Origins: Funeral Song / Invitation to a Funeral

Subject: RE: Origins: Funeral Song / Invitation to a Funeral
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Aug 14 - 06:14 AM

A big hello Tony,from Miltown Malbay. Yes I remember that time,also Marrinan,s,late nights and the very best of songs. We are both retired 8 years, do not know how to account for tempus fugit!!We meet Eugene Dunbar here,he has a rented place. You might know him?where are you living?Please keep in touch. You,d never know when we might meet ,here?old timers get together??Keep singing. R

Subject: RE: Origins: Funeral Song / Invitation to a Funeral
From: Old Folker
Date: 23 Aug 14 - 05:28 AM

Hi Roisin,
Still singing away. I was just thinking the other day about the singing session in the Old Ground in Ennis in 1977, you were there that afternoon. Were you in Marinhanes in Miltown Malbay that night?

Great to hear from you.

Tony

Subject: RE: Origins: Funeral Song / Invitation to a Funeral
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 18 Aug 14 - 04:16 AM

PS - Not "Fairhill" - it was on his 1981 album, "Some Things Never Change"

Subject: RE: Origins: Funeral Song / Invitation to a Funeral
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 18 Aug 14 - 04:06 AM

I'd say it was Jimmy Crowley who popularised it, as said above, in the 1970s. I'm sure it was on his first solo LP "The Boys Of Fairhill". I have also heard Martin Carthy sing it - same song.

Subject: RE: Origins: Funeral Song / Invitation to a Funeral
From: GUEST,Roisin White
Date: 17 Aug 14 - 04:33 PM

Hello Tony, hope all well with you. I have met Eugene Dunbar , they have a house near Miltown Malbay, as we have also. I well remember the songs you sang. Are you still in the humour for a song and tune?Valentine O Hara, Rigs of rye, and more. Stay well. R

Subject: RE: Origins: Funeral Song / Invitation to a Funeral
From: GUEST,#
Date: 17 Aug 14 - 04:32 PM

Click here

More info at that Mudcat thread.

Subject: RE: Origins: Funeral Song / Invitation to a Funeral
From: Old Folker
Date: 17 Aug 14 - 04:22 PM

I know this is an old thread but sure I may aswell throw my tuppence worth in.

I learnt this song back in the Mid Seventies, I think I may have gotten it from Jimmy Crowley who in turn may have gotten it from Finbar Boyle.

The Tune is "The Teetotaller's Reel". I recorded it on an tape back in the 1984 when I was going to America on a tour. Album was called I'll never go to your Wedding again.

Hope this is of help to somebody.

Tony Holleran

Subject: RE: Origins: Funeral Song- Author?
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 03:34 PM

I first heard it from Tony Holleran of Caherlistrane many years ago. The tune was ,indeed, The Teetotaller Reel. The version in the DT has some minor, possibly relatively recent variants in the lyrics.

In the Keith Marsden song, BTW, there actually IS a funeral!

Regards
p.s. Declan: Jimmy Crowley was a regular in Holleran's Athlone Folk CLub and may well have learned it from Tony.

Subject: RE: Origins: Funeral Song- Author?
From: nickp
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 03:26 PM

There's a similarity with something Martin Carthy used to sing to the tune of (from memory) The Teetotaller Reel

Subject: RE: Origins: Funeral Song- Author?
From: barnacle
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 03:18 PM

Do you mean Keith Marsden's "And all his other wives came too...?"

Subject: RE: Origins: Funeral Song- Author?
From: Declan
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 04:44 PM

I wouldn't say it's trad. Seems more like a music hall/vaudeville song to me. May well be from the west side of the Atlantic.

If its any help, I think Jimmy Crowley used to sing it back in the late '70s/early '80s. I remember Mick Fitzgerald singing it as well.

Subject: Origins: Funeral Song- Author?
From: CeltArctic
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 02:20 PM

My father used to sing this - he called it 'The Funeral'. I looked it up in Digitrad (called Funeral Party), but there's no author attributed.

Is this a traditional song, or does anyone know the author's name?

Moira