I got this from the James N. Healy book, The Songs of Percy French (Ossian Publications, 1996). It's almost the same as what's in the Digital Tradition, but the punctuation in the DT is pretty weird (double apostrophes for quotes, and such). The one major differences between the Healy version and the one in the DT are in the first verse - particularly the third line.
Healy: So he sent an invitation to his neighbours, one and all
DT: So he just sent out a notice to his neighbours, one an all
.
Which source is correct?
-Joe-


PHIL THE FLUTHER'S BALL
(Percy French)

Have you heard of Phil the Fluther, of the town of Ballymuck?
The times were going hard with him, in fact the man was bruk.
So he sent an invitation to his neighbours, one and all
As to how he'd like their company that evenin' at a ball.
And when writin' out he was careful to suggest to them,
That if they found a hat of his convanient to the door,
The more they put in, whenever he requested them
The better would the music be for battherin' the floor.

CHORUS
With the toot of the flute, and the twiddle of the fiddle-o!
Hoppin' in the middle like a herrin' on the griddle-o.
Up, down, hands around, crossin' to the wall.
Oh! Hadn't we the gaiety at Phil the Fluther's Ball.

There was Misther Denis Dogherty, who kep' the runnin' dog;
There was little crooked Paddy, from the Tiraloughett bog;
There was boys from every Barony, and girls from ev'ry 'art'
And the beautiful Miss Bradys, in a private ass an' cart,
And along with them came bouncing Mrs. Cafferty,
Little Micky Mulligan was also to the fore,
Rose, Suzanne, and Margaret O'Rafferty,
The flower of Ardmagullion, and the pride of Pethravore.
CHORUS

First, little Micky Mulligan got up to show them how,
And then the Widda' Cafferty steps out and makes her bow,
I could dance you off your legs, sez her, 'as sure as you are born,
If ye'll only make the piper play, "The hare was in the corn."'
So Phil plays up to the best of his ability,
The lady and the gentleman begin to do their share;
'Faith then Mick, it's you that has agility:
Begorra Mrs. Cafferty, yer leppin' like a hare!'
CHORUS

Then Phil the Fluther tipped a wink to little Crooked Pat,
'I think it's nearly time,' sez he, 'for passin' round the hat.'
So Paddy pass'd the caubeen round, and looking mighty cute
Sez, 'Ye've got to pay the piper when he toothers on the flute.'
Then all joined in wid the greatest joviality,
Covering the buckle, and the shuffle, and the cut;
Jigs were danced, of the very finest quality,
But the Widda' bet the company at 'handling the fut.'

from The Songs of Percy French, James N. Healy (Ossian Publications, 1996).

@music @Irish
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