The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #171249   Message #4141295
Posted By: Felipa
09-May-22 - 02:55 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Irish folk music about religion
Subject: RE: Origins: Irish folk music about religion
Fill, a rún ó: a mother laments that her son, who trained as a priest, is becoming a Protestant minister. Extensive discussion at https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=14833

The Juice of the Barley - a comical song but with a bit of a sting to it. some verses:

Now I never was much for the learning I'm thinking
But I soon beat the master entirely at drinking
Not a wake nor a wedding for five miles around
But myself in the corner was sure to be found

Then one Sunday the priest read me out from the altar
Saying I'd end up my days with my neck in a halter
Then I'd dance a fine jig betwixt heaven and hell
And his words they did fright me the truth for to tell

So the very next morning as dawn it did break
I went down to the vestry the pledge for to take
And there in that room sat the priests in a bunch
Round a big roaring fire drinking tumblers of punch

chorus - báinne na mbó is an ghamhna
And the cjuice of the barley for me

https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=93815#1809674