Dame Bruin by Larry Gorman

DAME BRUIN
(Larry Gorman)

One night as Dame Bruin she went to her bed
She scarce had retired to her pillow
When the Masculine voice, she heard close to her head
Of Satan - That nasty old fellow,
She spied old King Satan, so hairy and black
With a long claw and foot, and a hump on his back
Saying - Let you be sleeping or be you awake,
You must rise, and come with me, Dame Bruin.

Poor Bruin arose with a terrible yell
She asked - Is that you old King Satan?
He says it is I - You know very well
And this long time for you I've been waiting.
Once to spare you - it was my intent,
But now I see plainly - You'll never repent
And now to take you I am fully bent.
So Hasten! Make ready - Dame Bruin.

Poor Bruin was now in a terrible stew
Her screams they were loud & alarming.
Oh spare me! Oh spare me! For one year or two
Until I have revenge upon Gorman.
With him I've had dealings, he thus did me wrong
He has hurt my feelings, and has made a song.
But I hope I shall catch him before very long
If you will but spare me, King Satan.

He says all your pleadings of no use shall be
To take you this long time I've intended.
But each time I came for you, you had some excuse.
But still you have never repented.
Your time is being up now a long time it's true.
This is the fourth time I have come for you
And out of sheer pity each time let you go.
But I'll spare you no longer Dame Bruin.

She says when I'm there - Shall I live by my trade?
Or shall I have a situation?
No, shovelling brimstone with a short handled spade
He said shall be your occupation.
You will find nothing there but hardship and toil.
Fire, smoke, brimstone, and Kerosene oil,
And cold tar at your nose, shall so furiously boil.
I will not deceive you Dame Bruin.

She says to King Satan where I shall be there
I fear that I shall be lonesome
But as for the shovelling I don't at all care
To the same, I am quite well accustomed.
For I buried Gorman as you read in his song
And six years ago I have buried my young
If it had been proved for the same I'd been hung,
But no one could prove it, said Bruin.

He said if you handle your spade pretty fair
It will be a great deal in your favour
And I'll guarantee all the time you are there
That you never shall want for a Neighbor
And when you all get together you'll have glorious fun,
There'll be Monaghans, streals, yourself and old Dunn.
Each one with a club smashing brimstone
To keep you a' shovelling Dame Bruin.

Now the next time I come, I'll have you to mind
By no one shall I be prevented
In order that you shall be easy to find,
My mark on your rump. I shall print it.
Before I come for you, I'll give the alarm.
Nine days before, there shall be a great storm
So Farewell for this time Dame Bruin.


-collected by Edward D. "Sandy" Ives on Prince Edward Island, Canada in 1957 and 1958 from Mrs. Harold Doyle [8 stanzas in manuscript from husband's collection]; 7 stanzas from Frank O'Holleran [ATL 2163.7]; 1 stanza each from Harry Thompson and Charles Gorman.

Spelling and punctuation are from Ives' transcription from his 1964 book, "Larry Gorman, The Man Who Made The Songs" from the Doyle manuscript.

The story behind the song is that Larry got drunk one night and, when passed out, Dame Bruin convinced friends to help her mock "bury" Larry and covered him in dirt. Larry fought back and wrote the song sharing a bit of rumour in the doing: the woman apparently had had a baby out of wedlock. There seems to be another song referenced to that is no longer remembered.