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GUEST,ActiusAquila Lyr Req: The Singing Games (The Corries) (20) RE: Lyr Req: The Singing Games (The Corries) 19 Apr 19


Okay. Turns out the Corries version is cobbled together from "The Windy City" (where the main tune and lyrics come from), "On the Mountain Stands a Lady" (little known folk song), "Call on the One You Love" (can't find anything about this one, anybody know what this is?), and "I'm no gaun tae Barry's trip" (once sung by linoleum workers working at "Barry's"). "One, Two, Three O'Leary" is a counting song. There are tons of versions, but the "over ball" bit is supposed to be a reference to a ball game you played whilst singing it (something about bringing your leg over the ball while you bounced it). Not sure, though.

I've never heard something much like it recorded elsewhere. They probably "wrote" this version themselves. If Bill really did write it, he likely melded all those folk songs with "The Windy City" version he heard as a boy. After all, he states he grew up in a very musical family- If he knew all those songs I wouldn't be surprised.

I had to search a bunch of different sites and piece the whole song together. I'm sure of everything except for Johnny's surname, as I have absolutely no idea what Ronnie is saying (Johnny is usually Albert Mooney in other versions, but I don't think it's still "Mooney" here. Does anyone know?). I've inserted a blank where his surname is meant to be, but it definitely starts with an M. Probably a Scottish surname.

Please correct me about these if I'm wrong at any point.



***

The Singing Games

The wind, the wind, the wind blows high,
The snow comes falling fae the sky,
Jeannie MacPherson says she’ll die,
for the want of the Golden City!

She is handsome, she is pretty,
She is the girl of the Windy City,
She has lovers one two three,
Come and tell me- who will be?

Johnny ___ says he loves her,
Aw the boys are falling for her,
Jean MacPherson says she’ll die
If she doesn’t get the felly wi’ the roving eye!

She is handsome, she is pretty,
She is the girl of the Windy City,
She has lovers one two three,
Come and tell me- who will be?

When she gets a lad of her own,
She won’t tell her Ma when she gets home,
Let them all come as they will,
Johnny ___ she loves still.

She is handsome, she is pretty,
She is the girl of the Windy City,
She has lovers one two three,
Come and tell me- who will be?

She is handsome, she is pretty,
She is the girl of the Windy City,
She has lovers one two three,
Come and tell me- who will be?

There is a maid lives on the mountain,
who she is, I do not know.
All she wants is gold and silver,
All she wants is a handsome beau.

Call on the one you love,
the one you love, the one you love.
Call on the one you love,
And tell me who will be-oh.

Call on the one you love,
the one you love, the one you love.
Call on the one you love,
And tell me who will be-oh.

One, two, three o’ Leary,
Four, five, six o’Leary,
Seven, eight, nine o’Leary,
Ten o’Leary, over ball!

One, two, three o’ Leary,
I saw Wallace Beery,
Sittin on his bumbeleree,
Kissin’ Shirley Temple!

One, two, three o’ Leary,
Four, five, six o’Leary,
Seven, eight, nine o’Leary,
Ten o’Leary, over ball!

I'm no gaun tae Barry's trip, I'm no gaun again,
I'm no gaun tae Barry's trip, it ayewis comes on rain.
I'm no gaun tae Barry's trip, I'm no gaun at aw,
I'm no gaun tae Barry's trip, it ayewis comes on snaw.

***
Ronnie Browne:

I'm no gaun tae Barry's trip, I'm no gaun again,
I'm no gaun tae Barry's trip, it ayewis comes on rain.
I'm no gaun tae Barry's trip, I'm no gaun at aw,
I'm no gaun tae Barry's trip, it ayewis comes on snaw.

At the same time, Roy and Paddie (each line corresponds to Ronnie's lines):

She is handsome, she is pretty, she is the girl of the Windy City,
She has lovers one two three, come and tell me who will be?
She is handsome, she is pretty, she is the girl of the Windy City,
She has lovers one two three, come and tell me who will be?

***

She is handsome, she is pretty,
She is the girl of the Windy City,
She has lovers one two three,
Come and tell me- who will be?

She is handsome, she is pretty,
She is the girl of the Windy City,
She has lovers one two three,
Come and tell me- who will be..?


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