Lyr Add: The Rangy Ribs I Bought from Micky Doo

Subject: Lyr Add: THE RANGY RIBS I BOUGHT FROM MICKY DOO
From: GUEST,NSC
Date: 06 Dec 00 - 06:46 PM

I got this from an old friend a few years ago. It is a fairly recent composition and I believe the author is still alive but alas I do not know his name.

RANGY RIBS

Patrick Kelly is my name and I'm not unknown to fame,
For the many void ventures that I've made,
In this land of craft and fraud whereon wary feet have trod,
That Eden commonly called the cattle trade.
Of the Herefords and Ayrshires that have graced my humble byre,
And I've had them black and white and red and blue,
There's none stick to my mind or leave me so far behind,
As that rangy ribs I got from Micky Doo.

On his failings to begin he was rangy ribbed and thin,
Ring boned and racking with the hoose,
He was fluked and timber tongued and he shivered when he dunged,
For to masticate his grinders had refused.
He was tubered for a fact pig mouthed and humpy backed,
And the warble fly had paid a visit too,
Had there been a sale for lice I'd have doubled up the price,
On that rangy ribs I got from Micky Doo.

His hair was scarce and dry, he'd ring worm around the eye,
And his kidneys by the murren sorely tried,
And you still could see the rings of excruciating strings,
Where the garlic to his tail was firmly tied.
He'd neither breadth nor length, walked more by skill than strength,
And his hurdy bones the skin had broken through.
Dissipated and forlorn he had but a single horn
That old rangy ribs I got from Micky Doo.

Mick was anxious for the sale so he hurried on the deal.
And to me it was obvious from the start,
As he sang his praise to me and outlined his pedigree,
That from rangy ribs he was inclined to part.
He's a calf of Fulton's bull; he's a breed they want to kill,
His mother won a cup in Kilaloe,
I would make myself a pile if I only had the style,
Or could master half the gab o' Micky Doo.

He's a thoroughbred says Mick as he poked him with his stick,
You can recognise the lines on which he's made,
He's the kind that's easy beefed you would miss to your grief,
And if you feed him to the spring, he'll make the grade.
So the bargain it was struck, Mick handed out the luck,
And to rangy ribs he bade a fond adieu,
Then I brought my stick to play and I headed for the brae,
With that rangy ribs I got from Micky Doo.

Well I kept him for a year and it was becoming clear,
That condition to his rib would never cling,
The conclusion I came to that the only thing to do,
Was to enter him and try him in the ring.
So I groomed him up and down 'til the Tuesday come around,
I was up before the sun had dried the dew,
And I washed and combed my hair, headed for Dungiven fair,
With that rangy ribs I got from Micky Doo.

I remember well the day when we crossed by Shannon's brae,
Outside McKenna's pub he let a roar.
Then he arched his humpy back and he stopped dead in his track,
As if to say I've anchored here before.
He kept me in the street in the blinding rain and sleet,
The interest and the offers they were few.
Though they looked him up and down, no one would bid a crown,
For that rangy ribs I got from Micky Doo.

I was hurted in my pride and I cursed his mangy hide,
Though in my heart I knew I'd no excuse.
I was crabbed wet and late when I turned him at the gate,
And on the green sod of old Erin let him loose.
There for ever more to fend on his exertions to depend,
For I swore on bended knee that I was through.
No more nursing would he get from me or quack or vet,
That old rangy ribs I got from Micky Doo.

Well though he lent but little grace or distinction to the place,
He was useful times, as Madge would often say.
From that heap of bones and trash, she would hang the weekly wash,
Since the uprights of the line had blown away.
Oh it was a common sight to see the green and white,
Of socks and shifts and often knickers too,
And when Auntie Jane had passed sure he flew them at half mast,
That old rangy ribs I got from Micky Doo.

Well often maimed and lamed by injuries sustained,
Yet old man death he always seemed to foil.
He'd be lost for days on end then he'd pipe up through the glen,
He'd pulled from every hole in Templemoyle.
We saved him from the gate of the ministry estate,
And we cursed the trouble that he put us to.
He lost his only horn in a row with John Mulhearn,
That old rangy ribs I got from Micky Doo.

Of the temperament of strays, he'd be lost for days and days,
Impossible to keep in any bounds.
And when daylight would transpire, we often would enquire,
If the postman ever saw him on his rounds.
It's from the range he's brought from places so remote,
He must have gone off course and drowned the crew.
But though he was a total wreck, we always welcomed back,
That old rangy ribs I got from Micky Doo.

He was grazed from Derryard to the snowcaps called Manard,
From the fertile fields of Feeney to the pass.
From the clover clad Finkern to meadows of Drumcern,
Sure he must have been a specialist in grass.
At the Leg of Alan's pass by the specials nearly shot,
And battle scarred he ranged through Terrydoo.
And Larry Quigg 'tis said, often scared the weans to bed,
With that rangy ribs I got from Micky Doo.

Well a mist comes to my eyes when I think of his demise,
And the circumstances under which he died.
From the cold November blast sure I had him caught at last,
And in the byre had him firmly tied.
I was on my nightly round before Madge and I lay down,
As any careful man would like to do,
When I found him cold as clay choked by Duffy's musty hay,
That old rangy ribs I got from Micky Doo.

Well when Madge she heard the news she trembled in her shoes,
And I wondered if her heart would stand the blow.
We neither ate nor slept but an all night vigil kept,
And we waked him 'til the cocks began to crow.
At the first pale streaks of dawn sure I pulled my waders on,
Though it galled my heart the job I had to do.
By what light the candle gave sure I washed and soaped and shaved,
That old rangy ribs I got from Micky Doo.

So we buried him next day where the sunlight strikes the brae,
The neighbours came from many miles around.
For to pay their last respects 'cos you never know who's next,
And to help commit his carcass to the ground.
With eager pick and spade his last resting place was made,
And gently we lowered him from the broo.
Ever more to be at rest, Duffy's hay had proved the test,
For that rangy ribs I got from Micky Doo.

All my efforts to be brave now deserted at the grave,
As down my cheeks the scalding tears did roll.
In the spasms of my grief I was shaking like a leaf,
And I wondered if poor Rangy had a soul.
I prayed if it be so, that grass knee high would grow,
In the land that misadventure brought him to,
He'd have no more cause to roam, but for once could stay at home,
That old rangy ribs I got from Micky Doo.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rangy Ribs
From: GUEST,NSC
Date: 06 Dec 00 - 06:48 PM

i got the line breaks Ok but the paragraph or verse breaks went a little astray. Sorry, but i think its legible

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rangy Ribs
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 08 Dec 00 - 06:47 PM

Glasgow Irishman Kevin Mitchell sings it on his CD 'I Sang That Sweet Refrain' (1996, Greentrax, I believe). He gives Brian McGinnis from Co. Derry as the author but does not mention when it was written or whether Brian is still alive.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rangy Ribs
From: GUEST,brian mcginnis
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 02:21 PM

hi my uncle brian wrote the song he died in 1976 hes buried in dungiven in co derry he also wrote a cottage in old donegal think it was sung by frankie mcbride......if theres any more mcginnis ,s out there get in touch

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rangy Ribs
From: Fergie
Date: 01 Nov 14 - 08:15 PM

Good man Brian, your uncle Brian wrote a cracker. Rangy Ribs I Got From Mickey Doo is one great song. I love to hear it sung. It has a great style to it.
Fergus

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Rangy Ribs I Bought from Micky Doo
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 03:56 PM

your welcome..i never met my dads brother ,but i met his son dennis and his daughter maureen ,spent good times with maureen researching our family tree...the more time goes on the less family there is to to visit and chat with....should have thought more about this when we were all younger .....take care.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Rangy Ribs I Bought from Micky Doo
From: GUEST,relative
Date: 21 Jan 16 - 05:56 PM

Family tree interest - How can I get in touch?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Rangy Ribs I Bought from Micky Doo
From: GUEST,Mark Dungiven
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 07:09 AM

http://www.thewindingroe.com/benj

More songs from Brian McGinnis on page 21.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Rangy Ribs I Bought from Micky Doo
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Feb 16 - 10:54 AM

my email is [e-mail] if any mcginnis s are looking for information .