DT Correction: The King of Ballyhooley

Subject: RE: DT Correction: The King of Ballyhooley
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 11:03 AM

Thank you all for getting this together! Very nice.

Subject: RE: DT Correction: The King of Ballyhooley
From: Den
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 09:34 AM

Also we're missing a "we" in the first line second last verse. As in,"The wedding presents that we got none of them were mean or shabby." I love this song. Great to sing, so upbeat.

---

All corrections added to this point. -Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: DT Correction: The King of Ballyhooley
From: Den
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 09:25 AM

Actually the line should read, "It was afraid", as below:
This young man quickly left her side.
It was afraid of me that he was.
And still the lassie did not hide.
It was in love with me that she was.
Then quickly up beside her came.
Says I, "Fair maid, I love you truly;
And if your parents give consent,
will you be my bride in Ballyhooley?"

Subject: RE: DT Correction: The King of Ballyhooley
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 07:29 AM

Whatever about Lurgan Town , the tune is also used for a song called "Wearing the britches". Can't remember what it's known as dance tune.

Regards

Subject: RE: DT Correction: The King of Ballyhooley
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 05:47 AM

Joe

As far as I know, it's traditional. I'll check around.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The King of Ballyhooley
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 02:36 AM

I added Cleod's additonal line to Wolfgang's post, but the song made it into the Digital Tradition without the missing line. Are there any other corrections to be made to the lyrics before I submit a correction? In another thread, Malcolm said the tune used for The King of Ballyhooley is essentially the same as Lurgan Town in the DT.

Is the songwriter known, or is this traditional, or what? I couldn't find it listed in the usual songbook indexes.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: King of Ballyhooley
From: cleod
Date: 18 Jun 99 - 03:16 PM

Saw this in the database, and this verse had one line missing:

This young man quickly left her side. He was afraid of me that he was.
And still the lassie did not hide. It was in love with me that she was.
Then quickly up beside her came. Says I, "Fair maid, I love you truly;
And if your parents give consent, will you be my bride in Ballyhooley?"

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: The king of Ballyhooley
From: cleod
Date: 21 Oct 98 - 11:35 AM

You missed a line somewheres; it's:

This young man quickly left her side he was afraid of me that he was
And still the lassie did not hide it was in love with me that she was
Then quickly up beside her came says I fair maid I love you truly
And if your parents give consent will you be my bride in Ballyhooley

Thanks for putting this up Wolfgang! You're a lifesaver! cleod

Subject: LYR ADD: The king of Ballyhooley
From: Wolfgang
Date: 29 Aug 97 - 02:08 AM

THE KING OF BALLYHOOLEY

I'll tell yez how it was with me if to listen yez are willin'
'Twas in yon house behind yon hill where I had lately been distillin'
I slung a keg upon me back and started out for daylight cooly
Good customers I did not lack and I sold it all in Ballyhooley

I thought it wiser to delay me homeward way for fear of Peelers
And in that way I spent the day dinin' with the whiskey dealers
But as the shades of night came down and I had got me money duly
I bid goodnight to all was there and I started home from Ballyhooley

My heart was light with the Mountain Dew that I had brewed among the heather
And on me way I chanced to spy a lad and lassie walk together
Her neck was like the mountain snow with cheeks like roses blossomed newly
She'd a voice like music soft and low she was the flower of Ballyhooley

This young man quickly left her side he it was afraid of me that he was
And still the lassie did not hide it was in love with me that she was
Then quickly up beside her came says I fair maid I love you truly
And if your parents give consent will you be my bride in Ballyhooley

I have a house behind yon hill two fine greyhonds and a ferret
Besides I have a little still the drop it makes with you I'll share it
And I have got a feather bed with sheets and blankets purchased newly
Besides I have a ring to wed if you'll be mine in Ballyhooley

Her cherry cheeks they grew more red during the time that we were talkin'
And still she hung her little head and viewed the ground where we were walkin'
She says young man if you're content and if you say you love me truly
And if me parents give consent I'll be your bride in Ballyhooley

I asked her name she said it was Jane and that her second name was Cooley
And then I asked her when we'd wed she said the sooner wed the better
So I went and asked her parents glad if they were content to let me get her
They said they were they wished us luck we started out for Father Dooley
And at the hour of twelve o'clock he tied the knot in Ballyhooley

The Weddin' that we had that day the people comin' uninvited
The piper played for every squad Jane she sang and I recited
The poteen flowed like a waterfall that from the still had just come newly
And in that way we gaily spent our honeymoon in Ballyhooley

The Weddin' presents that we got none of them was mean or shabby
And me Auntie Dot she bought some cloth to make the dresses for the baby
Invitations then went round to friends that we had just made newly
A lighter heart could not be found that mine that night in Ballyhooley

It's fifteen years now since we wed still in every way we're thrivin'
Me Jane she is a dandy yet though down the hill of life she's drivin'
The family has increased in store fifteen daughters all unruly
Bonny Jane she is me Queen and I'm the king of Ballyhooley.

Sung by Patrick Street on "Irish Times"
-------------------- Background:
Heard on the radio many years ago, sung by a man from Donegal in which country this particular Ballyhooley is situated. I am greatly indebited to an old friend, Johnny Moynihan, who is largely responsible for the song's current shape.