Lyr Req: Dear Old Donegal (Irish-American)

Subject: lyric request: dear old donegal
From:
Date: 31 Dec 96 - 12:34 AM

Perhaps someone may be able to help:
I am searching for the song "Dear Old Donegal."

Thank you for any help you may be able to provide!

I can be e-mailed at [e-mail]

---

Messages from multiple threads combined.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: DEAR OLD DONEGAL (sung by Bing Crosby)
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 31 Dec 96 - 09:21 AM

My original was from Bing Crosby, but he didn't sing it all.
I compiled this version from several sources.

...Tiger

DEAR OLD DONEGAL -- Bing Crosby

It seems like only yesterday, I sailed from out of Cork.
A stranger from old Erin's isle, I landed in New York.
There wasn't a soul to greet me there, a stranger on the shore
But Irish luck was with me there, and riches came galore.

And, now, I'm going back again to dear old Erin's isle.
My friends will meet me on the pier and greet me with a smile.
Their faces, sure, I've almost forgot. I've been so long away,
But my mother will introduce them all and this to me will say:

CHORUS: "Shake hands with your Uncle Mike, me boy, and here is your sister Kate,
And there's the girl you used to swing down on the garden gate.
Shake hands with all of the neighbors, and kiss the colleens all.
You're as welcome as the flowers in May to dear old Donegal."

They'll give the party when I go home. They'll come from near and far.
They'll line the road for miles and miles with Irish jaunting cars.
The spirits will flow and we'll be gay, we'll fill our hearts with joy.
The piper will play an Irish reel to greet the Yankee boy.

The dancers will reel the whole night long. Such fun as never seen.
The lads will be decked in corduroy, the colleens wearin' green.
There'll be thousands that I never saw, I've been so long away,
But my mother will introduce them all and this, to me, will say:

REPEAT CHORUS

Subject: RE: lyric request: dear old donegal
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 31 Dec 96 - 08:54 PM

Hi- and thanx!

Subject: Dear Old Donegal - PART II
From:
Date: 01 Jan 97 - 07:09 PM

Thank you kind people for the help on the lyrics to this song. Now perhaps someone can help with the arrangement, or where to find the sheet music. The song seems hard to come by!

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Dear Old Donegal - PART II
From: Rodney Rawlings
Date: 11 Jan 97 - 10:46 PM

The version I knew said "for near a mile with Irish jaunting cars; and the whiskey flowed [note past tense] like buttermilk to fill our hearts with joy, and the piper played an Irish reel to greet a Yankee boy." Then follows a list of Irish names that I remember vaguely: "There came Branigan, Flanigan, Milligan, Gilligan, Duffy, McDuffy, ... Malone ... Dooley, O'Dooley, Muldoney, ... Pokerty, Hokerty, Rafferty, Lafferty, ..., ..., McGinniss, McGinn." Something like that!

Subject: Dear Old Donegal (Irish-American): lyrics?
From: ferrara
Date: 24 Jul 97 - 03:40 AM

In the late 50's (yes!) I learned a bouncy Irish-American song called "Dear Old Donegal." I remember about half of it, including the following bit:

It seems like only yesterday I sailed from out of Cork
A wanderer from Erin's isle, I landed in New York
There wasn't a soul to greet me there, a stranger on your shore,
But the Irish luck was with me here, and riches came galore.

And now that I'm going back again to dear old Erin's isle,
My friends will meet me at the dock and greet me with a smile
Their faces, sure, I've almost forgot, I've been so long away,
But me mother will introduce them all, and this to me will say:

Shake hands with your brother Mike, me boy, and here is your sister Kate,
And there's the girl you used to swing down by the garden gate,
Shake hands with all of the neighbors, and kiss the colleens all
You're as welcome as the flowers of spring to Dear Old Donegal.


This was followed by a wonderful rhyming patter containing the names of all the people the singer would meet. There may have been another verse as well. Can anyone complete it for me or point me toward a source?

Subject: RE: Dear Old Donegal (Irish-American): lyrics?
From:
Date: 24 Jul 97 - 04:38 PM

Forgive any mispellings (I am remembering a version sung by Bing Crosby that my parents had when I was a kid), but:

There came -
Brannigan, Flannigan, Milligan, Gilligan, Duffy, McCuffy, Malachy, Mahone
Rafferty, Lafferty, Donnelly, Connelly, Dooley, O'Hooley, Muldowney, Malone
Calona, O'Hona, O'Rannahan, Flanaghan - Faigan, O'Hagan, O'Hoolahan, Flynn
Shannahan, Mannahan, Foggery, Hoggerty, Kelly, O'Kelly, McGuinness, McGuin.

I believe the song then ended with "Pat O'Brien was late!"

Subject: RE: Dear Old Donegal (Irish-American): lyrics?
From:
Date: 24 Jul 97 - 04:41 PM

The missing verse goes something like

Tomorrow off to church I'll go and wedded I will be
To my sweet little colleen, Sweet Biddy McGee
And Biddy was true and faithful to her Barny over the sea
And she'll join the harp and shamrock to the stars of liberty.

Subject: RE: Dear Old Donegal (Irish-American): lyrics?
From:
Date: 24 Jul 97 - 04:45 PM

I've remembered the verse missing from the end of your version and before the last one (the one I posted a minute ago)!

They gave a party when I came back and they came from near and far
And the road was lined, for near a mile with Irish jaunting cars
And the whiskey flowed like buttermilk to fill our hearts with joy
And the piper played an Irish reel to greet the Yankee boy

[Instrumental break, then "Tomorrow off to church ...]

Subject: Lyr Add: DEAR OLD DONEGAL (sung by Bing Crosby)
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 24 Jul 97 - 06:00 PM

I remember Bing's version with the names, but there's still another verse (I'll try to figure out where to put that last one). Here's what I have...Tiger

DEAR OLD DONEGAL

It seems like only yesterday, I sailed from out of Cork.
A stranger from old Erin's isle, I landed in New York.
There wasn't a soul to greet me there, a stranger on the shore
But Irish luck was with me there, and riches came galore.

And, now, I'm going back again to dear old Erin's isle.
My friends will meet me on the pier and greet me with a smile.
Their faces, sure, I've almost forgot. I've been so long away,
But my mother will introduce them all and this to me will say:

CHORUS: "Shake hands with your Uncle Mike, me boy, and here is your sister Kate,
And there's the girl you used to swing down on the garden gate.
Shake hands with all of the neighbors and kiss the colleens all.
You're as welcome as the flowers in May to dear old Donegal."

They'll give the party when I go home. They'll come from near and far.
They'll line the road for miles and miles with Irish jaunting cars.
The spirits will flow and we'll be gay, we'll fill our hearts with joy.
The piper will play an Irish reel to greet the Yankee boy.

The dancers will reel the whole night long. Such fun as never seen.
The lads will be decked in corduroy, the colleens wearin' green.
There'll be thousands that I never saw, I've been so long away,
But my mother will introduce them all and this, to me, will say:

CHORUS

Subject: RE: Dear Old Donegal (Irish-American): lyrics?
From: Ferrara
Date: 24 Jul 97 - 09:13 PM

Thank you, thank you to all of you. A few years back, I sang the fragment I know at a St Patrick's Day open mike. Folks loved it, and it was so frustrating not to be able to find my original source (Everybody's Favorite Book of Irish Songs, or some such.)

I never dreamed there were so many verses. Does anyone know who wrote the song or when? I assumed it was probably written for the pop market.

Subject: Lyr Add: DEAR OLD DONEGAL (Steve Graham)
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 15 Oct 98 - 10:51 PM

Here is a compilation of the lyrics submitted above, plus some minor variations from the printed word.

DEAR OLD DONEGAL
(SHAKE HANDS WITH YOUR UNCLE MIKE)

Copyright 1942 - Steve Graham

It seems like only yesterday, I sailed from out of Cork.
A wanderer from Erin's isle, I landed in New York.
There wasn't a soul to greet me there, a stranger on the shore
But Irish luck was with me there, and riches came galore.

And, now, I'm going back again to dear old Erin's isle.
My friends will meet me on the pier and greet me with a smile.
Their faces, sure, I've almost forgot. I've been so long away
But my mother will introduce them all and this to me will say:

CHORUS
"Shake hands with your Uncle Mike, me boy, And here is your sister Kate
And there's the girl you used to swing Down by the garden gate.
Shake hands with all of the neighbors, And kiss the colleens all.
You're as welcome as the flowers in May To dear old Donegal."

They'll give the party when I go home. They'll come from near and far.
They'll line the road for miles and miles with Irish jaunting cars.
The spirits will flow and we'll be gay (the spirits'll flow like buttermilk), we'll fill our hearts with joy.
The piper will play an Irish reel to greet the Yankee boy.

The dancers will reel (we'll dance and sing) the whole night long, such fun as never seen
The lads will be decked in corduroy, the colleens wearin' green
There'll be thousands there that I never saw, I've been so long away,
But my mother will introduce them all and this, to me, will say:

Chorus

There came - Brannigan, Flannigan, Milligan, Gilligan
Duffy, McGuffy, Malachy, Mahone
Rafferty, Lafferty, Donnelly, Connelly
Dooley, O'Hooley, Muldowney, Malone

Calona, O'Hona, O'Rannahan, Flanaghan
(or Madigan, Cadigan, Lanihan, Flanihan) Faigan, O'Hagan, O'Hoolihan, Flynn
Shanihan, Manihan, Fogarty, Hogarrty
Kelly, O'Kelly, McGuinness, McGuinn.

"Pat O'Brien was late!"

Additional Verse

Tomorrow off to church I'll go And wedded I will be
To my sweet little colleen Sweet Biddy McGee
And Biddy was true and faithful To her Barny over the sea
And she'll join the harp and shamrock To the stars of liberty.

Regards
TGIF
John

Subject: Tune Add: DEAR OLD DONEGAL
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Oct 98 - 04:15 AM

Here's the tune, as you might remember Bing Crosby singing it. The "patter" at the end is the part with all the names that goes after the second verse. Then finish it all up with the chorus ("Shake hands with your Uncle Mike....").
-Joe Offer-

MIDI file: DEAROL~1.MID

Timebase: 192

Name: Dear Old Donegal
Text: By Steve Graham
Copyright: Copyright © 1942, by MCA Music
Key: Eb
TimeSig: 6/8 24 8
Start
0000 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 63 110 0160 0 63 000 0032 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0096 0 63 000 0000 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0160 0 63 000 0032 1 70 110 0094 0 70 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 68 110 0160 0 68 000 0032 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 70 110 0448 0 70 000 0032 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 75 110 0160 0 75 000 0032 1 75 110 0094 0 75 000 0002 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 75 110 0094 0 75 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 70 110 0094 0 70 000 0002 1 70 110 0160 0 70 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0448 0 65 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0096 0 63 000 0000 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0160 0 63 000 0032 1 70 110 0094 0 70 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 68 110 0160 0 68 000 0032 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 70 110 0448 0 70 000 0032 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 75 110 0160 0 75 000 0032 1 75 110 0094 0 75 000 0002 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 75 110 0094 0 75 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 70 110 0094 0 70 000 0002 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 63 110 0160 0 63 000 0032 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 63 110 0448 0 63 000 0032 1 70 110 0094 0 70 000 0002 1 72 110 0190 0 72 000 0002 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 68 110 0160 0 68 000 0032 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 75 110 0160 0 75 000 0032 1 75 110 0094 0 75 000 0002 1 75 110 0160 0 75 000 0032 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 70 110 0094 0 70 000 0002 1 70 110 0160 0 70 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 70 110 0448 0 70 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 70 110 0190 0 70 000 0002 1 70 110 0094 0 70 000 0002 1 70 110 0160 0 70 000 0032 1 70 110 0094 0 70 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 75 110 0094 0 75 000 0002 1 70 110 0160 0 70 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 65 110 0448 0 65 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 63 110 0190 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0160 0 63 000 0032 1 70 110 0094 0 70 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 68 110 0160 0 68 000 0032 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 70 110 0382 0 70 000 0002 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 75 110 0094 0 75 000 0002 1 75 110 0094 0 75 000 0002 1 75 110 0094 0 75 000 0002 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 75 110 0094 0 75 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 70 110 0094 0 70 000 0002 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 63 110 0160 0 63 000 0032 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 63 110 0448 0 63 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0096 0 63 000 0000 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0160 0 63 000 0032 1 70 110 0094 0 70 000 0002 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 68 110 0160 0 68 000 0032 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 70 110 0448 0 70 000 0032 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 75 110 0160 0 75 000 0032 1 75 110 0094 0 75 000 0002 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 75 110 0094 0 75 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 70 110 0094 0 70 000 0002 1 70 110 0160 0 70 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0448 0 65 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 63 110 0160 0 63 000 0032 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 63 110 0352 0 63 000 0032 1 70 110 0094 0 70 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 68 110 0094 0 68 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 70 110 0382 0 70 000 0002 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 75 110 0160 0 75 000 0032 1 75 110 0094 0 75 000 0002 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 75 110 0094 0 75 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 70 110 0094 0 70 000 0002 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0160 0 65 000 0032 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 63 110 0160 0 63 000 0032 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 63 110 0448 0 63 000 0512 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 60 110 0094 0 60 000 0002 1 58 110 0094 0 58 000 0002 1 58 110 0094 0 58 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 60 110 0094 0 60 000 0002 1 60 110 0094 0 60 000 0002 1 60 110 0094 0 60 000 0002 1 62 110 0256 0 62 000 0032 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 60 110 0094 0 60 000 0002 1 58 110 0094 0 58 000 0002 1 58 110 0094 0 58 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 62 110 0094 0 62 000 0002 1 63 110 0256 0 63 000 0032 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 60 110 0094 0 60 000 0002 1 58 110 0094 0 58 000 0002 1 58 110 0094 0 58 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 60 110 0094 0 60 000 0002 1 60 110 0094 0 60 000 0002 1 60 110 0094 0 60 000 0002 1 62 110 0256 0 62 000 0032 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 60 110 0094 0 60 000 0002 1 58 110 0094 0 58 000 0002 1 58 110 0094 0 58 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 62 110 0094 0 62 000 0002 1 63 110 0256 0 63 000
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Dear old Donegal
M:6/8
Q:1/4=120
K:Eb
GE2EEF|GF2EE2|Bc2cA2|cB5|de2ed2|ec2BB2|GG2FF2|
GF5|GEEEEF|GF2EE2|Bc2cA2|cB5|de2ed2|ec2BG2|
GF2FE2|FE5|Bc2cA2|ce2ee2|cc2BB2|GB5|GB2BB2|
Bc2eB2|GG2FFG|-GF5|GE2EEF|GF2EE2|Bc2cA2|cB4c|
deeed2|ec2BG2|GF2FE2|FE5|GEEEEF|GF2EE2|BcccA2|
cB5|de2ed2|ec2BB2|GG2FF2|GF5|GE2EEF|GFE4|
Bc2cAc|-cB4c|de2ed2|ec2BG2|GF2FE2|FE5|-E5G|
EEEEEE|EEECB,B,|EEEEEE|CCCD3|EEEEEE|EEECB,B,|
EEEEEE|FEDE3|EEEEEE|EEECB,B,|EEEEEE|CCCD3|
EEEEEE|EEECB,B,|EEEEEE|FEDE21/8||

Subject: RE: Dear Old Donegal (Irish-American): lyrics?
From:
Date: 17 Oct 98 - 05:20 PM

I think there is another tune by this name. I seem to remember Ryan's Fancy singing it on an 8-track I once had. It was slow, like a lament, and the only words I can remember was a line ending "And when I die, my bones will lie/In Dear Old Donegal." And "Farewell, farewell sweet [something] town, once more I bid adieu". I assumed that the song was Irish.

Subject: RE: Dear Old Donegal (Irish-American): lyrics?
From: Jennifer Burdoo
Date: 18 Oct 98 - 01:51 AM

A few months ago I was browsing in a children's bookstore and found Dear Old Donegal in the form of a picturebook. All the lyrics, with colorful and sometimes humorous illustrations. It struck me as a great gift for my own little brother, who loves picture books and Irish singing (at least when I do it). :) This might be worth checking out if you have kids who share the hobby. This thread suggested to me I should go back to the store and look the book up -- I'll see if I can find the title, author and other stuff and post it here for anyone who's interested.

Jennifer

Subject: Lyr Add: DEAR OLD DONEGAL (Additional verse)
From: cleod
Date: 18 Oct 98 - 03:27 AM

My version has an slightly different verses -- the first two verses are almost the same as the ones John posted, but the chorus starts "Shake hands with your uncle Mike me boy, and shake hands with your sister Kate". Then the verse that starts with "They'll give the party when I go home".

The name roster changes a bit at the end. It's "Kelly, O'Kelly, Shapiro, McGuin

Final stanza:
Then I'll shake the hand of me Uncle Mike, shake hands with me sister Kate,
Oh, I'll hug and squeeze as much as I please the girl by the garden gate.
I'll invite all the neighbors to me wedding, great and small,
And I'll live content and pay no rent in dear old Donegal!

From: Ireland's Greatest Hits (CD) sung by Dennis Day.

Subject: RE: Dear Old Donegal (Irish-American): lyrics?
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 21 Oct 98 - 02:03 AM

I see that the DT already has a parody of this song, in the form of a song written by Alan Sherman called "Shake Hands With Your Uncle Max".

Regards
John

Subject: RE: LYR:? Dear Old Donegal
From: Ferrara
Date: 05 Apr 00 - 07:54 AM

Hi. I posted "Dear Old Donegal," a few days before St.Patricks Day 99. Can't find it though. I have it typed into my "other" computer, will post it later today. Don't know the other one at all. Dear old Donegal seems to have been an Irish-American music hall song, the fellow who requested it last year said that both his father and grandfather used to sing it.

- Rita Ferrara

Subject: Lyr Add: DEAR OLD DONEGAL
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Apr 00 - 06:35 PM

Hi, this is Rita Ferrara again, using my husband's logon. Here are the words for "Dear Old Donegal." I have a Noteworthy Composer file of the tune I can e-mail to anyone that wants it, or a midi of same. Actually, Bill says I can e-mail the midi to Joe Offer and have it put up on the midi site if you think there would be general interest.

DEAR OLD DONEGAL

1
It seems like only yesterday I sailed from out of Cork
A wanderer from Erin's isle, I landed in New York
There wasn't a soul to greet me there, a stranger on your shore,
But the Irish luck was with me here, and riches came galore.
And now that I'm going back again to dear old Erin's isle,
My friends will meet me at the dock and greet me with a smile
Their faces, sure, I've almost forgot, I've been so long away,
But me mother will introduce them all, and this to me will say:

CHORUS: Shake hands with your uncle Mike, me boy, and here is your sister Kate,
And there's the girl you used to swing down by the garden gate,
Shake hands with all of the neighbors, and kiss the colleens all
You're as welcome as the flowers of spring to Dear Old Donegal.

PATTER: Meet ... Branigan, Flanagan, Milligan, Gilligan, Duffy, McGuffy, Malachy, Mahone -
Rafferty, Lafferty, Donnelly, Connelly, Dooley, O'Hooley, Muldoney, Malone -
Madigan, Cadigan, Lanigan, Flanigan, Fagin, O'Hagin, O'Hoolihan, Flynn -
Shanihan, Manihan, Fogarty, Hogarty, Kelly, O'Kelly, McGuinness, McGuinn.

2
They'll give a party when I go home, they'll come from near and far.
They'll line the road for miles and miles with Irish jaunting cars.
The whiskey will flow like buttermilk, 'twill fill our hearts with joy.
The piper will play an Irish reel to greet the Yankee boy.
The dancers will reel the whole night long, such fun as never seen.
The lads will be decked in corduroy, the colleens wearin' green.
There'll be thousands there that I never saw, I've been so long away,
But my mother will introduce them all and this to me will say:

CHORUS & PATTER

Subject: Lyr Add: DEAR OLD DONEGAL (additional verse)
From: Snuffy
Date: 09 Apr 00 - 07:45 PM

The book I have (Songs and Dances of Ireland)gives slightly different second verse

2 They'll give a party when I go home, they'll come from near and far.
They'll line the road for miles and miles with Irish jaunting cars.
The spirits will flow and we'll be gay, we'll fill your hearts with joy.
The piper will play an Irish reel to greet the Yankee boy.
We'll dance and sing the whole night long, such fun as never seen.
The lads will be decked in corduroy, the colleens wearin' green.
There'll be thousands there that I never saw, I've been so long away,
But my mother will introduce them all and this to me will say:

Not vastly different. I remember my dad singing this in the 50's - he had a lot of "Oirish" music-hall type songs.
About the same time "Song of the Clyde" sung by Kenneth McKellar was a frequent request on BBC Radio programmes, especially "2-Way Family Favourites", which linked up British forces overseas with their familes in the UK.

Wassail! V

Subject: Not sure if that's all the lyrics!
From:
Date: 28 Nov 04 - 10:49 PM

My husband is part Irish, and he was singing some songs that his grandfather taught him when he was young.. his grandfather was part Irish. My husband is 61 and I'm 21, and I was wondering if there was any more to the song "Dear old Donegal", perhaps a verse that began

Now tomorrow off to church I go
And wedded I will be
To my sweet pretty, sweet pretty McGee,
Now McGee was true and faithful
On a voyage that took so long...

And that's all I've got. I need to know the rest of the song to sing to our kids so their great-grandfather and father will always be remembered. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dear Old Donegal (Irish-American)
From: GUEST,yh_smoke
Date: 05 Jul 05 - 07:31 PM

Does anyone have the chords for this?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dear Old Donegal (Irish-American)
From: Kaleea
Date: 06 Jul 05 - 02:15 AM

Are you wanting guitar chords? what key do you want?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Dear Old Donegal'
From: SINSULL
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 03:03 PM

Can anyone recommend a recording of Dear Old Donegal?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dear Old Donegal (Irish-American)
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Nov 17 - 10:18 AM

Tomorrow of to church we'll go and wedded I will be tp my pretty little coleen,sweet Bidfy Mc Gee. Now Biddy wsd true and faithful to her Barney oe'r the sea;do we'll joon the

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dear Old Donegal (Irish-American)
From: leeneia
Date: 21 Nov 17 - 12:21 PM

"And wedded I will be
To my sweet pretty, sweet pretty McGee,"

That name may be Magee, which is a nickname for Margaret. I had an aunt whose parents came from Scotland, and she was always called Magee.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dear Old Donegal (Irish-American)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Nov 17 - 06:16 PM

I posted a version with the Biddy McGee verse in another thread just about a month ago:

/thread.cfm?threadid=5047#3884653

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dear Old Donegal (Irish-American)
From: GUEST,threelegsoman
Date: 22 Nov 17 - 02:58 AM

I uploaded this version to YouTube about 8 years ago:
Dear Old Donegal (Including lyrics and chords)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dear Old Donegal (Irish-American)
From: Lighter
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 04:34 PM

There's no doubt that Steve Graham's song appeared as sheet music "copyright 1942 Leeds Music Corp." (though, oddly, the U.S. "Catalog of Copyright Entries" does not list it until January 25, 1943).

So how, in any case, do we explain this, from "The Canadian Forum" of November, *1922,* p. 45 ?:

"Dinny was singing an old song....

"Shake hands wid all the neighbours,
An' kiss the colleens all;
You're as welcome as the flowers in May
To dear old Donegal."