Lyr Add: County Louth Wren Song

Subject: Lyr Add: WREN BOYS (trad. County Louth)
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 12 Dec 06 - 10:24 AM

Wren Boys
^^ (from Co. Louth)

The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
On St. Stephen's Day he was caught in the furze,
But though he's little his family's great
So rise up, kind people, and give us a treat.
If you don't rise up and give us a treat
We'll bury the wren in under the gate.

A wren, a wren, when you were young
A mouse couldn't stir off the floor,
But now you are dead and gone
We'll carry you from door to door.
With your pocket full of money and your barrel of beer,
I'll wish you a happy Christmas and a merry New Year

So up with the kettle and down with the pan,
Give us some money to bury the wren.

-Jones, Bryan,J., "Wren Boys.", Folklore,, Vol. 19, No.2,June,30,1908, pp. 234-5.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: County Louth Wren Song
From: Susan of DT
Date: 12 Dec 06 - 11:01 AM

Thank you for posting these, Conrad. I will harvest the batch of them.

We already have:
DT #851 King of the Birds family - 3 songs
    WRENSONG WRENSNG2 WRENSNG3
    and also Please to See the King, which is not in 851
DT #850 Mildor to Maldur family - 6 songs
    HUNTWREN HNTWRN2 HUNWREN2 HNTWREN3 CUTYWREN CUTYWRE2

What are the tunes on these? Do you know? Is it safe to assume they go with the tunes of the similar sounding members of their families?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: County Louth Wren Song
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 12 Dec 06 - 10:35 PM

Dont have the tunes....

Probably similar.....

With enough alcohol the tune generally comes...but you have to have a designated tune writer to capture it....

Conrad