Lyr ADD: McBreen's Heifer (Percy French)

Subject: Lyrics req, McBreen's Heifer please?
From: Noel P
Date: 02 May 02 - 10:55 AM

Can anyone come up with the lyrics of "McBreen's Heifer" please? Composer was Percy French. Thanks and regards, Noel P

Subject: RE: Lyrics req, McBreen's Heifer please?
From: MMario
Date: 02 May 02 - 11:05 AM

Most of the sites I come up with on google are blocked - so I can't check them.

Subject: RE: Lyrics req, McBreen's Heifer please?
From: Sorcha
Date: 02 May 02 - 11:10 AM

Only got a few hits, and no lyrics. Book with the song can be purchased here. All Percy French songs.

Subject: RE: Lyrics req, McBreen's Heifer please?
From: MMario
Date: 02 May 02 - 11:22 AM

I did find that Percy French died in 1920 - so I believe that all his stuff *should* now be in the public domain.

Subject: RE: Lyrics req, McBreen's Heifer please?
From: paddymac
Date: 02 May 02 - 01:21 PM

I've got it in one of my PF books. I'll try to get it up (er, post the lyrics) later today.

Subject: Lyr Add: PRETTY AND THE PLAIN (MCBREEN'S HEIFER)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 02 May 02 - 05:32 PM

^^
THE PRETTY AND THE PLAIN (McBreen's Heifer)
Percy French

McBreen had two daughters and each one in turn
Was offered in marriage to Jimsie O'Byrne
Now Kitty was pretty and Jane she was plain
So to make up the difference McBreen would explain
That he'd give the best heifer he had on the land
As a sort of a bonus with Jane, understand
Sure Kitty could charm all the birds from the bush
And that left poor Jim in a horrid non-plus

Now there's no denying Kitty
Was remarkably pretty
Though you can't say the same for Jane
But still's there's not the differ
Of the price of a heifer
Between the pretty and the plain

Entirely bothered was Jimsie O'Byrne
So he thought that he'd give the school-master a turn
Now says he pretty Kitty is very good fun
Still a heifer's a heifer when all's said and done
Now a girl she might lose her good looks anyhow
While the heifer will grow to an elegant cow
But there might be no price for the stock d'ye mind
Still, Jane has a face that the devil designed

Now there's no denying Kitty
Was remarkably pretty
Though you can't say the same for Jane
But still's there's not the differ
Of the price of a heifer
Between the pretty and the plain

The school-master said with a good deal of sense
We'll divide the two girls into shillings and pence
Add the price of the heifer, and Jane I'll be bound
Will come out on the top by a couple of pounds
But sure I'm forgetting that down in Glengaul
The stock is just going for nothing at all
So Jim thought he'd wait till the end of the year
When girls might be cheaper or stock might be dear

But when he came for Kitty
She was married to McGinty
And McGee had appropriated Jane
So whether there's the differ
Of the price of a heifer
Is a thing that he never could explain

Subject: RE: Lyrics req, McBreen's Heifer please?
From: Sorcha
Date: 02 May 02 - 05:34 PM

Whoopeee! Thanks Bonnie! and the Add is for Bonnie Shaljean's post at 5.32 of this thread.

Subject: Lyr Add: MCBREEN'S HEIFER (Percy French)
From: paddymac
Date: 02 May 02 - 08:33 PM

Here it is from the PF book. Essentially the same as Bommie's post above.

MCBREEN'S HEIFER
(Percy French)

McBreen had two daughters and each one in turn
Was offered in marriage to Jamesy O'Burn.
Now Kitty was pretty, but Jane she was plain,
So to make up the differ, McBreen would explain,
He'd give the best heifer he had on his land,
As a sort of a bonus with Jane, understand.
But then Kitty would char-um a bird off a bush,
And that left the lad in a horrid non-plush.

FIRST CHORUS:
Now there's no denyin' Kitty was remarkably pretty,
Though I can't say the same for Jane,
But still there's not the differ of the price of a heifer,
Between the pretty and the plain.

Entirely bothered was Jamesy O'Burn.
He thought that he'd give the schoolmaster a turn.
Says he, "To wed Kitty is very good fun,
But a heifer's a heifer when all's said an' done.
A girl she might lose her good looks anyhow,
And a heifer might grow to an elegant cow,
But still there's no price for the stock, d'ye mind,
And Jane has a face that the Divil designed."

REPEAT FIRST CHORUS

Now the schoolmaster said, with a great deal of sense,
"We'll reduce the two girls to shillin's an' pence.
Add the price of the heifer and Jane, I'll be bound,
Will come out the top by a couple o' pound;
But still I'm forgettin' that down in Glengall,
The stock is just goin' for nothin' at all."
So Jim thought he'd wait till the end of the year,
Till girls might be cheaper or stock might be dear.

SECOND CHORUS:
But when he came for Kittie, she was married to McVittie,
And McGee had appropriated Jane,
So whether there's the differ of the price of a heifer,
Is a thing that he never would explain.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 10-May-02.

Subject: RE: Lyrics req, McBreen's Heifer please?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 May 02 - 12:43 PM

Thanks folks, the power of the Mudcat again! BTW I was somewhat surprised it was not there already. Now got to learn it! Noel P

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McBreen's Heifer (Percy French)
From: GUEST,Ruairi
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 11:23 PM

It was good to stumble on this site--I had an LP by Brendan O'Dowda that I think had this & other Percy French songs--whatever happened to O'Dowda anyway? I believe the second version above is closer to the one I had.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McBreen's Heifer (Percy French)
From: Big Tim
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 04:06 AM

Brendan O'Dowda died quite recently, 2002, I think.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McBreen's Heifer (Percy French)
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 12:33 AM

I've been looking for this for about 4 years......thatnk you, thank you, thank you! Where can I find the recording?????
Jane

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McBreen's Heifer (Percy French)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 05:51 AM

Hi Jane (you're not that Jane are you?) (kidding :-)

Do you mean the O'Dowda recording specifically, or any recording of the song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McBreen's Heifer (Percy French)
From: ard mhacha
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 08:08 AM

Brendan O`Dowda`s cassettes can still be found in most Irish record? shops.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McBreen's Heifer (Percy French)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 08:43 AM

CD for sale here, though it doesn't give a track listing. Album title is The Immortal Percy French, which I am assuming would include this song, either as "McBreen's Heifer" or "The Pretty And The Plain".

http://www.allcelticmusic.com/artists/Brendan%20O'Dowda.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McBreen's Heifer (Percy French)
From: Artful Codger
Date: 01 Mar 09 - 06:14 AM

Now, can the power of Mudcat provide an ABC? (PM me if you can scan the music, and I'll do it up, if you like.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McBreen's Heifer (Percy French)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 01 Mar 09 - 06:50 AM

The tune is pretty much the jig The Irish Washerwoman.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McBreen's Heifer (Percy French)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 01 Mar 09 - 06:52 AM

Oooops: Apart from the chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McBreen's Heifer (Percy French)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 06:51 PM

I have the sheet music if anyone wants it just e-mail me at [e-mail] and I will scan it in. - Niamh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McBreen's Heifer (Percy French)
From: GUEST,noreen
Date: 21 Feb 15 - 05:11 PM

Well, here it is and I think it is clever and amusing and it was Henry,s party piece

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McBreen's Heifer (Percy French)
From: GUEST,jbtreactmcd
Date: 09 Apr 16 - 06:20 AM

I have been searching for this for ages - didn't know the title, only the chorus so pleased to have found it thanks to all of the posts

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McBreen's Heifer (Percy French)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 09 Apr 16 - 07:53 PM

Here's a version sung by Willie Brady

Robyn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McBreen's Heifer (Percy French)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 16 - 12:53 AM

I've always felt a little sorry for 'plain' Jane, imagine knowing that your future husband had to have a dowery of a heifer before he would take you. Which brings me to the old Ulster joke about the hired farmhand who was going courting at night to a neighbouring farm, he asked his boss if he could borrow a lantern as it was a dark night. The farmer said "you don't need a lantern, I never had one when I went courting." The answer, "yes, I've seen your wife, that's why I need a lantern."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McBreen's Heifer (Percy French)
From: GUEST,threelegsoman
Date: 10 Apr 16 - 03:18 AM

I uploaded this song about 3 years ago:


Guitar: McBreen's Heifer (Including lyrics and chords)

I cannot remember which site it was on which I found it though.