Lyr Req: Mr. Bradley's Ball

Subject: Lyr Req: Mr. Bradley's Ball
From: Geoff Wallis
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 01:16 PM

Does anyone have the lyrics to this song, please?

The source singer is Peggy Chambers from Tempo in Co. Fermanagh who later became better known as Maggie Murphy.

Here's the first verse (and the gap after 'wee' indicates my inability to recognise the actual word she's singing).

Oh come all you lads and lassies and listen to me a while
I will sing to you a verse or two that cause you all to smile
It's all about a wee ... as I hope caused no ill will
It was given by Mr Bradley in his lovely home Foxhill.

Thanks in advance,

Geoff

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MAID OF THE SWEET BROWN KNOWE
From: Peace
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 06:16 PM

Padraic Colum (1881–1972). Anthology of Irish Verse. 1922.

31. The Maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe

By Anonymous


COME all ye lads and lassies and listen to me a while,
And I'll sing for you a verse or two will cause you all to smile;
It's all about a young man, and I'm going to tell you now,
How he lately came a-courting of the Maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe.

Said he, "My pretty fair maid, will you come along with me,
We'll both go off together, and married we will be;
We'll join our hands in wedlock bands, I'm speaking to you now,
And I'll do my best endeavour for the Maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe."

This fair and fickle young thing, she knew not what to say,
Her eyes did shine like silver bright and merrily did play;
She said, "Young man, your love subdue, for I am not ready now,
And I'll spend another season at the foot of the Sweet Brown Knowe.

Said he, "My pretty fair maid, how can you say so,
Look down in yonder valley where my crops do gently grow,
Look down in yonder valley where my horses and my plough
Are at their daily labour for the Maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe."

"If they're at their daily labour, kind sir, it's not for me,
For I've heard of your behaviour, I have, indeed," she said;
"There is an Inn where you call in, I have heard the people say,
Where you rap and call and pay for all, and go home at the break of day."

"If I rap and call and pay for all, the money is all my own,
And I'll never spend your fortune, for I hear you have got none.
You thought you had my poor heart broke in talking with me now,
But I'll leave you where I found you, at the foot of the Sweet Brown Knowe."

Is that it? If so, it's from


www.bartleby.com/250/31.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mr. Bradley's Ball
From: MartinRyan
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 06:27 PM

Sounds like it's one of many songs to the tune and pattern of The Maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe. I don't recognise it - but will have a look around...

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mr. Bradley's Ball
From: MartinRyan
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 06:33 PM

P.S.

Pity I didn't notice this one a few days ago - Cathal McConnell was in town and was quite likely to know it!

Regards

Subject: Lyr Add: MR BRADLEY'S BALL
From: Geoff Wallis
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 12:07 PM

Thanks, Martin,

It does fit that song pattern, but the song clearly describes a very different event. I might bump into Cathal in a couple of weeks time, so will pose the question, if I do.

Here's what I've transcribed so far:

Oh come all you lads and lassies and listen to me a while
I will sing to you a verse or two that cause you all to smile
It's all about a wee [sounds like 'faroo'] as I hope caused no ill will
It was given by Mr Bradley in his lovely home Foxhill.

At nine o'clock that evening the ladies did arrive
From Shankill straight to Scrabbie(? - possibly Scrabo) and the less 'uns them likewise
Their dresses were so bright and gay and their ankles neat and small
But the little maid from Largy was the gamest of them all.

From Carrin [Carron/Carran?] Braes like birds of prey the sweet Miss Chamberses came
With ankle socks and curly locks and cheeks that knew no stain
Their brother Ned, his little head was looking very small
For someone said he was MC at Mr Bradley's ball.

The dance was given to entertain a soldier of the Crown
While dancing with the sweet Miss ... which made this hero frown
For she says "Dear Pat, you're looking fat, and your cheeks are nice and round
Do you think I've got two left feet, or why are you looking down?"

When the dance was in full swing a knock came to the door
And in steps Swanky Connors and he give an awful roar
"Leave room for fighting trainer black Kearney from the bar [eh?]
Each with her eyes shining like raindrops on the tar.

All the best,

Geoff

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mr. Bradley's Ball
From: Geoff Wallis
Date: 18 Nov 08 - 11:15 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mr. Bradley's Ball
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Nov 08 - 01:09 PM

I don't know this song, but from the first few verses, it looks as if your song might belong to a genre I identified earlier in this thread:

Lyr Add: Irish songs about balls, wakes, soirees

...by which I actually meant "Irish (or Irish-American, or pseudo-Irish, or "stage Irish") comical songs about balls, wakes, soirees, parties, dinners, weddings, christenings, or other social gatherings at which people get drunk and fight or do other silly things."

We've already found around 60 examples.

I look forward to what you have to add.

Also, is this song available as a commercial recording? If not, how did you get it?