Lyr Req: The Westmeath Bachelor

Subject: Lyric Wanted : Westmeath Bachelor
From: Laila - Italy
Date: 21 Feb 99 - 08:08 AM

I really love the song, but i can't find the words. Can you help me?

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I moved this message here from another thread on the same topic.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyric Wanted : Westmeath Bachelor
From: Laila - Italy
Date: 23 Feb 99 - 12:51 PM

Is it possible that nobody knows this song? Please, I searched tru the web but I can't find it. Can you help me?

---

I moved this message here from another thread on the same topic.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WESTMEATH BACHELOR
From: Paddy
Date: 25 Mar 99 - 04:43 PM

I thought I put this in already, but here goes
^^

I am a Westmeath Bachelor and my age is 63
I don't intend to marry or to raise a family
I'm happy and contented to lead a single life
That's why I'm a bachelor and I never take a wife

Chorus
With the red stuff on her fingernails and varnish on her toes
Raddle on her ould fisogue and whitewash on her nose
It would take a fancy barber, to shave her neck and head
That's why I'm a bachelor and I don't intend to wed

I'm living with my brother and his little cat and dog
I'm earning seven and six a week for working on the bog
Why should I change this life of ease for one of struggle and strife
That's the very reason why I'll never take a wife

Chorus

One day while at the market, in the town of Mullingar
A friend he introduced me to a famous movie star
She'd been married several times before to men of different creed
And she thought she had a sucker in the bachelor from Westmeath

Chorus

Such noble sentiments . . . (sigh)

Paddy

Subject: Lyr Add: WESTMEATH BACHELOR
From: MudGuard
Date: 20 Oct 99 - 04:13 PM

Hi all!

I tried to transcribe the song Westmeath Bachelor from a recording, but I ran into some problems.
Can anyone help with the missing parts (...) and those where I just wrote down what I think I heard (the rest of the red places).

TIA,
MudGuard

Westmeath Bachelor

Oh I am a Westmeath bachelor, my age is sixtythree
I don't intend to marry or raise a family
I'm happy and contented to lead a single life
And that's the reason why I don't intend to take a wife.

Chorus

With the wretch upon her fingernails and varnish on her toes
Carable on her out to soap whitewash on her nose
She can get a fancy biper/wiper to shave her neck or head
Well that's why I'm a bachelor and I don't intend to wed.

I'm living with my brother and his little cats and dog
I'm earning seven and six a week for burglaring??? on the bog
Why should I change this life of ease for one of trouble and strife
And that's the reason why I don't intend to take a wife.

Last thursday after market in the town of Mullingar
Joe Dolan ... to a famous movie star
She'd been married several times before to men of different treats
And she thought she'd have her supper in the bachelor ... suite

Subject: Lyr Add: WESTMEATH BACHELOR
From: Brakn
Date: 20 Oct 99 - 07:30 PM

There are different versions of this.

With enamel on her fingernails and varnish on her toes
And raddle on her old physog and powder on her nose
And going to the barber to do up her neck and head
Isn't that sufficient reason why you find me still unwed

or
With the red stuff on her fingernails and varnish on her toes
Raddle on her ould fisogue and whitewash on her nose
It would take a fancy barber, to shave her neck and head
That's why I'm a bachelor and I don't intend to wed


I'm earning seven and six a week for working on the bog or I'm earning eighteen bob a day with Bord Na Mona on the bog

A friend he introduced me to a famous(or faded) movie star

She'd been married several times before to men of different creeds

And she thought she had a sucker in the bachelor from Westmeath

Mick Bracken
I hope that makes sense

Subject: RE: LyrHelpReq: Westmeath Bachelor
From: MudGuard
Date: 21 Oct 99 - 02:53 AM

Thanks Mick, I will listen to the song again with your lyrics before me, and I think I will be able to sort it out!
NudGuard

Subject: Lyr Add: WESTMEATH BACHELOR
From: Quincy
Date: 09 Aug 00 - 02:34 PM

You're right Mick, there are so many different versions of songs!! Mudguard and yourself have done so well so I thought I would give the Joe Dolan version!! Just really a mixture of the afore-mentioned!!!

O I am a Westmeath bachelor and my age is sixty-three
I don't intend to marry or to raise a family.
I'm happy and contented just to lead a single life,
And that's the reason why I don't intend to take a wife.

With the red stuff on her finger nails and varnish on her toes,
Red around her old fizzog and the whitewash on her nose,
She can get a fancy barber to shave her neck and head,
And that's why I'm a bachelor and I don't intend to wed.

Last Thursday at the market in the town of Mullingar
A friend, he introduced me to a famous movie star,
She was married several times before to men of every breed,
And she thought she had a sucker in the bachelor from Westmeath!

Now I'm living with me brother and his little cat and dog,
I'm earning seven and six a week while working on the bog.
Why should I change my life of ease to one of struggle and strife,
And that's another reason why I never took a wife!


Sure I'll be singing it for the rest of the day now!!!!!!
best wishes, Yvonne

Subject: RE: LyrHelpReq: Westmeath Bachelor
From: GUEST,Bob
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 07:48 AM

My, my, the memories. My grandfather (1st Generation Amereican) used to sing this all the time, even though he wasn't from Westmeath, or any place else in Ireland, wasn't a bachelor (obviously) and probably never saw a bog in his life. He said it was the only song he could remember hearing his own father sing. Any way, this is his version of the chorus:

Ah, with the rust upon her finger nails and varnish on her toes
Paint around her mouth so sour and whitewash on her nose;
She can get a fancy barber to shape her knucklehead.
That's why I am a bachelor and I don't intend to wed.

Hope you all enjoy it.

Subject: Lyr Req: West Meath Bachelor
From: UB Ed
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 01:58 PM

Hello!

Anybody have the lyrics and tune? I believe this is by Joe Dolan.

Thanks!

Ed

Subject: RE: LyrHelpReq: Westmeath Bachelor
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Feb 03 - 04:41 AM

We have several versions of the lyrics, but no tune. If you e-mail it to me, I'll post it. Anyone?

-Joe Offer (click to e-mail)-

Subject: RE: LyrHelpReq: Westmeath Bachelor
From: Declan
Date: 20 Feb 03 - 12:43 PM

Joe,

The tune to this is the same as Let Him Go Let him Tarry which is in the DT here, with slightly jauntier beat and a few rhythmic variations to fit the words.

Subject: RE: LyrHelpReq: Westmeath Bachelor
From: GUEST,hitman
Date: 19 Jan 10 - 02:41 PM

who wrote it does anyone know?

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: THE WESTMEATH BACHELOR
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 08:26 AM

[C]O I am a Westmeath [C7]bachelor and my [F]age is sixty-[C]three
I don't [G7]intend to marry or to raise a [C]family.
[C]I'm happy and conten[C7]ted just to [F]lead a single [C]life,
And [G7]that's the reason why I don't intend to [C]take a wife.

[C]With the red stuff on her [C7]finger nails and[F] varnish on her [C]toes,
Red [G7]around her old fizzog and the whitewash on[C] her nose,
[C]She can get a fancy [C7]barber to ]F]shave her neck and [C]head,
And [G7]that's why I'm a bachelor and I don't intend [C]to wed.

Last Thursday at the market in the town of Mullingar
A friend, he introduced me to a famous movie star,
She was married several times before to men of every breed,
And she thought she had a sucker in the bachelor from Westmeath!

Now I'm living with me brother and his little cat and dog,
I'm earning seven and six a week while working on the bog.
Why should I change my life of ease to one of struggle and strife,
And that's another reason why I never took a wife!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Westmeath Bachelor
From: GUEST,DJCASS
Date: 24 Feb 12 - 05:49 AM

Joe Dolan Westmeath Bachelor

Sure I am a Westmeath bachelor and my age is sixty-three
I don't intend to marry or to raise a family.
Sure I'm happy and contented just to live a single life,
and that's the reason why I don't intend to take a wife.

With the red stuff on her finger nails and varnish on her toes,
Red around her old fizzog and the whitewash on her nose,
she can get a fancy barber to shave her neck or head,
and that's why I'm a bachelor and I don't intend to wed.

Last Thursday at the market in the town of Mullingar
A friend, he introduced me to a famous movie star,
she was married several times before to men of every breed,
and she thought she had a sucker in the bachelor from Westmeath!

With the red stuff on her finger nails and varnish on her toes,
Red around her old fizzog and the whitewash on her nose,
She can get a fancy barber to shave her neck or head,
And that's why I'm a bachelor and I don't intend to wed

Now I'm living with me brother and his little cat and dog,
I'm earning seven and six a week for working on the bog.
Why should I change my life of ease to one of struggle and strife,
and that's the reason why I don't intend to take a wife!

With the red stuff on her finger nails and varnish on her toes,
Red around her old fizzog and the whitewash on her nose,
she can get a fancy barber to shave her neck or head,
and that's why I'm a bachelor and I don't intend to wed hey!!!

Hope this Might help Someone !!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Westmeath Bachelor
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 02:26 PM

Foster and Allen credit the song to W. Whelan. The only candidate for that is Bill Whelan. I don't know if they are doing an arrangement by him or what. Seems a bit old for Bill Whelan to have written it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Westmeath Bachelor
From: GUEST,Ned
Date: 23 Oct 16 - 04:46 PM

Westmeath batchelor, written by Billy whelan (the whistling postman) from Castletown geo westmeath

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Westmeath Bachelor
From: michaelr
Date: 24 Oct 16 - 01:00 AM

physog/fizzog = physiognomy? And what is raddle?

Subject: Lyr Add: THE ROVING BACHELOR
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 24 Oct 16 - 04:19 AM

Bit of Plagiarism here, I think


THE ROVING BACHELOR (a)
English and Scots Traditional
From "Sam Henry's Songs of the People" page 263.

I am a roving bachelor and have been all my life,
But now I am determined to gang and tak' a wife.

With my rum-rum-row, a raddy rum-rum-row.

Now the sort of wife that I do want, she's no aisy to be fun',
She must be tall and handsome and worth a thoosan' pun'.

I strolled into the market place to see what a cud see,
When the bravest lass in a' the town begun tae wink at me.

I step-ped up beside her, said I, 'My maid sae shy ...'
The answer that she gaed me was, 'A'm nae sae shy as dry.'

The question then I axed her, what wud she hae tae drink?
The answer that she gaed me, 'Just onythin' ye think.'

The next question that I axed her, wud she no hae a gless?
And the answer that she gaed me, 'Ye couldna offer less.'

The next question that I axed her, did she ne'er lo'e a man?
The answer that she gaed me, 'I never loo'd but wan.'

Next question that I axed her, what like that might he be?
The answer that she gaed me was, 'The very image o' thee.'

Next question that I axed her, what way did she gang hame?
The answer that she gaed me, 'The very yin I came.'

So now we hae got married and the neighbours all can tell
That though she's tall and handsome she wears the breeks hersel'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Westmeath Bachelor
From: eftifino
Date: 24 Oct 16 - 07:12 AM

Fizzog, yes the face.   Raddle was a type of heavy makeup, crimson mostly, favoured by actresses and , er, ladies of a certain profession.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Westmeath Bachelor
From: eftifino
Date: 24 Oct 16 - 07:17 AM

Here's the tune:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVwYwL-uE9M

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Westmeath Bachelor
From: michaelr
Date: 24 Oct 16 - 10:35 PM

Thanks... but jeez, that's terrible!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Westmeath Bachelor
From: GUEST,Some bloke or other
Date: 25 Oct 16 - 04:49 AM

I suppose if someone is taking royalties, then plagiarism could be an accurate term although "in the style of" rather than false credit, comparing the variations on here.

I suppose it's an example of the living tradition and evolution of song. I've certainly heard it as a South Yorkshire ditty with "kite" for face etc. I had to get my Collins English Dee Dah Dee Dah English phrase book out though because it meant more sense to Barnsley than the progressive advanced civilisation of south of Sheffield.

It's certainly traditional in root and there are many songs on the theme or borrowing phrases. Looking at credits isn't helpful. Just about every Ewan MaCColl song and every English and Irish tune are all bloody Irish and written by a Dubliner (take your pick) if you believe what lyric websites tell you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Westmeath Bachelor
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Aug 20 - 05:39 PM

Re- information on the westmeath batchelors, I'm delighted to see Billy Whelan gets the recognition for writing the ballad.. Billy was brilliant. The black and Amber's.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Westmeath Bachelor
From: GUEST,Ordinary Joe
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 06:39 PM

Delighted to see Billy Whelan gets recognition for composing the batchelor's from westmeath. What a man Billy was he could play many instruments as well as compose.He never got the recognition for it .O.J.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Westmeath Bachelor
From: GUEST,#
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 07:10 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rbT-tAylu8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rbT-tAylu8

TWB is attributed to William Whelan at that link.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Westmeath Bachelor
From: GUEST,Black and ambers.
Date: 30 Jan 22 - 02:00 PM

I'm delighted to see Billy Whelan get recognition for writing batchelor's from westmeath, Billy was great, Bangor, fiddle piano, lilting and of course whistling,( hence nickname the whistling postman)God rest you Billy. .