Lyr Req: Biddy McGrath (Matt McGinn?)

Subject: Biddy McGrath by Matt McGinn
From: GUEST,Oldshorebeg
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 06:08 PM

I'm looking for the words to the song Biddy McGrath by the late, very great Matt McGinn.

It starts; Have ye heard o'Biddy McGrath She strangled 2 sailors wi the straps o'her bra...........

Can Anyone help?

Subject: RE: Biddy McGrath by Matt McGinn
From: Sorcha
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 06:28 PM

Already posted in the Forum, here (Click!)

Subject: RE: Biddy McGrath by Matt McGinn
From: MMario
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 06:28 PM

I am at home and my connection isn't working well enough to search - but I know the lyrics have been posted in the forum -

Subject: RE: Biddy McGrath by Matt McGinn
From: GUEST,SoapySoutar
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 06:41 PM

Thanks, but these are not the words I'm looking for.

The song I'm looking for was written by Matt McGinn and was in a 196something album of his. It includes the lines

"Biddy turned round on the little fella then
She took him him in her fingers like a ball-point pen
She twirled him north and she twirled him south
Then stuffed the remainder in the poor man's mouth”

Subject: RE: Biddy McGrath by Matt McGinn
From: johnross
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 12:20 AM

"Biddy McGrath" is on Matt McGinn's 1968 LP "Honesty is Out of the Fashion" (XTRA 1071--XTRA was Transatlantic's budget label). Alas, it did not include a lyric sheet, so there's no easy way to post the words of the song.

As far as I can tell, the record has never been re-issued, and Biddy is not on any of the "best of" collections.

Subject: Lyr Add: BIDDY MCGRATH (from Matt McGinn)
From: GUEST,Annegi
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 03:29 PM

Oldshorebeg
Here are the words from the McGinn of the Calton book - I am assuming these are the originals you are looking for.


BIDDY MCGRATH
As recorded by Matt McGinn on "Honesty Is Out of the Fashion" (1968)

Well, have you heard of Biddy McGrath?
She strangled two sailors with the straps of her bra.
She tied one strap around the little fella's head
And she threw him in the Liffey like a crust of bread.

CHORUS: With yer too-ri-a fal the diddle da
Too-ri-oor-ri oor-ri -a
With yer too-ri-a fal the diddle da
Too-ri-oor-ri oor-ri -a

Biddy turned round on the big fella then.
She took him in her fingers like a ball-point pen.
She twirled him north and she twirled him south,
Then she tied the other strap around the poor fella's mouth. CHORUS

The policeman said to Biddy McGrath:
'What's this you've been doing with the straps of your bra?'
Says she: 'Get along and on with yer job'
And she stuffed the remainder in the policeman's gob. CHORUS

The judge he said to Biddy McGrath:
'Yer a thorough disgrace to yer ma and yer pa.'
Says she: 'Them sailors were feeding me the cure,
And treating me as if I were a lady.' CHORUS

So if you're ever in Dublin town,
Where Nelson's monument* used to be found,
And you come across a girl with a brand new bra,
Beware if her name be Biddy McGrath. CHORUS


* McGinn actually sings "Nelson's Column" but that's in Trafalgar Square! The monument in Dublin was called Nelson's Pillar.

Cheers Annegi

Subject: RE: Biddy McGrath by Matt McGinn
From: Rank
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 07:58 PM

To Annegi

I always thought it was: Them sailors were feeding me liqueur, but I only learnt it verbally.

Subject: RE: Biddy McGrath by Matt McGinn
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 06:54 AM

Yes - I always thought it was "liqueur" but it IS the "cure". I came across the words and was similarly surprised..

Cheers

Steven

Subject: RE: Biddy McGrath by Matt McGinn
From: GUEST,Oldshorebeg
Date: 10 Mar 02 - 12:35 PM

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply, especially Annegi who found the words

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Biddy McGrath (Matt McGinn)
From: GUEST,tom flanagan THE WRITER of Biddy Mc Grath
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 05:05 PM

My name is tom flanagan I am the Writer of the song Biddy Mc Grath It was written inthe 60's by me and NOBODY ELSE. I have also written a follow up to the biddy song which some consider to be funnier. However I'll be keeping it under wraps for a while. I'm Disgusted that someone can mess up the original lyrics and then claim to have written it. Remember the name TOM FLANAGAN. If you're in Dublin and you visit Burdocks fish & chip shop near Christchurch you will see on display the last verse of another of my songs called "A Little Bag of Chips"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Biddy McGrath (Matt McGinn)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 11:57 PM

A band called Darby O'Gill, from Portland, Oregon, has recorded the following song on their album "The Gettin's Good." They call the song "traditional Irish."


BIDDY MCGRATH

I'll tell you all a story. It'll give you quite a shock.
It's all about the murders on the Rings End dock.
The girl in question was Biddy McGrath.
She strangled two sailors with the straps of her bra.

CHORUS: With me toorayeah, faladiddledah,
Tooraye ooraye orrayeah.

They tried to get her with hell-fire and liquor,
But smart as they were, they still couldn't trick her.
She remembered a story, told by her ma.
She quickly untied the straps of her bra.

She tied one around the big fella's head
And she flung him in the Liffey like a crust of bread.
The little fella laughed and he went: Ha Ha!
So she stuffed his gob with the rest of her bra.

She got home around a quarter to one
Very happy and contented for a job well done.
She ups and tells her ma and her da,
Sayin' "Thanks be to Jesus, I was wearin' me bra."

So if you're a little girl who likes sailors at night,
Make sure that the straps of your bra are tight.
Remember the story of Biddy McGrath.
Keep one hand on your knickers and the other on your bra.

[You can hear Darby O'Gill's recording at SoundClick.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Biddy McGrath (Matt McGinn)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 08:17 AM

Seems that the first set of words, as per Annegi's posting, is copyrighted to Heathside Music in 1968.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Biddy McGrath (Matt McGinn)
From: GUEST,Karen Twomey
Date: 03 May 10 - 08:29 PM

The song was written by Tom Flanagan from Dublin. NOT, Matt McGinn who people are claiming wrote it.
the lyrics have been changed throughout the years. But the original lyrics are somewhat different. Unfortunately Tom never copyrighted the song and other people have since claimed that they wrote it.
Or worse the person (Matt McGinn) who claimed they wrote it themselves. This however not true.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Biddy McGrath (Matt McGinn?)
From: GUEST,Billy Breen
Date: 31 May 13 - 03:36 PM

I dont know who this guy Matt McGinn is but i can confirm he most definately did not write the song. It was written by Tommy Flanagan, some of it in the cafe over Wollworths with my brother Kevin.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Biddy McGrath (Matt McGinn?)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 01 Jun 13 - 07:45 PM

Matt McGinn died over 30 years ago, so you can't contest it with him directly.