I sometimes astonish myself at the depths to which my sheet music collection will sink, but here's about as close as I am likely to get to a definitive version of this song!

Despite the Irish propensity to adopt any song as Irish if any Irishman ever sang it, I think they can have this one, but I'm a little doubtful about the use of the dollar for currency, even if the change did come in pence!

From the Val Doonican Songbook (c)1965 Francis, Day & Hunter Ltd

PADDY MCGINTY'S GOAT

Words and Music by R. P. Weston, Bert Lee and The Two Bobs
(c)1917 F,D & H Ltd

Now Patrick McGinty, an Irishman of note,
Fell in for a fortune and he bought himself a goat.
Says he, "Sure of goat's milk, I goin' to have me fill,"
But when he brought the nanny home, he found it was a bill!
All the young ladies who live in Killaloo,
They're all wearing bustles like their mother used to do!
They each wear a bolster beneath their petticoat
And leave the rest to providence and Paddy McGinty's goat.

Missus Burke to her daughter said, "Listen, Mary Jane:
Who was the man you were cuddling in the lane?
He'd long wiry whiskers a-hanging from his chin."
"'Twas only Pat McGinty's goat," she answer'd with a grin.
She went away from the village in disgrace.
She came back with powder and paint on her face.
She'd rings on her fingers. She wore a sable coat.
You bet your life she didn't get those from Paddy McGinty's goat.

Now, Nora McCarthy the knot was goin' to tie.
She washed out her trousseau and hung it out to dry.
Along came the goat and he saw the bits of white
And chewed up all her fallderals upon her wedding night.
"Oh, turn out the light, quick!" she shouted out to Pat,
"For though I'm your bride, sure I'm not worth lookin' at.
I had two of everything, I told you when I wrote,
But now I've one of nothing all through Paddy McGinty's Goat."

Mickey Riley he went to the races t'other day.
He won twenty dollars and shouted, "Hip-hooray!"
He held up the note, shouting, "Look at what I've got!"
The goat came up and grabbed at it and swallowed up the lot.
"He's eaten me bank note," said Mickey with a hump.
They went for the doctor and they got a stomach pump.
They pumped and pumped for the twenty dollar note,
But all they got was ninepence out of Paddy McGinty's Goat.

Now ould Paddy's goat had a wondrous appetite,
And one day for breakfast he had some dynamite.
A big box of matches he swallowed all serene;
Then out he went and swallowed up a quart of paraffin.
He sat by the fireside. He didn't give a hang.
He swallowed a spark, and exploded with a bang.
So, if you go to heav'n, you can bet a dollar note,
That the angel with the whiskers is Paddy McGinty's goat!

Might even revive it at Blackmore on Monday!

Alan