Origin: Lily McNally McNair

Subject: Where does this song come from?
From: GUEST,Peter K
Date: 11 Apr 00 - 09:29 PM

I have the tune, and words which may not be entirely accurate, for a song called Lily McNally McNair, which may be from Scotland, more probably Ireland. Anyone know it, or anything about it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Where does this song come from?
From: Allan C.
Date: 12 Apr 00 - 09:02 AM

Peter K, you will get better results if you were to put the title of the song in the heading for the thread.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Where does this song come from?
From: MMario
Date: 12 Apr 00 - 09:42 AM

I searched for this in DT and forum and found nothing. will try a web search as soon as I can

Subject: Song Reg: Lily McNally McNair
From:
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 07:08 PM

Anyone know this song and where it comes from (possibly Scotland, more likely Ireland)? I've got the words and tune from the only person I've ever heard sing it, who got it from her late mother in Belfast. First lines: "A bonny wee (or beautiful) lass from the banks of the Liffey once married a man from the Clyde/And a year or so later both Dublin and Glasgow were bubbling all over with pride/........

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Where does this song come from?
From: GUEST,Peter K
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 07:11 PM

I've followed Allan C's advice and started thread again with title in heading.

---

Threads combined.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Song Reg: Lily McNally McNair
From: GUEST,Treesta
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 01:25 PM

This sounds like a great tune!!! Could anyone out there send me the lyrics and a sound file of some sort? A friend of mine and I sing at Renaissance Festivals in Florida, and it sounds like one we'd love to do!

Thanks!

Tree [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Song Reg: Lily McNally McNair
From: GUEST,Passer By
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 08:53 AM

I've heard it - possibly Birmingham (England) and just possibly sung by a duo from 30 yars ago or more called the Two Bridies or similar. The chorus is, or includes:

Lily McNally McNair (assuming your spelling's correct!)
Pride of the Clyde and the Liffey
Lily McNally McNair captured me heart in a jiffy.

Then (not sure if this is still chorus)

No one is sweeter and sometimes I meet her
And that's when I walk on air
And down in the valley I dilly and dally with
Lily McNally McNair

Subject: RE: Song Reg: Lily McNally McNair
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 May 03 - 02:08 PM

This Google search turns up a number of recordings of this song, but no lyrics. Anybody know this one?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Song Reg: Lily McNally McNair
From: GUEST, GEST
Date: 26 May 03 - 06:46 PM

No lyrics. The best I could find was a Lilly McNally McNair cut on the CD album, Irish Magic, by Raymond on the Igus label. Catalogue #CDSLP620.

Subject: RE: Song Reg: Lily McNally McNair
From: masato sakurai
Date: 26 May 03 - 07:05 PM

The title in Kerr's Music Catalogue is "Lily McNally MacNair" (£1.75).

~Masato

Subject: RE: Song Reg: Lily McNally McNair
From: GUEST,Guest browsing
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 12:36 AM

Although the previous threads were written some years ago, I've only just come across them. It was really nice to read them and it brought back many memories, as the song was inspired by my aunt.

Subject: RE: Origin: Lily McNally McNair
From: GUEST,Lisa
Date: 07 Aug 09 - 08:39 AM

I herd the song during the music festival in Caherciveen, co. Kerry. I would like to sing it myself, but an unable to find the full lyrics. Can anubody help me???

Subject: RE: Origin: Lily McNally McNair
From: GUEST
Date: 07 May 10 - 12:56 PM

How funny is this. I acyually just had a thought and wondered if there would be anything on the net about my grandmother who was a well known singer and performer many many years ago. Her stage name was Lily Mc Nally Mc Nair. Her real name was Elizabeth Mc Nally. She sung in pantomimes with Robert Wilson and tours during the war to entertain troops, while my grandfather was at war also. Robert Wilson actually wrote a song about her......

Subject: RE: Origin: Lily McNally McNair
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 May 10 - 04:04 PM

We really need to find the lyrics of this song. With a line like "Pride of the Clyde and the Liffey" - I gotta hear this one.

-Joe-

Subject: Lyr Add: LILLY McNALLY McNAIR
From: GUEST,Danjoe
Date: 31 May 10 - 05:56 PM

LILLY McNALLY McNAIR

Oh, a young girl who came from the banks of the Liffey once married a man from the Clyde,
And a year or so later both Dublin and Glasgow were bubblin' all over with pride,
For the shamrock and heather had fashioned together a flower both pretty and fair,
And the name of this beauty this Scots Irish beauty was Lily McNally McNair.

CHORUS:
Lilly McNally McNair, pride of the Clyde and the Liffey,
Lilly McNally McNair captured my heart in a jiffy.
No one is sweeter; sometimes when I meet her 'tis then I walk on air,
As down in the valley I'll dilly and dally with Lilly McNally McNair.

Oh, her eyes are as blue as the Lakes of Killarney and fresh as the wind from the south.
You'd know straight away there's a touch of the Blarney as soon as she opens her mouth.
She's as straight as a thistle without any bristle and no other girl can compare
With an air of rascality full of vitality, Lilly McNally McNair.

CHORUS TWICE

Subject: RE: Origin: Lily McNally McNair
From: GUEST,ray smith
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 04:25 PM

Yes indeed it was a popular Scottish and Irish hit for Robert Wilson. And has subsequently been recorded by several others including Robert's long time associate, the late Gordon MacKenzie. The song is a marriage between Scotland and Ireland and was often performed in Ireland when Robert Wilson and his White Heather Group variety show from Scotland, toured there. I originally thought it had been penned by the transplanted South African Paddy Roberts(Ballad of Bethnal Green etc etc) He did write several of the more pop mainstream Scottish numbers. It is a good song of its type albeit totally non-authentic to the Scottish or indeed the Irish purist.

Subject: RE: Origin: Lily McNally McNair
From: GUEST,sam
Date: 14 Aug 11 - 06:32 AM

There are almost as many versions of the lyrics (on the lines of a flighty girl who makes good)as there are singers of this song. However, I'd imagined it was a very old tune. Does anyone know if that's true?

Subject: RE: Origin: Lily McNally McNair
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Sep 12 - 02:35 PM

Lovely to find a thread from Lily's grandaughter, as my father was Lily's eldest brother.

Subject: RE: Origin: Lily McNally McNair
From: GUEST,Tash
Date: 05 Feb 13 - 10:30 AM

The song is actually about my grandmother, she worked and sang with/for Robert Wilson. My grandmother is from Derry, Ireland.

Oh my goodness, I'm smiling here as I just read the above comment from whom I would have to say is my second cousin?? I'm Terry's (Grandma's youngest of three girls) eldest daughter, Natasha.

So you would be Seamus's daughter or son?

Subject: RE: Origin: Lily McNally McNair
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 06 Feb 13 - 10:33 AM

It's a common belief (though not actually true) that Irish names start with Mc while Scottish names have Mac. My dictionary tells me that this is an Irish or Gaelic prefix signifying 'son.' So the song's name is probably 'Lily McNally (irish) MacNair (scottish.)


By the way, that's the reasoning behind the Scottish Theory of Relativity:

e = mac squared.

Subject: RE: Origin: Lily McNally McNair
From: GUEST,Donal
Date: 16 Apr 13 - 05:07 PM

Your Granma's eldest brother was David,and either his son or daughter posted the information. I am a full cousin of your Granma Lilly and I live in Derry.Lilly's dad Pat and my dad Dan were brothers.I would like to find out more,please respond.

Subject: RE: Origin: Lily McNally McNair
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Apr 13 - 06:12 PM

I haven't been able to find a recording of this song, or an entry in a songbook. Can anybody direct me?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origin: Lily McNally McNair
From: GUEST,Natasha
Date: 26 Mar 14 - 08:34 AM

Hi there Guest Donal, its Natasha here. I'm so sorry but I have only just found your post!!!!
I hope that you read this soon as I'd like to speak with you. It's incredibly exciting to find you!! My Gran Lily is still here in Perth Western Australia and I have no doubt she would dearly love to correspond with you. Hopefully we can organise a phone call or something.

Tash.

Subject: RE: Origin: Lily McNally McNair
From: GUEST,Natasha
Date: 26 Mar 14 - 08:42 AM

Hi there, I'm her granddaughter by her youngest daughter, I'm Natasha. I'd dearly love to be able to get in contact with my grandmother's family overseas. We're all here in Perth Western Australia. And Grandma is living with Dee at the moment.
I would so love to be able to acquire a copy of this song as Robert Wilson wrote it about my grandma, whom is just the most beautiful woman and to whom I owe so much.
She has loved and nurtured me my whole life and I'm so proud that she is my grandma.

I hope that this message finds you soon and we can correspond with each other.

Tash.