Lyr Req: I'll Name the Boy Dennis or No Name at...

Subject: Naming the Baby
From: GUEST,Annie
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 02:56 AM

Oh I'm bothered, yes I'm bothered and it causes me great pain I'm the mother of a bouncing boy...etc

It's Irish and comic. Anyone know the words?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Naming the Baby
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 12:19 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Naming the Baby
From: Mrrzy
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 01:31 PM

yes, please, refresh!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Naming the Baby
From: Peace
Date: 27 Dec 09 - 03:09 PM

I suspect the song you seek is entitled "Dennis".

From the link:

Title Dennis
Given Title Dennis
First Line I'm bothered, yes I'm bothered, I'm completely perplexed
Plot Summary The narrator is in trouble: all his family wants to name his son. His wife wants 'Michael', his sister 'Matt', his uncle 'Charles', his auntie 'Pat'. His wife's brother wants 'Troy', her other brother 'Darby'. He'll be hanged if any of these names will do. He will call his son Dennis, or he won't get a name!

*****************************************

I'm bothered, yes I'm bothered, I'm completely perplexed, I'm the father of a little boy, I'm not happy but I'm vexed, I have ninety-nine relations and the nearly drive me wild, For one and all, both great and small, they wants to name the child




Given you said it's Irish, and seeing the various names, maybe this is the song or a close variant. (Memorial University is in Newfoundland, Canada, btw. Nfld has a large population of Irish extraction.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Naming the Baby
From: GUEST,999
Date: 27 Dec 09 - 03:13 PM

I'LL NAME THE BOY DENNIS OR NO NAME AT ALL

Check the Roud Folksong Index: #6658

Subject: Lyr Add: I'LL NAME THE BOY DENNIS, OR NO NAME ...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 05:17 PM

From Irish Song Book, No. 1 (New York: Wehman Bros., 1909), page 54:


I'LL NAME THE BOY DENNIS, OR NO NAME AT ALL.

1. I'm bothered, yes, I'm bothered, completely perplexed.
I'm the father of a little boy. I'm not happy, but I'm vexed.
I have ninety-nine relations and they nearly drive me wild.
Both one and all, both great and small, they want to name the child.

CHORUS: My wife she wants him Michael. Her sister wants him Matt.
My brother wants him Charlie, whilst her aunty wants him Pat.
Whilst her brother wants him Shamus, and my father wants him Paul,
I do declare I don't know what I'll name the boy at all.

2. 'Twas only here this morning, my brother came from Troy.
He swore by this, he swore by that, that he would name the boy.
Says my wife's brother Darby, he'd "be hanged if that would do,"
And they jumped together on the floor and had a bold set-to.

3. Next Sunday is the christening, and I'll tell you, by the way,
I'll have none of their conniving. I'm bound to have my say.
They may call him this and call him that. I don't give that for their call.
I'm bound to call him Dennis, or he'll have no name at all.

Subject: Lyr Add: I'LL NAME THE BOY DENNIS, OR NO NAME ...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 05:48 PM

The sheet music is slightly different. Even the chorus varies from one repetition to the next, so I have boldfaced the phrases that change.

From the sheet music at The Library of Congress:


"Gems of Song by Kerrigan and McCarthy, the Irish Pipers and Dancers"
I'LL NAME THE BOY DENNIS, OR NO NAME AT ALL!
Words by Fred Hatfield. Music by J. Small.
New York: Mrs. Pauline Lieder, 1880.

1. I'm bothered, yes, I'm bothered. Completely I'm perplexed.
I'm the father of a little boy. I'm not happy, but I'm vexed.
I have ninety-nine relations and they nearly drive me wild.
Both one and all, both great and small, they want to name the child.

CHORUS 1: My wife she wants him Michael. Her sister wants him Matt.
Her brother wants him Charlie, whilst her aunty wants him Pat.
Whilst my mother wants him Shamus, and my father wants him Paul,
I do declare I don't know what to call the child at all.

2. 'Twas only here this morning, my brother came from Troy.
He swore by this, he swore by that, that he would name the boy.
Says my wife's brother Darby, he'd "be hanged" if that would do,
And they jump'd together on the floor and had a bold set-to.

CHORUS 2: My wife said 'twill be Michael. Her sister said 'twill be Matt.
Her brother said 'twill be Charlie, whilst her aunt said no, 'twill be Pat.
Whilst my mother wants him Shamus, and my father wants him Paul,
By heavens sure, I don't know what to call the child at all.

3. Next Sunday is the christ'ning, and I tell you by the way,
I'll have none of their connivings. I'm bound to have my say.
They may call him this and call him that. I don't give that for their call.
I'm bound to call him Dennis, or he'll have no name at all.

CHORUS 3: My wife may want him Michael. Her sister may want him Matt.
Her brother may want him Charlie, whilst her aunt may want him Pat.
Whilst my mother wants him Shamus, and my father wants him Paul,
I'm bound to call him Dennis, or he'll have no name at all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Naming the Baby
From: GUEST,999
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 09:01 PM

Jim, once again "you da man!"