all of my rambles and travels I never did see
The likes of Bill's gander for grandeur and audacity

The girls that all came were game and looking for breed
They'd heard of the name and the fame of Bill and his geese
They'd measure this fine gander's legs with a carpenter's rule
And they never would leave till they saw the fine length of his tool

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gander song
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 25 Feb 03 - 05:25 AM

Well done, Wolfgang!One of my favourites,too.

Of course, the real question is this: What the hell was I thinking off by dragging Liam Clancy into the discussion?!! For some weird reason the mention of "willie Clancy" sent me off on a wild goose chase!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gander song
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 25 Feb 03 - 05:30 AM

Incidentally, the last word in the song is usually pronounced (loudly) WINGS!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gander song
From: GUEST,Dave Murphy
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 12:03 PM

Dear Wolfgang or Martin, or indeed anyone who might know the answer: First of all I'm trying to get in touch with Seamus MacMathuna; he was the tiomsaitheoir Ceoil at Comhaltas Ceolteoiri Eireann for many, many years. He was a great influence on me as a then would-be traditional singer. I'd like to get in touch so if you could, e-mail me at, [e-mail] that'd be dandy.

Be that as it may, the words to the Gander are not quiet as I remember them....:-

And the teapot came round and of spout we stuffed very strong
In sharing it round we it was the best plan
We sweetened our tea until you'd think it was wine
Then we cut up our cake and indeed we did very fine

Old Maura she told a story it was [a] sad news
That there were some strollers going round with very big shoes
??????

And that's all I can remember, but you can add it to Wolfgang's version. Seamus is the only man I ever heard those bits from and then only once but of course it must have been popular enough to get heard around.

Does anyone either have the rest of this text or know of Seamus's where-abouts or by god, know both bits?

Many grateful thanks.