Origins: (Dan) Murphy's Running Dog

Subject: Origins: (Dan) Murphy's Running Dog
From: MartinRyan
Date: 25 Jun 15 - 09:33 AM

In his book Songs of Wexford the great Paddy Berry includes a coursing song called "Murphy's Running Dog", which he ascribes to a local Wexford Man named Michael O'Brien.

While hunting for an online set of lyrics for Paddy's song, I came across several late 19C. newspaper references to a comic song called "Dan Murphy's Running Dog" - so I'm curious as to whether there's a connection.

I'll post Paddy's set here when I get a chance but meanwhile, the sleuths among you may care to join the chase...

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: (Dan) Murphy's Running Dog
From: GUEST,#
Date: 25 Jun 15 - 09:47 AM

Saw a reference to W.H. Lloyd as being the author of DMRD.

Subject: RE: Origins: (Dan) Murphy's Running Dog
From: MartinRyan
Date: 25 Jun 15 - 09:50 AM

Yes - saw that. Now to find out what that version looked/sounded like.

To hear Paddy Berry's version:

Click here

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: (Dan) Murphy's Running Dog
From: MartinRyan
Date: 26 Jun 15 - 02:41 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Origins: (Dan) Murphy's Running Dog
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Mar 16 - 07:10 AM

Anyone have the words to this song

Subject: RE: Origins: (Dan) Murphy's Running Dog
From: MartinRyan
Date: 08 Mar 16 - 07:35 AM

I'll post the words for Paddy Berry's coursing song later. We've not found any further reference to "Dan Murphy's Running Dog" as yet.

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: (Dan) Murphy's Running Dog
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 08 Mar 16 - 09:13 AM

There is a reel called Murphy's Greyhound, the tune has no resemblance to the song however, so a connection is not too likely.

Subject: RE: Origins: (Dan) Murphy's Running Dog
From: MartinRyan
Date: 08 Mar 16 - 09:54 AM

Here's the words of Paddy Berry's version as given in his book "Wexford Ballads" - I haven't checked it against the Youtube version.:

Murphy's Running Dog

My usual occupation is to turn and temper clay
Last year I turned to betting and I found it would not pay
I ran my dog in Wexford Park and I ran him in Ballystraw
In the latter place he lost the race when he stopped to lick his paw

Chorus
Bad look to gambling I'm in an awful fix
Out of four pound six and eight pence all I have is one and six
We'll go down to Shea's or Kenny's and we'll drink a glass of grog
And go home around Dunbrody singing Murphy's Running Dog

I ran him in Kilkenny and I ran him in Tralee
He ran in Enniscorthy and he ran in Carberry
He won a race in Thurles and he lost one in Athlone
He ran away with the race that day – but he stopped to lick a bone

You'd here him yell a mile away when he is in the slips
And when the hare he sees, he shakes his knees and smacks his lips
I think Compile's about a mile and if he does not lose
Tis off we'll start to Matty Hart's and then go on the booze

We'll order two half barrels to be tapped upon the bridge
And upon the wall we'll drink it all, from there we will no budge
We'll sing the praise of today's craze with Cherries' beer and grog
And drown all care I do declare with Murphy's Running Dog

And Barnes's "Biddy the Nailer" 'twas many's the race she ran
In the wet North Slob, so help me Bob, was the first my "Juggler" won
When Mr. Barr yoked up his car, home through Wexford we did jog,
And every hare I do declare was picked up by my dog

I hope you're not offended by those verses written here
I long to see the committee and stewards do well next year
Bring your true love to Kilmarnock boys and if my greyhound wins
We'll dance all night till broad daylight in Costello's of Saltmills

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: (Dan) Murphy's Running Dog
From: MartinRyan
Date: 08 Mar 16 - 09:57 AM

Paddy adds the following note:


Taken down from the singing of Tommy Whelan, Duncannon in 1979. Murphy's of Ballykeroge had a coursing dog called "The Juggler" around the turn of the century and raced it all over Ireland including his home ground where a twice yearly meeting was held beside the marshes of Kilmarnock near Campile village. The ballad was written by Michael O'Brien.

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: (Dan) Murphy's Running Dog
From: MartinRyan
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 03:48 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Origins: (Dan) Murphy's Running Dog
From: AmyLove
Date: 09 Apr 17 - 08:46 PM

The lyrics for the youtube version:

My usual occupation is to mold and temper clay
Last year I turned to betting and I found it wouldn't pay
I ran me dog in Wexford Park and I ran him in Ballystraw
In the latter race he lost the race when he stopped to lick his paw

I ran me dog in Thurles and I ran him in Tralee
He ran in Enniscorthy and again in Carberry
He won a race in Thurles but he lost one in Athlone
He'd have run away with the race that day but he stopped to lick a bone

Bad luck to gambling I'm in an awful fix
Out of four pound six and eight pence all I have is one and six
We'll go down to Shea's or Kenny's and we'll drink a glass of grog
And we'll go home around Dunbrody singin' Murphy's Runnin' Dog

Now you'd hear him yell a mile away when he is in the slips
And when the hare he sees, he shakes his knees and smacks his lips
Now I think Compile's about a mile and if my dog don't lose
'Tis off we'll start to Matty Hart's and then go on the booze

We will order two half barrels to be tapped upon the bridge
And upon the wall we'll drink it all, from there we will not budge
And we'll sing the praise of Wexford's craze with Cherries' beer and grog
And we'll banish care I do declare for Murphy's Runnin' Dog

Bad luck to gambling I'm in an awful fix
Out of four pound six and eight pence all I have is one and six
We'll go down to Shea's or Kenny's and we'll drink a glass of grog
And we'll go home around Dunbrody singin' Murphy's Runnin' Dog

Now I ran me dog in Liverpool and I ran him in Listowel
In the Edenderry Sweepstakes he came home in a stroll
But on Roscommon's cloddy sod no winning form he found
For those western dogs were cut-out clogs and trod him in the ground

Then I ran me dog in Dublin on the 23rd of June
And as I brought him to the slips he licked the magic spoon
Not even Johnson's Motor Car would outpace him that day
And we drank 20 crates of Guinness Stout before we came away

Bad luck to gambling I'm in an awful fix
Out of four pound six and eight pence all I have is one and six
We'll go down to Shea's or Kenny's and we'll drink a glass of grog
And we'll go home around Dunbrody singin' Murphy's Runnin' Dog

Now, I hope you're not offended by this song that I've sung here
For I long to see the committee and stewards do well next year
So bring your true love to Kilmarnock boys and if my greyhound wins
We will dance all night till the broad daylight in Costello's of Saltmills

Bad luck to gambling I'm in an awful fix
Out of four pound six and eight pence all I have is one and a kick
We'll go down to Shea's or Kenny's and we'll drink a glass of grog
And we'll go home around Dunbrody singin' Murphy's Runnin' Dog