Lyr Add: The Party at Odd Fellows Hall

Subject: Lyr Add: Oddfellows Hall
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 May 09 - 03:27 PM

There's a thead about traditional songs about dancing, and Songbob made mention of this song, which he learned from Dick Swain. That made me curious, and I found these lyrics at MacEdward Leach and the Songs of Atlantic Canada, which also has a recording of the song.
Songbob also posted a link to sheet music at Johns Hopkins University.
The sheet music at Levy Sheet Music Collection (also at Johns Hopkins) is a little easier to use. Would anybody like to transcribe the lyrics from the sheet music?
-Joe-

ODDFELLOWS HALL

I met me friend Paddy McKenna
One evening on Washington Street
Said he to me, "Say Jimmy Dolan
Here's a ticket will give you a treat!"
I took up the card that he offered
Begob t'wasn't large, t'wasn't small
It just admitted a gent and a lady
To a party in Oddfellow's hall

CHORUS: Waltzes, polkas, lancers, gallops and slide
Hi-dos, di-dos, fancy quadrilles, reels and slide
I'll never forget that night you may bet
I went down to Oddfellows Hall

McKenna he was floor director
He wore a green badge on his chest
Pink necktie tucked into his shirt front
Begob he was handsomely dressed
And when he walked up with Miss Bridget
Sure I wasn't in it at all
But I says to meself, "Wait, McKenna
There's more than one man in the hall"

Chorus: Waltzes, polkas, etc.

I waited 'til after it was over
Then up to him boldly I go
Says I to him, "Shy Patty
Where did you hire them clothes?"
"You're a liar!" says Pat in a second
Says I, "What's that word that ye called?"
And the next minute me and McKenna
Were cleaning up Oddfellows Hall

CHORUS: Waltzes polkas…etc.

Next mornin' before Justice Duffy
Sure me and McKenna were brought in
Ten dollars or ten days sir
But poor me and Pat hadn't a ten
We took a short sail down the harbour
Begob we were feellin' quite small
We spent ten days on their island
For cleaning up Oddfellows Hall

Subject: Lyr Add: THE PARTY AT ODD FELLOWS HALL
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 May 09 - 04:18 PM

Lyr. Add: THE PARTY AT ODD FELLOWS HALL
Words J. Wendell, Music R. W. Atkinson, 1891

1
I met my friend Patrick McKenna,
One ev'ning on Washington Street,
He said to me "Hy, Timmy Dolan,
Here's a ticket will give you a treat."
I took up the card that he offered,
'Twas not very large, twas'n't small,
It said "Admit a gent and lady
To the party in Odd Fellows Hall."
2
I paid fifty cents for the ticket,
Then I called on Miss Bridget McCann,
She said she would go to the party,
'Cause I was such an elegant man.
So we went down and jumped in a herdie,
The driver says "Where shall I call?"
Says I, in a dignified manner,
"You can take us to Odd fellows Hall."
3
McKenna he was floor director,
He wore a green badge on his chest,
A pink necktie tucked in his shirt-front,
Begob, he was handsomely dressed.
And when he waltzed off wid Miss Bridget,
Sure, I wasn't in it at all,
But says I to meself, "Whist, Mc. Kenna,
There's more than one man in the Hall.

Chorus.
Waltzes, Polkas, Lancers, Galops, Glides,-
Portland Fancy, Quadrilles and Reels, and Slides,-
High-lows, Didos, how they danc'd 'em all,
I'll never forget the time, you can bet,
I went down to Odd Fellows Hall.

4
I waited until they had finished,
Then up to him boldly goes,
And says I to him: "Patsy McKenna,
Sy where did ye hire them clothes?"
"You're a liar!" says Pat in a second,
Says I "What's that word that ye call?"
And the next minute me and McKenna
Were cleaning up Odd Fellows Hall.
5
Next morning, before Justice Duffy,
McKenna and me were brought in,
"Ten dollars," says he, "or ten days, sir!"
And me and Pat hadn't the tin.
So we took a short sail down the harbor,
Begob, we were feeling quite small,
And we stayed for ten days on Deer Island,
For scrapping in Odd Fellows Hall.

Chorus.

Oliver Ditson Co., sheet music linked by Joe.

More songs to follow later.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oddfellows Hall
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 May 09 - 05:09 PM

Verse 2 is rather essential to the plot!

Charley Noble

Subject: Lyr. Add: If There's a Pleasure On Earth
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 May 09 - 05:42 PM

Lyr. Add: IF THERE'S A PLEASURE ON EARTH
The Odd Fellows Song
Music C. F. Hupfeld(t), 1847

1
Oh! if there's a pleasure on earth that's more pure,
Or more blest than another, say is it not this;
To lighten the sorrows that others endure!
To hold out a hand to "A Friend in distress"
'Tis a pleasure that selfishness never can know,
A joy that no language, no pen cab express,
Ah who can forget, that once felt the glow,
That the heart gives while helping "A Friend in distress."
2
Since each has his trials, and troubles to bear,
While as pilgrims we journey along the same road,
When we meet with a brother with more than his share,
'Tis "Humanity" bids us to "lighten his load."
The richest today may tomorrow be poor,
If we've little how many there are who have less
Oh! ne'er should the heart then, the hand, or the door,
Be closed to the claims* of "A Friend in distress."

* Difficult to read- 'claims'(?)
Lyrics seem to belong to Hupfeld (title page).
C. F. Hupfeld & Sons, Philadelphia, 1847.
American Memory.

"My Initiation" to follow.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oddfellows Hall
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 21 May 09 - 07:21 PM

Growing up in a central California area fairly near the gold rush country of 1849, I noticed as a youngster that a fairly prominent building in many of the towns along old Highway 49 was the I.O.O.F. hall. Apparently, the International Order of Odd Fellows was very quickly made a central part of the predominantly male culture of the gold rush camps. Does anyone have versions from that area and place?

Subject: Lyr. Add: My Initiation
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 May 09 - 08:14 PM

Lyr. Add: MY INITIATION, or How I Joined the Odd Fellows
Words John Poole, Music Thomas Yates, 1874
1
Ye brothers of the Mystic Tie,
Unto my song give ear,
while I Tell you the When,
the Where,- the Why,
I got Initiated.
One Jollie Green, a friend, d'ye see,
With whom I often made quite free,
One day he chanced to say to me
"Why don't you an Odd Fellow be?"
My name up to the Lodge I sent,
The initiation fee I spent,
And along with him one evening went-
To be Initiated.
2
First my eyesight they did blind,
And then they tied my hands behind;
I really thought it most unkind
For to be so badly treated.
While I around my way did feel,
Upon sharp tacks they made me kneel,
Then with a grasp which made me reel,
They bound me on a monstrous wheel,
Then whirl'd me round with lightning speed,
My agony they did not heed;
Oh! I only wish'd my hands were freed,
When I was Initiated.

Chorus.
That time I never have forgot,
With the great Gridiron roaring hot,
And the Goat, which round the room did trot,
When I was Initiated.

3
They gave me next a shower bath,
Which further did increase my wrath;
And one sang out "The Rugged Path,
There let the wretch be seated."
Then up a ladder, a mile or more,
And down they plunged me, with a roar,
Until, with bones all bruised and sore,
At length I sprawled upon the floor.
"Do let me up!" at once I cried;
But I found my feet together tied,
And on a rail I took a ride,
While being Initiated.
4
Then suddenly somebody said:
"Let the unenlightened wretch be bled,
And place the pitch-cap on his head,
Let his nose be nutmeg-grated:
Put mustard plasters on his feet,
And then, to make the work complete,
That he may have a warmer seat,
The great Gridiron quickly heat."
Then I thought I should give up the ghost,
When on it I was placed to toast,
I felt again, smelt someting roast,
When I was Initiated.
5
A sulphurous smell now filled the air,
And I heard four hoofs behind me bear,
When I knew that horrible goat was there;
Oh! wasn't I aggrravated?
I again was seized, on his back was bound,
With a kick and a plunge he rushed around,
With such terrible speed to go over the ground,
I'm sure no velocipede ever was found,
My ears were stunned by the awful din,
As he sped up and down, and out and in,
I thought a whole bone wasn't left in my skin,
When I was Initiated.
6
As I wondered what trial there next would be,
A voice proclaimed; "Ye may set him free,
If he'll take the oath he hears from me."
That I'd do it I quickly stated,
And these were the terrible words I spoke.
"I promise never to drink or smoke,
Never to laugh and never to joke,
Or my nose into other folks' business poke."
My eyes were unbound, and I looked around,
Found myself in the Lodge room safe and sound,
And I've never regretted the night, I'll be bound,
When I was Initiated.

Chorus.
Oh, no, the time I'll ne'er forget,
When first I joined that friendly set,
Whom as brother Odd Fellows I've often met,
Since I was Initiated.

American Memory, American Sheet Music, Pub. by Thos. Yates, New York.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oddfellows Hall
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 May 09 - 08:20 PM

From a 1913 IOOF brochure, Orphans' Home in Lincoln and Old Folks Home in Mattoon, Illinois; anon.

"Do something for somebody, somewhere,
While jogging along life's road,
Help somebody to carry his burden
And lighter will grow your load.

Do something for somebody, striving
To help where the way seems long,
And the omeless hearts that languish
Cheer up with a little song."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oddfellows Hall
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 May 09 - 08:29 PM

Gosh, the Odd Fellows sound like a great creative band of brothers.

The local chapter here in Richmond, Maine, died out 50 or so years ago. Their hall still exists, vacant, in the top floor of a lovely three-story mansard building overlooking the waterfront.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oddfellows Hall
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 May 09 - 08:54 PM

The Grand lodge of California was instituted in 1853, by 1856 there were 60 Odd fellows Lodges in California.
California No. 1, San Francisco, 1849
http://mill-valley.freemasonry.biz/marin-fraternities-Appendix09.htm

TJ, don't know of any IOOF songs of the Gold Rush days, but I would bet that some were penned.

There is a volume of IOOF songs referred to in a couple of articles, but I haven't located a copy yet.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oddfellows Hall
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 May 09 - 09:17 PM

Charley, your comment about the empty IOOF lodge caused me to think of the Masonic Lodge in Santa Fe, Montezuma No. 1, AF&AM, chartered in 1851.
I remember the old Victorian furniture; the Lodge was in an old building on the plaza. Kit Carson and the like, as Masons, were visitors.
Currently the lodge is in a building with stark modern furnishings-cold and unattractive- see at http://www.montezumalodge.org. I wonder what happened to the old furniture and fittings. Probably some given away, mostly destroyed by now, and the woodwork went to the dump; the building remodeled to cater to tourist dollars.

The old lodges, Masons, IOOF, etc., were an important part of life in the west (as well as back in your Yankee land). Too bad most of them are gone.

Subject: ADDPOP: Oddfellows Local 151
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 May 09 - 01:27 AM

There are Oddfellows Halls all over the Gold Rush area of California, but I've never actually came across anyone who belonged to the IOOF. Well, the Georgian group R.E.M. has a song about Oddfellows. Not what we're talking about, but I thought somebody might be interested.
-Joe in Colfax, California-


Oddfellows Local 151
(As Recorded by R.E.M.)
   
Oddfellows local 151 behind the firehouse
Where Peewee sits to prove a sage to teach
Peewee gathered up his proof
Reached up and scratched his head
Fell down and hit the ground again

Firehouse. Firehouse.

Why do the heathens rage behind the firehouse
Where Peewee sits upon the wall to preach?
This boy and girl that gather pearls
Of wisdom falling from his mouth
Wash off the blood, wash off the rum

Firehouse. Firehouse.

Oddfellows local 151 behind the firehouse
Where Peewee sits upon the wall to preach.
This boy and girl that gather pearls
Of wisdom falling from his mouth
Wash off the blood, wash off the 151.

Firehouse. Firehouse.
Firehouse. Firehouse.


source: http://www.poemhunter.com/song/oddfellows-local-151/

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oddfellows Hall
From: Anglo
Date: 22 May 09 - 02:40 AM

Years ago, Peter Johnson used to promote concerts in Cambridge, MA, at the Oddfellows Hall. Nice venue; we played there several times. Not too long afterward I was at a summer camp with Tony Saletan who sang, on a night off at the local tavern (with a piano) a highly entertaining version of Oddfellows Hall, and we all learned the chorus. Tony's still around - I saw him on the east coast last month though I believe he lives out west now. And the song has been around, though it might be temporarily dormant. (Though apparently Dick Swain sings it, but I have not heard his rendition).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oddfellows Hall
From: Artful Codger
Date: 22 May 09 - 04:06 AM

Maybe they just became the Moosepath League.