Masato sent me a scan, so I did a transcription and a MIDI. Mr. Happy, how does my tune compare with yours?
Thanks, Masato!
-Joe Offer-


Darby Kelly

My grandsire beat a drum complete
His name was Darby Kelly-O!
No lad so true at rat tat too
At roll-call or reveillez-O!
When Marlbro's name first rose to fame,
So proud he rolled the Point of War.....
At Blenheim he and Ramillies
Fired all our champions to the core,
And O, his wrist had such a twist,
When home they marched with row dow dow....
With one great shout the boys came out,
The girls they gazed, you don't know how.

A son he had, who was my dad,
The second Darby Kelly O!
As quick and true at rat-tat-too,
At roll-call or reveillez-O!
When great Wolfe died, his country's pride,
To arms, to arms the father beat,
Each dale and hill remembers still
How loud and long, how clear and sweet!
And when for home from off the foam
He led the march with row-dow-dow,
Och! what a shout the lads let out,
The lasses looked, you don't know how!

And now, small blame, I bear the name
And drum of Darby Kelly O!
Myself as true to rat-tat-too,
To roll-call or reveillez O!
With Wellington, old Ireland's son,
I've beat the Mounseers out of Spain,
And now we march through laurel arch
And waving banners home again;
And as my sticks the same old tricks
They play with patt'ring row-dow-dow,
Man, woman, child, they've all gone wild,
The girls they gaze, you don't know how!


from The National Song Book

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Click to play

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No listing for this song at folktrax.org or in the Traditional Ballad Index.