Lyr Req: The Limerick Races

Subject: Lyr Add: LIMERICK RACES (J. W. Hall, 1867)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Dec 09 - 01:01 AM

From The Droll Ditty Song Book edited by Joseph Edwards Carpenter (London: George Routledge and Sons, 1867), page 34:

LIMERICK RACES.
J. W. Hall.

I'm a simple Irish lad, I'm resolved to see some fun, sirs,
So to satisfy my mind, to Limerick town I come, sirs;
Oh, murther! what a precious place, and what a charming city,
Where the boys are all so free, and the girls are all so pretty.

It was on the first of May, when I began my rambles,
When everything was there, both jaunting cars and gambols;
I look'd along the road, which was lined with smiling faces,
All driving off ding-dong, to go and see the races.

So thin I was resolved to go and see the race, sirs,
And on a coach and four I neatly took my place, sirs,
When a chap bawls out "Behind!" and the coachman dealt a blow, sirs,
Faith, he hit me just as fair as if his eyes were in his poll, sirs.

So thin I had to walk, and make no great delay, sirs,
Until I reached the course, where everything was gay, sirs;
It's thin I spied a wooden house, and in the upper story
The band struck up a tune, called "Garry Owen and Glory."

There was fiddlers playing jigs, there was lads and lasses dancing,
And chaps upon their nags, round the course sure they were prancing,
Some was drinking whisky-punch, while others bawled out gaily,
"Hurrah, then, for the shamrock green, and the splinter of shillelagh!"

There was betters to and fro, to see who would win the race, sirs,
And one of the sporting chaps of course came up to me face, sirs;
Says he, "I'll bet you fifty pounds, and I'll put it down this minute."
"Ah, thin ten to one," says I, "the foremost horse will win it."

When the players came to town, and a funny set was they,
I paid my two thirteens to go and see the play;
They acted kings and cobblers, queens, and everything so gaily,
But I found myself at home when they struck up "Paddy Cary."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Limerick Races
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Oct 99 - 06:32 PM

When I typed in "Limerick" in the search box, at the top right of this page, Galway Races come up under a sub-heading; could that possibly be the right one? Sorry, I am not familiar with either one. If it isn't the right one, I am sure someone on here will be able to help you.

good luck, kat

Subject: The Limerick Races
From: Red Branch
Date: 11 Oct 99 - 02:13 PM

Hi,

Does anyone have the lyrics to "The Limerick Races".

I have an old Wolfe Tone album, but they sing it very fast and I miss a lot of the words.

Thanks