Lyr Req: Dan McCarthy's Party (J. E. Murphy)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan McCarthy's Party (J. E. Murphy)
From: GUEST,DanO
Date: 12 Jul 22 - 11:36 AM

I've been looking for years for a version of this song. I've finally found it. This is "NOBODY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO McCARTHY"

I found a version performed by FREDDIE HALL; Dave Dreyer; Herman Ruby. The other side of the record is "Devil in his own home town." The record was published in 1950. The lyrics aren't quite how I remember them (they never are) but this is definitely the song I've been looking for!

The recording is here:
https://archive.org/details/78_nobody-knows-what-happened-to-mccarthy_freddie-hall-dave-dreyer-herman-ruby_gbia0399210b/NOBODY+KNOWS+WHAT+HAPPENED+TO+McCARTHY+-+FREDDIE+HALL.flac

Here's an attempt at transcribing the lyrics:

McCarthy gave a party at his house the other night
And everybody came and brought along their appetite
A swell of folks came down from town, it was a swell affair
They didn't invite the police force but later they were there

All of a sudden McCarthy disappears just like a ghost
Imagine him doing a thing like that, sure he was a dip of a host

Nobody knows what happened to McCarthy,
A devil a soul could tell just where he went
But a brick flew through the air, and it landed on O'Hare
And everyone at the party knew McCarthy he was there

Nobody knows just where McCarthy went to
'Cause he kept disappearing now and then

McCarthy shoved O'Brien's noodle through a two-inch wall
Everybody started fighting out there in the hall
Next day the papers printed 'A Good Time Was Had By All'
But nobody knows what happened to McCarthy

Was awful the way the guests rushed in when somebody said 'Let's eat'
And if I wasn't good and strong myself, I wouldn't have gotten a seat
Such table manners that I saw there I never could understand
When I reached to get some meat a dozen forks stuck in me hand

O'Brien spilled some gravy and it got the missus' goat
She said 'That's what you get for eating dinner in your coat'
Lanigan yelled to Branigan 'Why you're nothing but a hick!'
He yelled 'G'way you great big jay' and then produced a brick


Well it started a fight that lasted all night, 'cause nobody wanted to stop
Monaghan fell on the dining room floor and this is who fell right on top:
There was Branigan Shanigan, Flanigan, Manigan, Hanigan too, and O'Hare
We thought that McCarthy was killed in the rush, but devil I bet he was there

Nobody knows just where McCarthy went to
'Cause he kept disappearing now and then

O'Brien brought a singer with a very peculiar air
He sang 'Ireland must be heaven cause my mother came from there'
He couldn't take an encore, 'cause they crowned him with a chair
But nobody knows what happened to McCarthy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan McCarthy's Party (J. E. Murphy)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Nov 18 - 02:10 PM

I've got the whole song on an old 33.3 rpm LP called Carl Moore Remembers. It's the version Guest Kevin cites.

There was Hannigan, Flannigan, Mannigan, Dannigan, Finnegan, Toolen, O'Hare;
They thought McCarty was killed in the rush, but divil a bit was he there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan McCarthy's Party (J. E. Murphy)
From: GUEST,KEVIN
Date: 10 Nov 16 - 01:24 PM

Does anyone have a recording of the "McCarty had a party" version?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan McCarthy's Party (J. E. Murphy)
From: GUEST,KEVIN
Date: 10 Nov 16 - 01:15 PM

McCARTY HAD A PARTY
AT HIS HOUSE THE OTHER NIGHT
EVERYBODY CAME ALONG
AND BROUGHT THEIR APPETITE
IT WAS A SWELL AFFAIR
THE BEST OF FOLKS WERE THERE
THEY DIDN'T INVITE THE POLICE FORCE
BUT LATER THEY WERE THERE
WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GUESTS RUSHED IN
AND SOMEBODY SAID LETS EAT
IF I WASN'T BIG AND STRONG MYSELF
I'D NEVER GOT A SEAT
AWW SUCH TERRIBLE MANNERS THAT I SAW THERE
I COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND
WHEN I REACHED OUT TO GET SOME MEAT
A DOZEN FORKS STUCK IN ME HAND
ALL OF A SUDDEN McCARTY DISSAPEARS
JUST LIKE A GHOST
IMAGINE HIM DOING A THING LIKE THAT
SURE HE WAS A TERRIBLE HOST
AND NOBODY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO McCARTY
FOR HE KEPT DISAPPEARING NOW AND THEN
THEN A BRICK CAME THROUGH THE AIR
AND IT LANDED ON O'HARE
AND EVERYONE AT THE PARTY KNEW McCARTY MUST BE THER ???

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan McCarthy's Party (J. E. Murphy)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Aug 15 - 07:16 AM

McCARTHY HAD A PARTY
AT HIS HOUSE THE OTHER NIGHT
EVERYBODY CAME ALONG
AND BRUNG THEIR APPETITE
THE BEST OF FOLKS
THEY ALL WERE THERE
IT WAS A SWELL AFFAIR
THEY DIDN'T INVITE
THE POLICE FORCE BUT LATER
THEY WERE THERE
WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN
McCARTHY DISAPPEARED
JUST LIKE A GHOST
IT WAS AN AWFUL THING TO DO
AND HE WAS AN AWFUL HOST
THEN A BRICK CAME THROUGH THE AIR
AND IT LANDED ON O'HAIR
AND EVERYBODY AT THE PARTY KNEW
McCARTHY MUST BE THERE

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan McCarthy's Party (J. E. Murphy)
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jan 13 - 08:56 PM

I would love the lyrics. I have 3 verses, are there more?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan McCarthy's Party (J. E. Murphy)
From: GUEST,Bill Saunders
Date: 03 Jan 13 - 07:41 PM

Growing up in the Boston area in the 1950's I heard that song rendered by a man named Paul Moore on a local station. I never had any idea where he got it. I remember fragments.


"McCarthy gave a party at his house the other night.
Friends and neighbors all arrived and brought their appetites
......?
......?
McCarthy disappeared just like a ghost
-....?
.....?
Sure he was a terrible host."


Twas awful the way the guests rushed in when somebody called 'Let's Eat' If I hadn't been big and strong meself I'd never have gotten a seat.
The table manners that I saw there I never will understand. When I
reached out to get some meat six forks stuck in me hand

O'Brien brought a singer by the name of Izzy Baer. He sang 'Ireland must be heaven 'cause me mother came from there'. He never took an encore 'cause they crowned him with a chair.

And nobody knows what happened to McCarthy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan McCarthy's Party (J. E. Murphy)
From: GUEST,oogieray
Date: 09 Aug 12 - 10:23 PM

The version we had on a 45 in the 50's was like the verse mentioned by Guest: The police weren't invited but later they were there. There was also a verse that went:
"It was on the way to the gas station when somebody said let's eat.
And if I wasn't good and strong myself I wouldn't have got a seat.
Such table manners as I saw there I never could understand.
When I reached to get some meat a dozen forced against me hand.
O'Brien spilled some gravy and it got the Missus goat.
She said that's what she gets for eating dinner in her coat.
Lannigan yells to Branigan, 'why you're nothing but a hick'
.....
.... It started a fight that lasted all night 'cause nobody wanted to stop.......
O'Brien brought a singer with a very peculiar air.
He sang 'Ireland Must Be Heaven Cause My Mother Came From There'.
He couldn't take an encore 'cause they crowned him with a chair.
But nobody knows what happened to McCarthy."

The flip side of the 45 record had the song "He's a Devil in His Own Hometown". I think a singer named McCarthy was listed as the artist.
I wish we had saved that record.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan McCarthy's Party (J. E. Murphy)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 11:05 PM

Well McCarty had a party at his house the other night. Everybody came along and they brought their appetite. It was a very swell affair, the best of folks were there. The police were'nt invited but later they were there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan McCarthy's Party (J. E. Murphy)
From: GUEST
Date: 26 May 11 - 07:31 AM

My dad still sings this song at family get togethers and we all join in, great memories.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McCarty Had a Party at his House
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Nov 10 - 12:26 PM

ive got song and lyrics to at mccarthys party i play it often if you send blank cd ill tape it for you send adress davie scotland ph 01563 523303

Subject: RE: McCarty Had a Party at his House
From: GUEST,Eddie O'Hara
Date: 24 Oct 04 - 02:42 PM

This song was brilliantly recorded by Ruby Murray.

A couple of years ago I had it on a Ruby Murray CD that I purchased from a music store. Absolutely fantastic!

Other songs on the Cd included:
Lovely Leitrim
The Wicklow Hills
Fifty Years Ago
The Irish Rover

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: McCarty Had a Party at his House
From: breezy
Date: 12 Jan 02 - 06:56 AM

the Oldham Tinkers do it and its on one of their recordings , it was played on folk on 2 some time this year and I did the decent thing.

Subject: Lyr Add: MCCARTHY'S PARTY
From: GUEST,Barry O'Mahony
Date: 29 Jun 01 - 11:31 AM

That recent request on a different thread could have been me; as a guest I am only learning how to get around. Here's a verse my Dad gave me I'd like to share;

They kicked up such a din,
The guards came rushing in,
Beat the brains of poor MaCarthy
Picked on Leo Leith
Kicked in all his teeth,
Gouged the eyes of Moriarty
Butchered Mrs Flood
Splashed her husbands blood
Round the corpse of her dear son Archie
No great harm was done;
Good clean Irish fun
Down at MaCarthys party.

Any more verses out there?

Keep singing!
Barry

Subject: Lyr Add: DAN McCARTHY'S PARTY (J. E. Murphy)
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 28 Jun 01 - 03:47 PM

A recent enquiry in another thread about this song got me looking around, and I found the following, written by J. E. Murphy as Dan McCarthy's Party: sheet music published in 1882 by William J. A. Lieder of New York may be seen at Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, 1870-1885:

Dan McCarthy's party


DAN McCARTHY'S PARTY
(Words and music by J. E. Murphy of "Murphy and Mack," 1882)

1. Dan McCarthy he's a man,
From dear old Paddy's Land,
A fellow that is full of jollity,
And where he does reside,
Is over on the east side,
In a tenement house
Away up in Avenue C.
One night he took a notion
His ideas he put in motion,
Says he, "I'll have a jolly spree."
His friends he invited all.
Sure they were tall and small
To shake a leg at Dan McCarthy's party.

CHORUS: McCarthy, so hearty,
Jump'd on to the floor.
He excited all the tenants
In the tenement with a roar.
Then O'Grady with his lady
He got up to sing.
McCarthy leapt up on his neck,
And done a highland fling.

2. When the table it was set,
Young Lacey made a bet,
That he could fall upon it
And not disturb a thing.
No sooner said than done.
Oh! you never saw such fun
To see him fall and make the dishes ring.
McCarthy got so excited
And young Dasey he invited,
To come outside and have a round or two.
Some fellow shouted, "Mick!"
Dasey threw a brick
Which laid McCarthy out upon the floor.


Midis of the melody line (slightly confusing in bars 14 and 15, so I've just made a "best guess" there) go to the Mudcat Midi Pages; until they appear there, they can be heard via the South Riding Folk Network site:

Dan McCarthy's Party Melody line only
Dan McCarthy's Party Full arrangement for voice and piano (1882)

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: McCarty Had a Party at his House
From: GUEST,G. Swanton
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 05:52 PM

My g-grandfather sang a version of this song that began something like:

"Mrs. McCarty gave a party when her daughter Mary Anne turned 21"... The party degenerated into a brawl..

Is this a very of the same song? Thanks!

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: McCarty Had a Party at his House
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 07 Sep 00 - 12:32 PM

Just came across a book called "A Little Bit of Heaven" - a collection of Irish-American songs. It gives this one almost word-for-word as above. The only comment it makes is:"Anon. One of the noisiest of party songs, popular since the turn of the century with students."

Regards

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: McCarty Had a Party at his House
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 06 Sep 00 - 11:58 PM

Thanks for posting the one version...I'll keep watch in the event another version is posted...

Mary

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: McCarty Had a Party at his House
From: duart
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 05:48 PM

I heard this song many times as a lad at scout camps. we always sang "Madama Tussaud" instead of "Madame Peters", and the line in the last verse I seem to recall as "Maloney's nose it came in handy" to rhme with "dandy" and "candy".Thanks for the memories: IHaven't heard that song in over 30 years!

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: McCarty Had a Party at his House
From: GUEST,Crazy Eddie
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 09:38 AM

Hi Martin, I don't know who Madadame Peters is/was. I always assumed she was an opera singer or similar! Bound to be someone here who know tho'. Regards, Eddie

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: McCarty Had a Party at his House
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 08:33 AM

Eddie

Great! That looks very like the version I hear - though some of the differences suggest it may not be the same tune.

Wonder what the "Madame Peters" reference is about? The version I hear doesn't have it.

Regards

Subject: Lyr Add: MCCARTHY'S PARTY ^^
From: GUEST,Crazy Eddie
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 08:24 AM

As far as I remember

MCCARTHY'S PARTY

Oh! a noble man you'll see, if you'll only look at me,
The other day I met McCarthy walking down the way
And he did say to me, "Won't you come to our party,
The house to be sure will be crowded to the door".
Oh, we'll all be gay and hearty, at McCarthy's party,
We'll all let down our hair, Oh Murphys Burkes & Leahys
Will be there with their sheleighlis, down at McCarthy's party

Oh at McCarthy's Party every one was hearty,
Someone hit Moloney on the nose,
With the handle of a broom McCarthy swept the room,
Then a row arose & it was murder,
Murphy and his cousin paralysed a half a dozen,
they hit both swift and hard.
A number of the boys will never make a noise,
'cause they're lying in the ould Church yard,

A lady then did try, for to pacify,
My, but she was a grand 'aul cratur,
Yellin' like a bull, she was beautiful,
Madame Peters couldnt imitate her,
She opened up her mouth, North, East, West & South, for all the world to see,
She couldn't get it shut, so McCarthy put his foot...
Down at McCarthy's party

Then began a row, I'll tell it to you now,
Murph, you see was a bit of a dandy,
Moloney he got up, said he was a pup,
Told him straight he wasn't worth candy.
Murph gave him a look, the frying pan he took,
To poor Moloneys nose........
He gave him such a whacker, right across the smacker,
Down at McCarthy's party ^^

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: McCarty Had a Party at his House
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 01:59 AM

Joe, Ya learn something new every day! Never thought about changing the subject within a current thread. Thanks for the tip.

I'll keep watch James. Thanks!

Mary

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: McCarty Had a Party at his House
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 02 Sep 00 - 05:24 PM

Joe

I hear this song a few times a year, locally. Now if I can persuade the singer to write it out for me....or find mey little tape recorder!

Regards

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: McCarthy's Party
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Sep 00 - 05:35 AM

Hi, Mary - just changing the "subject" in one message will make the thread turn up in our search engines. If we refresh it every few weeks, maybe we'll get an answer. I e-mailed James Martin, who provided the chorus. Maybe he'll come back and give us the rest.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: McCarty Had a Party at his House
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 02 Sep 00 - 04:38 AM

Thanks Joe. I had started the new thread so the correct title of the song would be in the thread name. Still no takers....

Mary

Subject: McCarthy's Party
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 04:56 AM

I found this request from Sings Irish Songs in another thread.
-Joe Offer-

---

I reviewed [this old] thread about this song but only the chorus was posted....I was wondering if anyone had the complete lyrics to post.

Many thanks!

Mary

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: McCarty Had a Party at his House
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 07 Jan 00 - 10:58 AM

Oddly enough, while the song itself doesn't appear to be in the DT - the sequel is! Click HERE

Regards

Subject: ADD: McCarthy's Party (part)
From:
Date: 07 Jan 00 - 08:56 AM

I'm pretty sure these are the lyrics for the chorus of the song. My scout leader used sing it at camp fire when we went to summer camp. We (the rest of the troop) sang the chorus and he sang the rest. I think it goes something like this :

Oh at McCarthy's Party every one was hearty,
someone hit Maloney on the nose,
With the handle of a broom O'Hara swept the room,
then a row arose there was murder,
Murphy and his cousin paralised a half a dozen,
they hit both swift and hardy,
and a number of the boys will never make a noise,
'cause they're lying in the ould Church yard,
(without they're shirt on...lying in the ould church yard).

If these are correct and you'd like the rest of the lyrics I'll try to get them for you.
Regards,
James.

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: McCarty Had a Party at his House
From:
Date: 24 Feb 98 - 11:06 PM

I believe this song is called McCARTHY'S PARTY and I have a recording of it, done in the 70's, by the Carleton Showband from Newfoundland (They used to have a TV show called the Pig and Whistle). Unfortunately it's stored in my mother's basement and I don't have access just now .. maybe this will help trigger some other people's memories?

Subject: Need Lyrics: McCarty Had a Party at his House
From:
Date: 18 Feb 98 - 02:20 PM

When I was a boy in Montana in the '50s, radio KFBB would frequently play an Irish song that either had the title or main line:

" Oh, McCarty had a party at his house the other night............."

And, it would go on with many verses.

Can anyone help?

Thanks