Lyr Add: Mori-ari-rity

Subject: Mori-ar-rity
From: Fiolar
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 01:39 PM

Recently I requested the words of "Mori-ari-rity" and a kid mudcatter referred me to a site where I got the. They, however were not the version I remembered. I was fortunate, a few days ago to record the version sung by the late Sean Mooney which is the one I was looking for. Comparing the two versions, there is quite a difference. Sean's version is obviously the later one. Here are the words:

When first I came to Dublin Town, To good old Baile Cliath. I went direct with head erect For to join the DMG. Me ponderous feet woke Kevin Street, As I marched with alacrity; For well I knew, they couldn't do, Without Mori-ar-rity.

I'm a well-known bobby of the stalwart squad, I belong to the DMG. And the girls all sigh as I pass by, "There goes Mori-ar-rity."

Now the sergeant looked me up and down, And down and up and then, With a kindly smile on his honest dial He stroked his rugged chin. As as he took the station book; "Your name a mhic?" sez he; And out I stuck me chest like a duck, And sez I, "Mori-ar-rity!"

Now the childer love to have me near; For I care not a straw when they Used to sing that stuff about Harvey Duff In their own most engaging way. And when some wee maid from her ma had strayed, She'd surely be found by. Then over she'll run, and, "Hello! ould son Aren't you Mori-ar-rity?"

I'm a well-known bobby of the stalwart squad, I belong to the DMG. And the kids all cry as I pass by, "How're doin', Mori-ar-rity?"

When me race is run, and me work is done, And I've walked on me last long beat. Up to Heaven's shore, I'll quickly soar And St. Peter up there I'll meet. And I hope he'll say in a kindly way, "Is it there Tim a mhic I see? Your reward you've won for work well done, Flap your wings Mori-ar-ity."

I'm a well-known bobby of the stalwart squad I belong to the DMG. And the angels cry as I pass by, "Flap your wings Mori-ar-rity!"

Harvey Duff was a character in Dion Boucicault's play "Conn the Shaughran" written in 1874. He was a comic villain, a police spy and indicated his presence by a catchy whistle. Mike

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Mori-ari-rity
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 01:48 PM

Of course it couldn't be the DMG before they replaced the RIC. Good set of words anyway.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Mori-ari-rity
From: MartinRyan
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 05:44 PM

The Dublin Metropolitan Police were quite separate from the Royal Irish Constabulary.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Mori-ari-rity
From: Fiolar
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 01:50 PM

Just to clear things up a bit. In the original version the use of DMP ie Dublin Metropolitan Police is used. In the Sean Mooney version DMG is used, mainly I think to keep the rhyming effect. It probably could also mean Dublin Metropolitan Gardai that were the police force who actually replaced the DMG. A government controlled police force was introduced into Dublin in 1786 and were an armed and uniformed force. It had a chequered history. It was replaced in 1795 by an unarmed force. The armed force was again brought back in 1799 and strengthened in 1805.The DMP itself was actually created in 1836.The force was amalgamated into the Garda Siochana in 1925. Mike

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Mori-ari-rity
From: MartinRyan
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 03:50 PM

HERE's a link to a thread on the original song. I'd forgotten the mysterious reference to "The Fenians of Cahirciveen" - which I don't think we ever managed to turn up.

Regards