Lyr Add: Inchicore Wake (Pete St. John)

Subject: Lyr Req: The old ways of Dublin
From: Shiamsa
Date: 27 Sep 06 - 08:32 PM

The song starts:

"The old ways of Dublin are ??? and faded
??????

With a rub of the relic and an act of contrition..."

Greatful for any information on this song, which I'm told originated as a recitation.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The old ways of Dublin
From: Fergie
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 05:06 AM

One of the regulars at the Góilín Singers Club warbles this one every now and then. I will ask for the lyrics next time I see her
Fergus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The old ways of Dublin
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 05:30 AM

Could it be Dublin in the Rare Ould Times?
Giok

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The old ways of Dublin
From: MartinRyan
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 05:51 AM

Giok

No - it's a different beast entirely. Nice song. I've only heard it relatively recently (same source as Fergie) and know nothing of its background.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Ways of Dublin
From: Shiamsa
Date: 30 Oct 06 - 07:43 PM

I managed to pick up some of the lyrics of this song, from a chap called Dermot Whelan, who got it from a stone mason in the Liberties called Georgie Mullins. It's called the Inchicore Wake, and I was told it was written by Pete St. John, but I couldn't find any mention of it on his web site. I'd still like to know who, if anybody, recorded it. I'll post what I have as soon as I can.

Regards, Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Ways of Dublin
From: MartinRyan
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 04:47 AM

I's be a bit surprised if its by Pete St. John. I think it was originally writtten as a poem and later set to music.

Fergie - did you check with Anne (?)?

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Ways of Dublin
From: Fergie
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 05:49 PM

Hi Martin - I haven't seen Anne since. I'll be at the Góilín on Fri and I will ask if she is there
Fergie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Ways of Dublin
From: Fergie
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 11:50 AM

I spoke to Anne last night in the Góilín and she will post the lyrics here next time she visits Mudcat
Fergus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Ways of Dublin
From: MartinRyan
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 05:44 PM

Refresh - time we did something about his, Fergie!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Ways of Dublin
From: Fergie
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 07:47 PM

Hi Martin I havn't been to the Góilín for a month or so and I won't be there for another few weeks, but next time I see Anne I will remind her.
Fergie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Ways of Dublin
From: MartinRyan
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 07:50 PM

Great! We were there a few weeks ago - but I forgot this one.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Ways of Dublin
From: Fergie
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 08:28 PM

Hi Martin did you get my pm
Fergie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Ways of Dublin
From: MartinRyan
Date: 01 Feb 07 - 04:32 AM

Just did - reply on the way.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Ways of Dublin
From: Gulliver
Date: 01 Feb 07 - 08:34 AM

Thanks for keeping up with this, lads!

Gulliver (formerly known as Shiamsa)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Ways of Dublin
From: Gulliver
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 05:29 PM

Here's the little bit of the song I heard:

The oul ways of Dublin are passin' and faded
People just vanish with the names they did bear
With a rub of the relic and an act of contrition
They blamed it on jar and ?

Ructions Murray was cryin' to Tar-barrel Keegan
Last-post-Fagin ?
And pick-me-up-Keith and the black Paddy Meddler
With the clock they were talking with trains goin' through

They moved in their hundreds in black shawls and ?
?
Oh the smell of the moth balls and the ?
Was the music of love ?

That evening we gargled we battled we argued
We sang all the songs and the ones we half knew
We toasted the ladies, the mollies and the dollies
?

And president Kiely come in from Drumcondra
With a madcapper crew and a brave soldiers song
Sure we were all broken hearted For the dear dead departed
At the Inchicore Wake ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Ways of Dublin
From: Fergie
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 07:38 PM

Hi Gulliver

I'll print out your version and ask Anne to correct it and fill in the blanks when I am in the Góilín on Friday
Fergus

Subject: ADD: Inchicore Wake (The Old Ways of Dublin...)
From: Fergie
Date: 25 Nov 08 - 08:36 PM

Hi all

A few weeks ago I came across my copy of 'Jaysus Wept' a slim volume written by Pete St. John. In it were the words to this song. I contacted Pete and he confirmed that he is the composer of the song. Here are the words transcribed from the book.

Fergus

INCHICORE WAKE
(Pete St. John)

There was chase-the-hearse Whelan
And old Joe Sartini
On his two saddled bike
A black market on wheels
Into Stickfoots of Church Street
And the oul Hen and Chicken
With the Inchicore News
Molly Sonex was dead
Then came the word
Dolly Fossett had joined her
The quare ones were mournin'
And Eugene played 'Taps'
For the ladies of Dublin
Who made life half worth livin'
They carried no stories
And didn't draw maps…

Sure the old ways of Dublin
Are passing and fading
People just vanish
But the names they live on
With a rub of the relic
And an act of contrition
We blamed it on jar
And on oul Mushat's Balm

Ructions Murray was cryin'
And the Tar Barrel keenin'
Oul Last Post Daly
He bugled for hours
And Bigamy O'Keeffe
And Black Paddy Medlar
With the Claffy was talkin'
Of grave stones and flowers
They turned up in hundreds
With black shawls and Mass Cards
Lousy head haircuts and out of pawn suits
And the smell of the mothballs
And the once a year greetings
Were the music of love
On the sad Dublin Streets


Sure the old ways of Dublin
Are passing and fading
People just vanish
But the names they live on
With a rub of the relic
And an act of contrition
We blamed it on jar
And on oul Mushat's Balm

Well that evenin' we gargled
We hassled and argued
We sang all the songs
And hymns we half knew
And we toasted the ladies
The Dollies and Mollies
Not a dry eye in Dublin
The begrudgers were few
Then President Kiely
Came in from Drumcondra
With the mad Capper Crew
And a brave Soldiers' Song
We were all broken hearted
For the dear dead departed
At that Inchicore Wake
And the Days that are gone

Sure the old ways of Dublin
Are passing and fading
People just vanish
But the names they live on
With a rub of the relic
And an act of contrition
We blamed it on jar
And on oul Mushat's Balm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Ways of Dublin
From: Effsee
Date: 25 Nov 08 - 10:30 PM

Ah bejaysus! Would I not love to hear dear ould Ronnie Drew have a go at that one!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Ways of Dublin
From: Amos
Date: 25 Nov 08 - 11:00 PM

I'd love to hear the tune somehow.


A

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Ways of Dublin
From: MartinRyan
Date: 26 Nov 08 - 02:55 AM

Well done, Fergie. Great to see this one nailed at last! A good strong Dublin accent and feel for the speech pattern - that's all we need now...

I'll have a think about the tune.

Regards
p.s. I'll leave you to explain "Mushat's Balm"!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Ways of Dublin
From: MartinRyan
Date: 26 Nov 08 - 04:22 AM

The tune Anne uses is a slow, stretched version of "The Humours of Whiskey" (a.k.a. Stick to the Crathur) , I reckon.The chorus uses the second strain.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Inchicore Wake (Pete St. John)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 06:09 PM

i have a recording of it by georgie mullins you can get it on a cd by the darky kelly boys in darky kellys pub in fishamble st in dublin

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Inchicore Wake (Pete St. John)
From: michaelr
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 09:20 PM

Please, somebody explain Mushat's Balm!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Inchicore Wake (Pete St. John)
From: zozimus
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 05:44 AM

A concoction or ointment to cure all ills by the famous chemist Mr Mushat.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Inchicore Wake (Pete St. John)
From: Fergie
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 11:48 AM

With a rub of the relic
And an act of contrition
We blamed it on jar
And on oul Mushat's Balm

Mushat's Balm is one thing, but what about -a rub o' de relic- try explaining that one now Mr Zozimus, go on, try explaining that one.

Eh! by the way will we see you at the Clé Club anocht?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Inchicore Wake (Pete St. John)
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 01:06 PM

Well, Catholics at least would I think touch or maybe rub a holy relic like a piece of the true crucifix or the finger bone of St. Peter etc..I know I would if they promised me so many days off purgatory..mg

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Inchicore Wake (Pete St. John)
From: zozimus
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 02:41 PM

Hi Fergie,
No I won't make it tonite, so yez can start without me. A rub o'de relic used to have the same meaning as bashin' yer bishop, but lately bashing bishops has taken a more literal meaning. Do I win the fiver?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Inchicore Wake (Pete St. John)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 13 Oct 14 - 01:22 PM

You can now hear Anne Buckley singing this one at The Goilin Song Project:

Click here

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Inchicore Wake (Pete St. John)
From: GUEST,tommy
Date: 22 Nov 19 - 10:09 AM

Ive had a listen to this on Christy moores new ailbum and its great.