The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #68767   Message #1210390
Posted By: Jim Dixon
19-Jun-04 - 09:34 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Irish songs about balls, wakes, soirees
Subject: Lyr Add: THE MCGETTIGANS' SOCIAL SOIREE
I just ran across another one. In fact, if you search the Library of Congress site for the word "soiree," you'll find a couple more, but I won't have time to transcribe them for a few days.

Lyrics from The Library of Congress American Memory Collection:

THE MCGETTIGANS' SOCIAL SOIREE
C. Frank Horn, 1883

1. The McGettigans gave a soiree,
And a band of musicians they hired,
And an elegant note came to me,
Saying, "O'Grady, your comp'ny's desired."
So I dressed myself neatly and tastefully
And got into my fancy coupee,
For I wanted to honor the company
At McGettigan's social soiree.

CHORUS: Oh my! didn't they stare
When I walked in the door with a rose in my buttonhole!
Faith, then ev'ryone there
Said, "Oh, who can that handsome man be?"
"That's the honorable Thomas O'Grady,
And a member of congress is he."
I was patronized by ev'ry lady
At McGettigan's social soiree.

2. I was cracking a bottle of wine
With McCarthy out in the bay windy.
Sure McCarthy's an old friend of mine.
We have been into many a shindy.
When McGettigan came with a pretty girl,
"O'Grady, my daughter," said he.
Then he shouted aloud to the orchestra:
"Play a bar of the tra-la-la-le."

CHORUS: Oh my! didn't they stare
When I welted the floor with Ophelia McGettigan!
Faith....

3. Oh, in faith 'twas an elegant spree.
I was sitting upon the balcony
With a can of dessert and some tea,
And a whacking big hunk of bologna,
When McCarthy came up and insulted me,
For he pasted me right in the eye,
Then he smeared something over my countenance
That tasted like cantaloupe pie.

CHORUS: Oh my! didn't they stare
I got hold of McCarthy and wiped up the floor with him!
Faith....