Lyr Req/Add: Pat Malloy

Subject: Lyrics for Pat Malloy
From: M. Kristich
Date: 09 Aug 97 - 08:35 AM

Looking for lyrics and music for song by the name of Pat Malloy. The song starts - Pat Malloy was an Irish boy, he came from County Clare. He thought he'd go to London for to see the wonders there. My grandfather's family sang this song, and he left County Derry, Ireland in the early 1900's. Hoping somebody on this forum has heard of the song. (found another Pat Malloy song, but it was wrong one). You can email - [e-mail]

Subject: Lyr Add: PAT MOLLOY
From: Dave Brennen
Date: 12 Aug 97 - 08:51 PM

Here are the words you wanted:

PAT MOLLOY

Pat Molloy was an Irish boy. He left the County Clare.
He said he'd go to London for to see what sites were there.
He often heard that London was a very pretty place.
"Well, begod!" says Pat, "I'll go there so, to see if that's the case."

CHORUS:
Rally ra da diddle di do right fal de de.

But when he got to London, well, he had a big surprise,
For the sight of that great city nearly dazzled Paddy's eyes.
One day as he's going down the street, meditating to himself,
He spied a ragged Cockney and a donkey selling Delft.
CHORUS

Now the damned auld ragged Cockney wouldn't let poor Paddy pass,
Saying, "Speak unto your brother," and he pointed to the ass.
"Begod!" says Pat. "I never thought I had a brother here."
And turning round, he whispered something in the ass's ear.
CHORUS

Now when speaking to the donkey, well, boys, what did he do?
He slipped a pebble in his ear. He did, begod! 'Tis true.
The ass went mad, upset the cart, broke all the earthen ware,
And the damned auld ragged Cockney, he went crazy clean and clear.
CHORUS

Well, the police they were called for to put poor Pat in charge,
Saying, "Apprehend this vagabond. He should not be at large."
"Begone, you English spailpin, then," says Paddy with a smile.
"You thought I was an ass because I came from Eireann's isle."
CHORUS

"That's nonsense," said the magistrate, "for you know the ass went mad."
"I do indeed, Your Honor, and I'm sorry too, bedad!"
"Be careful," said the magistrate. "I want no nonsense here.
Now come and tell me everything you whispered in his ear."
CHORUS

"I will indeed, Your Honor. Your request I'll not refuse,
For you often heard that donkeys are very fond of news.
I thought I say a word or two, the donkey's heart to cheer,
And now I'll tell you everything that I whispered in his ear.
CHORUS

"They say that now in Ireland we have our wrongs redressed.
Our noble-hearted Irishmen no longer are oppressed.
We've got rid of all our landlords. Ireland to ourselves we have.
And when the donkey heard the news, well bejesus! He went mad."
CHORUS

The magistrate from laughing, he had to creep his head
When he looked on dear auld Paddy and the things that he had said.
And turning round to Paddy, "What a clever boy you are!
And for your clever answer, I'll dismiss you from the bar."
CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyrics for Pat Malloy
From: Margaret Kristich
Date: 12 Aug 97 - 10:11 PM

Dear Dave,

Thank you very much for the lyrics. For years have been trying to find someone other than our family that had heard the song. Had even spoken to a Cork University Music professor that specialized in traditional music and he had never heard of it. Do you know anything about the backround of the song, or where a printed version can be found. Where did you hear the song.Thank you again. Margaret Kristich

Subject: RE: Lyrics for Pat Malloy
From: Dave Brennan
Date: 17 Aug 97 - 11:34 PM

I really don't have that much information to give you. I learned it from Tom Lenihan who lives near Miltown, Co. Clare.

Tommy Munnelly, who works for Comhairle Bhealoideas Eirieann (Irish Folklore Commision) put out a collection of his songs in a audio-cassette/book format. If you want to try and get a copy, either on loan through your public library, or to buy, the ISBN is 0906426162. The Commision is attached to University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4.

One last point, Tom Munnelly, who himself lives in Miltown, a very nice guy and and renouned expert wrote that a man, Henry Glassie wrote, "Passing the Time, folklore and history in an Ulster community." {O'Brien Press, Dublin, 1982) and this song appears in Glassie's text.

My own and Tommy's view is that, from the language, it might have originated in America. There doesn't seem to be a record of a ballad sheet or broadside, but it must have been popular enough in the last century for it to have survived today.

Subject: RE: Lyrics for Pat Malloy
From:
Date: 19 Aug 97 - 11:35 AM

Dear Dave,

Thank you for all that great information. When my sister read the words it jogged her memory. She was able to remember all the words, there is a slight variation in a few of the lines, including the chorus, but really not much of a difference. Just found a tape that I recorded back in 1974 when my Mother and I visited her unlce in Mass. Couldn't believe it, the tape starts out with him trying to remember the words to Pat Malloy. He and my Mother couldn't remember all the verses. He was my Grandfather's younger brother. They came from County Derry. The whole family was in a band, they played the picolo, flute, drums, and trumpet. This was one of the songs they sang when they marched in parades around Moneymore, so I would tend to think possibly the song originated in Ireland, instead of America, but that is just a guess. I am going to try and locate the book. Once again, thank you very much. You are the first person outside of the family that had ever heard of the song, and we have asked many people over the years. You could email if you ever find out more about it. [e-mail]

Thank you, Margaret

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pat Malloy
From: Joybell
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 10:18 PM

I just found a song by this title sung, by a performer, in New Zealand in 1871. No idea if it's the same song but just thought I'd add this. Off to seek more.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pat Malloy
From: David Ingerson
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 04:24 PM

This is among my favorites, too. I got it from Tom Lenihan as well, back in the 1980's. My version has another verse. It goes between being arrested by "the Peelers" (in my version) and when the magistrate first admonishes Paddy to "be careful."

Well, to stand before the magistrate he has to appear next day;
And asked what all the crimes he'd done, and what he had to say.
"Well, to tell the truth," says Paddy, "I'm accused of mor'n I did:
He said speak to your brother and I did as I was bid."

The song is great fun even though the set-up for the punch line is so obvious. I guess that's actually part of the fun: you know that something's coming but...what?

Cheers,

David

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pat Malloy
From: Joybell
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 04:29 AM

Well --- there are two songs with this title. Quite different. Hmmm. Wonder which one my Boy sang?
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pat Malloy
From: Joybell
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 04:41 AM

Ok Found the one my Boy sang. It's not this one. This one is better, I think, but there you go.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pat Malloy
From: David Ingerson
Date: 13 Jul 09 - 12:55 AM

The "has" in the first line of my previous post should, of course, be "had." If I could proofread half as well as I sing...

David

Subject: Lyr Add: PAT MOLLOY (from Peter Flanagan)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Jul 09 - 02:04 AM

This version is found in Passing the Time in Ballymenone by Henry H. Glassie (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1995):


PAT MOLLOY
From the singing of Peter Flanagan

Pat Molloy, an Irish boy, he came from County Clare.
He thought he'd go to London to see the wonders there.
And Pat bid all his friends goodbye and he kissed his colleen dear.
He left the sod, he did begob, and he never shed a tear.

When Pat went to this country, it filled him with surprise.
The looks of this big city fairly dazzled Paddy's eyes.
Pat was going on quite early, meditating to himself,
When he met with a ragged cockney with a donkey selling Delft.

This ill-bred ragged cockney could not let Paddy pass,
Saying, "Why don't you speak to your brother?", pointing over to the ass.
"Ah, begob!" says Pat. "I didn't think I had a brother here,
But I will go over and whisper into the donkey's ear."

In whispering to the donkey, what do you think did Paddy do?
He dropped in a chew of tobacco; he did, begob, it's true.
The animal he went mad, crack-crazy, straight and square,
Upset the little cart and broke all the earthenware.

This ill-bred ragged cockney ran to get poor Pat in charge,
Saying, "You little Irish vagabond, you should not be at large."
"Get off with you," says Paddy, looking at him with a smile.
"Do you think you'll make an ass of me when I come from Erin's isle?"

It was up before the magistrate poor Pat had to go next day,
And for to prove his innocence, he didn't know what to say.
"Come here now," says the magistrate. "We want no nonsense here,
And tell us every word you whispered into the donkey's ear."

"I told the ass," says Paddy, "he had got the wrong address.
Noble old Ireland was no longer in distress.
We got rid of all the landlords and the country to ourselves we had,
And when this animal heard the news, bejeebers, he went mad."

The magistrate sat laughing, and they all hung down their heads.
They could not keep from laughing when they heard what Paddy said.
"Well done, well done," said the magistrate. "What a clever chap you are!
And for your clever answer, we'll dismiss you from the bar."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pat Malloy
From: GUEST,dlynas22
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 04:45 PM

Any idea where I can get a sung version of this song now in September 2009. Tried amazon but out of stock

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pat Malloy
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 05:06 PM

You could sing it to "The Garden Where the Praties Grow" to be going on with. It fits the words well - and it might even be the right tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pat Malloy
From: GUEST,dlynas22
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 07:30 PM

Thanks for that - it does indeed work!

But would still like to know where I might get my hands on a recording by say Tom Lenihan.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pat Malloy
From: GUEST,Donal
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 12:55 AM

The song is on Tom Lenihan's tape 'Paddy's Panacea' under the name of 'Paddy, the Cockney and the Ass' but where you might find a copy of the tape I don't know.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Pat Malloy
From: GUEST,dlynas
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 03:53 PM

Still intererested in finding a recording of Pat Molloy and the donkey. Any advice anyone? Have tried singing it to the tune of The GArden Where the PERaities Grow and not bad - but how does the ral-de-ral chorus go?

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Pat Malloy
From: michaelr
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 03:28 PM

Recorded by Mary Black's brother Michael Black.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Pat Malloy
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 03:59 PM

GUEST,dlynas
Mount Callan Garland is on sale at our local newsagents - a boxed double cassette which goes with a 150 page book.
Will find out how much it goes for if you are interested
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Pat Malloy
From: michaelr
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 05:55 PM

Refrsh for dlynas

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Pat Malloy
From: richard2212
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 04:31 AM

Thanks one and all from dlynas.

I now have the Mount Callan Garland, including cassettes and a cassette with Tom Lenihan signing the Donkey's Ear as we called it all those years ago when my grandfather sang it at family parties.

I am going to learn it for our family party this Christmas so that my grandchildren can learn it in their turn!

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Pat Malloy
From: richard2212
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 04:41 AM

Dlynas again - I have just noticed that it is a year to the day since my original enquiry about Pat Malloy. Uncanny!

Speaking of original sources, I always understood that the song was a celebration of the 1922 deal that gave Ireland a measure of independence. Certainly my grandfather used to sing the verse about Ireland now being free with a certain amount of extra vigour!

So whether or not it originated in Ireland or the USA, it was surely written by a republican.

I have now burned the cassette version on to a CD. The wonders of Windows Media Player!

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Pat Malloy
From: richard2212
Date: 02 Sep 10 - 12:08 PM

Further to my successful search for Pat Molloy, does anyone have the words and music or a recording of a song called Terry My Blue-Eyed Irish Boy?

I checked google and I gather that the song was recorded by Eileen Donaghy on the Fontana label away back in 1959. But I cannot get any further than that.

So can anyone help?

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Pat Malloy
From: GUEST,richard2212
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 08:58 PM

I have now unearthed a copy of the Eileen Donaghy version of the song Terry My Blue Eyed Irish Boy.

And a belated thanks to michaelr regarding my search for a recording of Pat MOlloy.

I have emailed Micahel Black and received a kind reply from him. He now has a CD that includes an up tempo version of Pat Molloy so between that and the Tom Lenihan version I am spoiled for choice. If anyone is interested you can listen to a clip of the Micaheal Black version by going to www.compassrecords.com and entering michael black into the web site search engine. Happy listening and thanks once again to all who helped me so much.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Pat Malloy
From: GUEST,Ann
Date: 14 Nov 10 - 01:33 PM

here's an odd queston for all Pat Malloy fans.

What 5 letter word links Pwll Coch with Pat Malloy?

For non-Welsh speakers Pwll Coch means red pool.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Pat Malloy
From: GUEST,Kathleen McAleer , Melbourne Australia
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 02:25 PM

In preparation for a long awaited trip to Enniskillen,I am looking for recordings by Cathal McConnell "On Lough Erne's Shore " and Long Expectant Comes at Last ". To my cousin Dick Lynas   -I'll also be catching up in Glasgow I hope so get those old songs polished up!!!
Kathleen McAleer

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Pat Malloy
From: GUEST,Steve Morast
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 04:02 PM

I've found a different song by the same name at;
http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiPATMALOY;ttPATMALOY.html
I would like to know which is the original. In 1874 my great great granduncle, John W. Goodman, was hanged in Ottawa, Ohio for the crime of murdering an elderly couple. He requested that the local band play this song after he was hanged and laid out in his casket while observers of the hanging (women and children first)filed past. I have looked for a recording of this song to no avail.