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21 Jan 99 - 04:21 PM (#55080) Subject: McTavish is dead From: jacque My sister heard this song in a New Bedford pub about 15 years ago. Anyone know the rest of the lyrics? (sung to the tune of Irish Washerwoman). "Oh..... McTavish is dead and his brother don't know it. |
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21 Jan 99 - 04:35 PM (#55081) Subject: RE: MacTavish is dead From: Joe Offer I think you've got the entire song there, jacque. You just sing it over and over and over again, until everybody around you goes crazy. The Fireside Book of Fun & Game Songs calls him MacTavish and says "They're both of them dead and they're in the same bed," which is the way I learned it. It wouldn't be a folk song if there weren't variations, would it? Anybody know of more significant variations or other verses? -Joe Offer- |
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21 Jan 99 - 04:57 PM (#55083) Subject: RE: McTavish is dead From: Barbara Only variation I know Joe, is I learned it O'Reilly and O'Malley, instead of brothers. |
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22 Jan 99 - 09:04 AM (#55190) Subject: RE: McTavish is dead From: Nathan Not "significant", but the 3rd line as I learned it is The both or 'em's dead and they're lyin' in bed |
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08 Oct 10 - 09:04 AM (#3002415) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McTavish Is Dead From: GUEST The second verse goes: One of them died of appendicitis, The other one dies of peritonitis, They're both lyin' dead in the very same bed, And neither one knows that the other is dead. |
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08 Oct 10 - 09:18 AM (#3002424) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McTavish Is Dead From: Midchuck I heard it, maybe 45 years ago, with the third line as: "They're both of 'em dead in the very same bed..." I was never aware there was anything more than the one verse until today. Peter |
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08 Oct 10 - 11:15 AM (#3002522) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McTavish Is Dead From: Nigel Parsons For a fuller discussion, check out the thread : The Ìrish Washwoman ` thread.cfm?threadid=19477 (can`t do a link, I´m on a Spanish keyboard!!) |
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08 Oct 10 - 01:14 PM (#3002633) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McTavish Is Dead From: EBarnacle I always knew it as: Oh, McCardy [McCarthy?] is dead and McGinny [McGuinness?] don't know it McGinny is dead and McCardy don't know it; The both of 'em dead in the very same bed, And neither one knows that the other is dead. I have occasionally wondered about the relationship between the two. Were they friends or enemies? |
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08 Oct 10 - 04:20 PM (#3002773) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McTavish Is Dead From: buddhuu Since childhood I've know it as: Oh, McTavish is dead and his brother don't know it. His brother is dead and McTavish don't know it. They're both of them dead and they're in the same bed, But neither one knows that the other is dead. "Bed" in line 3 is rendered as a long, drawn out "beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed" for as long as breath allows. This, in addition to adding comic effect, mercifully ensures that the song doesn't go on for ever - as the singers begin to pass out from asphyxia |
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09 Oct 10 - 09:39 AM (#3003172) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McTavish Is Dead From: MGM·Lion As matter of interest: in old Ballads & Blues days at the Princess Louise, about 1957, Ewan MacColl would often round off the evening by asking all the guests to sing the shortest song they knew. When he was among them, Seamus Ennis would always give this one; with, IIRC, the names being O'Dwyer and Maguire [nice jingle], and the third line would be "O'Dwyer & Maguire are lying in one bed". ~Michael~ |
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09 Oct 10 - 07:04 PM (#3003481) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McTavish Is Dead From: EBarnacle I also wonder about the nature of their relationship which would allow or cause them to be in the same bed. Cause of death? Do we need some CSIs here? |
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09 Oct 10 - 11:19 PM (#3003575) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McTavish Is Dead From: YorkshireYankee We used to sing this when I was at Girl Scout camp in the 70s; half of us would sing the words (mostly as above, with the slight variation of the 3rd line being "They're both of them dead and lying in bed"), while the other half droned, "Nyaaaaaaa, nyaaaaaaa, Nyaa nyaa nyaaaaaaa," while pinching our nostrils closed so it would (supposedly) sound like bagpipes... anyone else learn it that way? |
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21 Oct 10 - 12:13 PM (#3012275) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McTavish Is Dead From: GUEST,GinzoGuy McCarthy is dead and McGuinness dont know it. McGuinness is dead and McCarthy dont know it. They both lay dead in the very same bed, but neither one know that the other is dead. This fellow McCarthy, this fellow McGuinness, decided to settle it once and for all. One used a shovel and one used a rock. Both were in heaven by 7 o'clock. Cause, McCarthy is dead and McGuinness dont know it. McGuinness is dead and McCarthy dont know it. They both lay dead in the very same bed, but neither one know that the other is dead. |
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21 Oct 10 - 01:06 PM (#3012310) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McTavish Is Dead From: Beer Oh..... McTavish is dead and his brother don't know it. His brother is dead and McTavish don't know it. With both of them dead, And in the very same bed, And neither one knows that the other is dead. Did you ever go into an Irishman shanty, Where whiskey was plenty and money was scanty. A three-legged chair, a table no legs, And a hole in the floor for the chicken to scratch. Oh! mother Oh! mother come down on the dock, And see the old Irishman washing his socks. They're as long as his arm and the size of your wrist, And the hole in the end is the size of your fist. ad. |
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22 Oct 10 - 12:03 AM (#3012743) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McTavish Is Dead From: iancarterb Frank Warner sang it as They're both of them dead and they're both in one bed and often started a show with it to exemplify complete LACK of communication. I can only heat HIM singing it, no matter the words. Carter B |
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26 Oct 10 - 09:00 PM (#3016371) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McTavish Is Dead From: Jim Dixon From Once Upon a Time Using Storytelling, Creative Drama, and Reader's Theater By Judy Freeman (Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007), page 61: Old McTavish is dead and his brother don't know it. His brother is dead and McTavish don't know it. They're both of them dead and they're in the same bed And neither one knows that the other is dead. Oh, McTavish he died of the peritonitis. His brother he died of chronic arthritis. How both of them cried and both of them sighed When each of them found that the other had died. |
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25 Jan 11 - 12:32 AM (#3081890) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McTavish Is Dead From: GUEST The way we sing it in chorus for warm ups has always been just that first verse but After it we sing Rank.. Rank.. Rank! rank! rank! Oh McTavish is dead and his brother donno it, his bro... And then keep repeating about twice as fast over and over til no one can keep it up:) |
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07 Apr 11 - 06:47 PM (#3130911) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McTavish Is Dead From: GUEST,lite2lite Heard this song fron my camp counselor in the'70 's also, never knew there were any other verses until today!! |
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28 Mar 12 - 12:27 PM (#3330168) Subject: ADD Version: McTavish Is Dead From: GUEST,Jeremy John Butler McTAVISH IS DEAD Old McTavish is dead and his brother don't know it. His brother is dead and McTavish don't know it. They're both of em' dead and they're in the same bed And neither one knows that the other is dead. They live for the drink and the bars are a plenty They drink like the fish til their pockets are empty And when they pass out it, it's always the same bead Cause neither on knows that the other one's dead. Old McTavish is dead and his brother don't know it. His brother is dead and McTavish don't know it. They're both of em' dead and they're in the same bed And neither one knows that the other is dead. The bottles are empty, the smokes are but ashes The stench of the liquor is all that has lasted The sun will soon rise to start a new day They'll buy a new bottle and do it again. Old McTavish is dead and his brother don't know it. His brother is dead and McTavish don't know it. They're both of em' dead and they're in the same bed And neither one knows that the other is dead. |
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28 Mar 12 - 05:37 PM (#3330307) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McTavish Is Dead From: dick greenhaus I learned the last two lines as: "O'Leary, O'Reilley, they're in the same bed And they're both of them dead, and don't neither one know it." also Ted Kennedy Song Oh, my mother is old and my father is dead And my brother is dead and my brother is dead And my brother is dead and kid has one leg And my wife is a drunk and my car doesn't float. A reasonable candidate for a Songs in the Worst Possible Taste Workshop from Michael Cooney's singing |
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16 Jan 14 - 02:20 PM (#3592735) Subject: Lyr Add: McCARTHY & McGINNIS (B Samberg) From: GUEST,Shalom Some years ago, I transcribed the lyrics from a bunch of 78s by Benny Bell (the Shaving Cream guy if you remember him). This song was on one of them. McCARTHY & McGINNIS (Benny (Bell) Samberg) McCarthy is dead, McGinnis don't know it McGinnis is dead, McCarthy don't know it They both lay dead on the very same bed But neither one knows that the other is dead. Before he died, this fellow McCarthy One Saturday night got drunk at a party He took a swing at Officer King The next day he carried his head in a sling. McCarthy was always good to his wife He had to be so, or I pity his life Although she was only half his size She'd jump on a table and scratch out his eyes. On Saint Patrick's Day he was there A shine on his shoes and oil on his hair He wore a green jacket and really looked swell With a genuine shamrock in his lapel. One day he was taking his wife to a dance A dog took a chance and snapped at his pants McCarthy got angry and started to sneer Then lifted the mongrel and bit off its ear. He drank like a fish, he ate like a savage His favourite dish was corned beef and cabbage He fought like a tiger, he hit like a mule And boy could he knock off a good game of pool. McCarthy and Mister McGinnis next door Could never agree, they were always at war Said he to McGinnis, "The day when you die I'll buy everybody a strawberry pie." Said Mister McGinnis to Mister McCarthy "You may be tough, and healthy and hearty But if you don't shut up and behave You'll soon be asleep in a seven-foot grave." One stormy night, they met in the hall To settle their argument once and for all Now one used a shovel and one used a rock And both were in heaven at seven o'clock. So McCarthy is dead but McGinnis don't know it McGinnis is dead and McCarthy don't know it They both lay dead on the very same bed But neither one knows that the other is dead. Bell Novelty #952-A (originally Radio Novelty #452-A) [sung to the tune of "The Irish Washerwoman"] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9EKf7F7ilg |
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20 Oct 18 - 07:12 PM (#3957630) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McTavish Is Dead From: GUEST,FoxFritters second grade music teacher I remember being in second grade..(I'm 34 now) and my music teacher beginning to teach us how to play the recorder. She taught us the tune to 'The Irish Washwoman' right off the bat after teaching us 'Hot Crossed Buns' and 'Mary Had a Little Lamb'. When she taught us this song, she told us the lyrics to this song, but it wasn't McTavish..it was MacDougall. She explained it was a fun campfire song to sing over and over while dancing..first slowly and each time repeated...you sing it faster and faster until people couldn't keep up and it became a crazy jumble of nonsense and raucous shenanigans. OHHHHHH, Mr. MacDougall is dead and his brother don't know it, His brother is dead and MacDougall don't know it, They're both of them dead and in the same bed.... Sooooo, neither one knows the other is dead! |
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23 Apr 21 - 04:59 PM (#4103271) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McTavish Is Dead From: GUEST McCarthy and McGuiness is a song by Benny Bell. |
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16 Apr 24 - 02:01 PM (#4201077) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McTavish Is Dead From: GUEST,Andy Alexis Forgive the lateness of my reply. I've been busy. My version, taken from the verses above. BUT ("and that is a BIG smelly butt, too!") songs making light of chronic alcoholism and people with anger management issues are a bit on the passe side...so I gave it an alternate happy ending. Do with this what you will, just remember little old Andy Alexis of Sacramento, California. McTAVISH IS DEAD McTavish and brother they lived right next door They never agreed, they were always at war Said one to the other, "The day when you die I'll buy everybody a strawberry pie." They live for the drink and the bars are a plenty They drink like the fish til their pockets are empty And when they pass out, it's always the same And each of them say that the other’s to blame They drank like a fish, they ate like a savage Their favorite dish was corned beef and cabbage They fought like a tiger, they kicked like a mule And boy could they knock off a good game of pool. One Saturday night the brothers McTavish They went to a party both wild and savage They each took a swing at Officer King The next day they carried their heads in a sling. McTavish was always good to his wife He had to be so, or I pity his life Although she was only half his size She'd jump on a table and scratch out his eyes. The bottles are empty, the smokes are but ashes The stench of the liquor is all that has lasted The sun will soon rise their heads are in pain But they'll buy a new bottle and do it again. One stormy night, they met in the hall To settle their argument once and for all Now one used a shovel and one used a rock And both were in heaven at seven o'clock. McTavish and brother they stood at the gates Saint Peter himself deciding their fates Says Pete to each brother look him in the eye Now say that you’re sorry and you don’t have to die McTavish and brother woke with their wives Both of them happy to get on with their lives They both saw a shrink and both of them dry as a condition for both to continue their life They managed their anger and played with their kids Respected their wives and confessed what they did Regretted their past and but looked straight ahead And never again slept with someone that’s dead. |