Thread #125547   Message #2782177
Posted By: Jim Carroll
06-Dec-09 - 01:01 PM
Thread Name: BS: 'Faux Irishman' Pat O'Brien
Subject: RE: BS: 'Faux Irishman' Pat O'Brien

"Did the Pat O'Brien this thread is named after actually exist?"
This feller maybe - probably not!
From Tom Lenihan of Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare
Jim Carroll

PAT O'BRIEN
1   This young man's name was Pat O'Brien, a carpenter by trade,
Both day and night he took delight in courting this fair maid.
She was young and innocent and always to the fore,
Oh, but little was her notion that he'd prove her overthrow.

2   She wrote to him a love letter and an answer to it came;
Saying: 'Nancy, lovely Nancy, oh, I hope you'll not me blame,
For I've been working all this time and could not see you o'er,
But I hope to have your company this evening at the grove,'

3   When she read those few lines they enticed her for to go,
She dressed herself in private, oh, I mean to let you know.
The night was bright with the moonlight which caused her for to go;
But little was her notion that she never would come back home.

4   When he saw her coming, it was then he went to hide.
The words he said unto himself: 'You'll never be my bride
For I have heard for certain that you have me deceived
And this very night, to take your life, a butcher I will be.'

5   It was then he stepped up to her and then his colour changed.
She said: 'Patsy, lovely Patsy, oh what makes you look so pale?'
I want no talk at all from you, but kneel down there and pray,
For there is not a woman breathing will never deceive me.'

6   He caught her by the yellow locks and drew her to the ground.
'Twas with a knife he stabbed her, oh, and gave her the deadly wound.
Her last dying words was: 'Pat O'Brien, you do not feel the pain!'
And 'twas with a spade he made her grave and then went home by train.

7   This girl was but three days buried, to her mother she did appear.
The mother spoke to her, oh, without a dread or fear.
She says: 'Mother, loving mother, you'll never see me more
For Pat O'Brien has murdered me and laid me in my gore.

8   'Go down to that old, old grove, be sure make no delay,
There you'll find my body buried, oh, and covered with the clay.
You'll find the blood spilled on the spot—the place he murdered
me— So go and get him taken and hung he'll be surely.'

9   The night before his trial came on to him she did appear
With her baby in her arms, oh, which filled his heart with fear.
She says: "Tis often times you vowed to me that I would be your
bride. On the gallows high you now will die for taking away my life.'



Laws P 39. IFC TM 81/A/l. August 19th 1972. On some occasions Tom said he had learned it from his father, other times he recalled having learned it from his mother. At any rate he was always certain that the song was in the family for a very long time. 5.4   lapsus linguae, for 'never' read 'ever'.
In spite of the popularity of this song in oral tradition it has seldom appeared in anthologies. It is a classic of the type of murder ballads which emanated from the popular broadsheet presses of the 19th century. Although the geographical location of the action varies considerably it is frequently referred to as 'The Sligo Murder Ballad'. Tom's text is more genteel than most in that the line (6.4) which ends with 'and then went home by train.' is usually rendered '. . . and then dashed out her brains..'