Lyr Req: Barney Brallaghan (Hudson, Blewitt, 1820)

Subject: Lyr Req: Barney Bralligan
From: Lucius
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 02:14 PM

So I'm listening to last week's stream of "Folkwaves" on BBC and the play a song by the Doonan Family Band. The melody is what I recognize as Barney Brannigan, the words I've never heard. Don't know if they're traditional or newly composed. Anyone have any ideas?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barney Bralligan
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 02:38 PM

The original 'Barney Brallaghan's Courtship' was a London stage song written in the mid 1820s by Thomas Hudson to a tune written a few years earlier by Jonathan Blewitt, sometime musical director of the Theatre Royal, Dublin. It's still occasionally called 'Blewitt's Jig', though the great popularity of 'Barney Brallaghan' and its sequels (there were several) ensured a change of name in most cases.

There was a thread some time ago which you may like to look at: Lyr Req: barney brannigan. That was actually a completely different song, mind. The link I provided there to more info is broken just now. You can see broadside of Brallaghan and his relatives at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads. Use the 'browse' function to locate them; stsrt with 'barney' and then try 'judy' [Callaghan].

There is sheet music of 1830 and another undated edition at The Lester Levy Sheet Music Collection: just search for 'Barney Brallaghan'.

Of course, I have no idea what the Doonans may have sung.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barney Bralligan
From: Lucius
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 02:51 PM

I'm amazed, but that's typical whenever I visit the Mudacat forums. It was just what I was looking for. This is what the Doonans sung. Now to match the tune to the lyrics. Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barney Bralligan
From: GUEST,Barney Rubble
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 03:08 PM

Who are the Doonan? What kind of music do they play?

Subject: Lyr Add: BARNEY BRALLAGHAN'S COURTSHIP (Bodleian)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Aug 07 - 07:07 PM

From The Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, Firth b.26(451), c. 1815.

BARNEY BRALLAGHAN'S COURTSHIP
(Printer: J. Todd, Easingwold)

1. 'Twas on a windy night at two o'clock in the morning,
An Irish lad so tight, all wind and weather scorning,
At Judy Callaghan's door, sitting upon her palings,
His love tale he did pour, and this was part of his wailings:

CHORUS: "Only say you'll have Mr Brallaghan.
Don't say nay, my charming Judy Callaghan.

2. "Oh, list to what I say. Charms you've got like Venus.
Own your love you may; there's only the wall between us.
You lay fast asleep, snug in bed and snoring.
Round the house I creep, your hard heart imploring.

3. "I've got nine pigs and a sow, and also a sty to sleep 'em,
A calf and a brindled cow, and got a cabin to keep 'em;
Sunday hose and coat, an old gray ass to ride on,
Saddle and bridle to boot, which you may sit astride on.

4. "I've got a tom cat, through one eye is staring.
I've got a Sunday hat, little the worse for wearing.
I've got some gooseberry wine. The trees had got no riper on.
I've got a fiddle fine, which only wants a piper on.

5. "I've got an acre of ground. I've got it set with praties.
I've got of 'baccy a pound; got some tea for the ladies.
I've got the ring to wed, some whiskey to make us gaily,
A mattress, feather bed, and a handsome new shillelagh.

6. I've got a cabin fine as ever the sun did shine on.
I've got an old tablecloth, which you shall have to dine on.
I've got three ships at sea, two of them bound for Limerick,
One with coffee and tea, the other with three square gimlets.

7. "You've got a charming eye, and got some spelling and reading.
You've got—and so have I—a taste for genteel breeding.
You're rich and fair and young, as everyone's knowing.
You've got a decent tongue whene'er 'tis set a-going.

8. "For a wife till death I am willing to take ye,
But och! I waste my breath. The devil himself can't wake ye.
'Tis just beginning to rain, so I'll get under cover.
I'll come tomorrow again, and be your constant lover."

[The Bodleian has several versions; this seems to be the oldest. I don't understand "three square gimlets." Most versions omit verse 6.]