The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #68767   Message #1215946
Posted By: Jim Dixon
28-Jun-04 - 11:44 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Irish songs about balls, wakes, soirees
Subject: Lyr Add: MAGUINNES' BIRTHDAY PARTY
From The Library of Congress American Memory Collection:

MAGUINNES' BIRTHDAY PARTY
(Words, G. Cooper. Music, T. B. Harms. 1884.)

1. Oh, say did ye hear of the party so gay,
And all of the quality there?
Sure never was seen such a lovely display
Of ladies so genteel and fair.
Bedalia McCann and her nice young man,
And widow Delaney so hearty,
Met Felix McGee and Cordelia O'Dee
At Maguinnes' birthday party.

CHORUS: At Maguinnes' birthday party
Oh, we danced and we dined so hearty.
You never did see such an elegant spree
As Maguinnes' birthday party.

2. And then came the supper so nate and so grand,
Wid whiskey and ice cream galore.
Maguinnes got up wid his glass in his hand,
But soon he fell down on the floor.
His health to propose, McFaddin arose,
Which gave some offense to McCarty.
He gave him a rap on his potato trap
At Maguinnes' birthday party.

3. The row then began, and the glasses they flew.
The table fell on fat Muldoon.
The ladies they scream'd and turn'd yellow and blue,
And chairs flew 'round like a simoom.
Policemen came in to settle the din,
And just saved the life of Fogarty.
They put out the light, and that settled the fight
At Maguinnes' birthday party.

[simoom = dry hot dusty wind of deserts]