Origins: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Ernie (passing by)
Date: 17 May 02 - 11:46 AM

Dear mr. Pat Cooksey

Thank you so very, very much for this song!!!!!!!!!!!

It was the very first 'Dubliners' song I learned by heart (And so I stand corrected) because every time when I listened to it I ended up choking with laughter Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Merely thinking about it still brings a grinn to my face.

Many 's the time that I wanted to play a trick on my boss and come up with a really good sick note, but(un)fortunately I never had never anything to do with hauling bricks :)

Your fan Ernie.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 May 02 - 11:29 AM

Pat, Maclolm Douglass suggested the help forum. That is the place for this sort of query. That said.

1. I see there is already a member Pat Cooksey and it looks fairly new to me. I suspect you succeded in creating your membership but have problems with cookies. Further attempts to join under the name Pat Cooksey will provide duplicate errors.

2. Unless things have changed, there has often been confusion between the terms used on the membership system. One I remember was it could tell you your "code name" was taken - code name referred to your user name not your password.

Jon

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Pat Cooksey, Germany.
Date: 17 May 02 - 10:53 AM

What kind of password do I need to join Mudcat,can't I just use my own name. Off to do a sound check, Cheers Pat.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 17 May 02 - 06:45 AM

If you're having trouble of that sort, you want the Mudcat Help & Trouble Forum; describe your problem and they'll sort it for you.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Pat Cooksey, Germany.
Date: 17 May 02 - 06:43 AM

Paddymac. I am trying to join mudcat, what's with the password, everything I put in comes up already taken, help. My e.mail no, and website no is already on this thread. regards Pat.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Pat Cooksey, Germany.
Date: 17 May 02 - 06:33 AM

Paddymac. I am trying to join mudcat, what's with the password, everything I put in comes up already taken, help. My e.mail no, and website no is already on this thread. regards Pat.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: michaelr
Date: 17 May 02 - 01:40 AM

Mr Cooksey - or may we call you Pat? I second paddymac's and DADGBE's posts and hope you will a) become a member here and b) come play in Northern California. I can hook you up with two promoters in the area if you so desire. As paddymac said, just get yer cookie and send me a message!

I would also invite you to chime in on the "Celtic Music/Dave Bulmer" thread. A number of people there would be interested to hear more.

Cheers,

Michael

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: paddymac
Date: 16 May 02 - 10:25 PM

Pat Cooksey - any chance you might include Florida on your itinery ? I'd be happy to help arrange some gigs for you. I suggest that you establish a membership here at the mudcat. It doesn't cost anything, and your "details" are secure. Just click on "membership" at the top of the page and follow the steps. Easy. Then, send me a PM (personal message) [a benefit of membership] and we can talk about your plans in more detail. I offer an anticipatory "Welcome to the family!"

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Pat cooksey. Germany.
Date: 16 May 02 - 06:59 PM

I have just returned from a cultural reception to celebrate the 10000 years of the city of Erlangen,in Bavaria, I sang a few songs and the champaigne flowed like water. I was amazed to hear of the cultural links between this city and Ireland, and the Burgermeister, Lord Mayor, Of the city of Erlangen, joined me in a rendition of the Sick Note. Yes indeed, I am the same Pat Cooksey who played with Brian Patten, a fiddler supreme, if you are still around Brian I salute you. Graham and Dave Priestley were, and I hope still are great friends of mine, although if I remember correctly I still owe Dave 40 pounds, I have't forgotten Dave. I hope to be in the U.S.A. in October, and if it can be arranged I would love to sing The Sick Note and many others for you. I thank you all. Love and best wishes, Pat.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Al Boyce
Date: 16 May 02 - 06:12 PM

Thanks for the song Pat - I've sung it for years around campfires and gatherings in my travels in the US.

I've also seen the tune assigned to The Sick Note as being "Traditional: Down Where the Praties Grow". I'm not familiar with that tune, but is that indeed the inspiration for the music?

- Al

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: waterdragon
Date: 16 May 02 - 04:46 PM

Is this the same Pat Cooksey who teamed up with Brian Patten,Fiddle player.I too visited the Dyers along with mates from Leeds including Dave Priestley and his brother Graham.I think Finbar and Eddie Furey also used to live around there at the time.This must be nearer thirty than twenty years ago!

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Genevieve
Date: 16 May 02 - 01:38 PM

Good lord! Pat Cooksey! I remember you at the Dyers. I used to drop in there for a drink and a song years ago. Bet it's all tarted up now. Anyone else go there?

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: DADGBE
Date: 16 May 02 - 01:19 PM

Hi Pat. I hope that your travels in the US will take you to northern California. An evening of your songs must be a delight. Thanks for writing one (possibly more?) of the great modern songs now in the tradition.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 16 May 02 - 12:37 PM

Well Pat, if you are looking for "as much information as possible", I would suggest you consider posting to the rec.music.celtic and rec.music.folk newsgroups as well as here. As you might expect, there is some crossover of people between these newsgroups and between Mudcat but each has it's own readership too.

Jon

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Pat cooksey, Germany.
Date: 16 May 02 - 12:08 PM

I have read the threads you directed me to, thanks. Legal action is the only way to deal with these matters, this is the course I have taken. Having said that I would like this site to remain on the topic of my song, although naturally I would like to see justice done with regard to fellow musicians. I will post further details soon.

Best wishes, Pat.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Noreen
Date: 16 May 02 - 09:02 AM

Verry interresting, Pat- I see from the DT that Celtic Music held the copyright. I am sure that many people here would like to know how you regained the publishing rights of this song after years of mismanagement and fraud by the original publisher (you may have seen the threads running here about Mr Bulmer and Celtic Music? Click here for the latest.

Regards,

Noreen

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Pat Cooksey, Germany.
Date: 16 May 02 - 06:01 AM

To Joe offer. Thanks for your note, sorry but I'm a late starter in the world of technology and only recently got a computer, I started the new thread because most people in the U.S.A. do not recognise the original titles of this song, I have details of many recordings from the US where the credits state TRADITIONAL, or PUBLIC DOMAIN, or ARRANGED BY, etc. The reason I started the original thread was that I recently regained the publishing rights of this song after years of mismanagement and fraud by the original publisher, and before I re-assign the song I need to have as much information as possible regarding it's use. I was recomended to try your site and have found it a super source, congratulations, I will be sending a donation. In answer to your question, yes I am Irish, I live in Germany at the moment because I tour here and other parts of Europe regularly, and my songs are also well known here. I also go home to play a couple of times a year. Best wishes and thanks again for Mudcat.

Subject: ADD: Bricklayer's Story / Sick Note (originals)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 May 02 - 06:54 PM

Hi, Pat - You'll note that the song is attributed to you in the Digital Tradition. I'll make sure links to a copy of your message get posted in other threads on the song, but there's probably no need to start threads for each of the titles of the song. Most people use our Digitrad and Forum Search and our Forum Search to find songs.
-Joe Offer-

---

Here are the lyrics from Pat Cooksey's Website:

THE SICK NOTE It is generally assumed that I based this song on Gerard Hoffnung's wonderful address to THE OXFORD UNION in 1958. This is not correct. The recitation in a more simple form dates back to the English Music Hall's of the 1920's and was printed in the Readers Digest in 1937 in the form of a story. The fine Scottish singer and songwriter Dick Gaughan details some of the above on his Homepage together with comments by Sam Hinton. The song is unique in as much as it appears under such a galaxy of titles but is always the same song. Its worldwide popularity, with over 100 recordings to date, is indeed a wonder to me when I think back to it's humble beginnings in The Dyer's Arms, in Coventry. I am naturally delighted that so many wonderful artists have recorded and performed my song over the years and I am proud that the song has given so much pleasure to so many people. Long may it continue to do so. Below you will find the original text of THE SICK NOTE. Dear Sir I write this note to you to tell you of my plight For at the time of writing I am not a pretty sight My body is all black and blue, my face a deathly grey And I write this note to say why Paddy's not at work today. Whilst working on the fourteenth floor,some bricks I had to clear To throw them down from such a height was not a good idea The foreman wasn't very pleased, the bloody awkward sod He said I had to cart them down the ladders in my hod. Now clearing all these bricks by hand, it was so very slow So I hoisted up a barrel and secured the rope below But in my haste to do the job, I was too blind to see That a barrel full of building bricks was heavier than me. And so when I untied the rope, the barrel fell like lead And clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead I shot up like a rocket till to my dismay I found That half way up I met the bloody barrel coming down. Well the barrel broke my shoulder, as to the ground it sped And when I reached the top I banged the pulley with my head I clung on tightly, numb with shock, from this almighty blow And the barrel spilled out half the bricks, fourteen floors below. Now when these bricks had fallen from the barrel to the floor I then outweighed the barrel and so started down once more Still clinging tightly to the rope, my body racked with pain When half way down, I met the bloody barrel once again. The force of this collision, half way up the office block Caused multiple abrasions and a nasty state of shock Still clinging tightly to the rope I fell towards the ground And I landed on the broken bricks the barrel scattered round. I lay there groaning on the ground I thought I'd passed the worst But the barrel hit the pulley wheel, and then the bottom burst A shower of bricks rained down on me, I hadn't got a hope As I lay there bleeding on the ground, I let go the bloody rope. The barrel then being heavier then started down once more And landed right across me as I lay upon the floor It broke three ribs, and my left arm, and I can only say That I hope you'll understand why Paddy's not at work today. The song is sung to the tune of THE GARDEN WHERE THE PRATIES GROW. Alternative Titles: WHY PADDY'S NOT AT WORK TODAY THE BRICKLAYERS SONG DEAR BOSS PADDY AND THE BARRELL MURPHY AND THE BRICKS Copyright Notice. Please read. The above song under all alternative titles has always been and remains the sole copyright of the original writer, PAT COOKSEY. The song was composed and first performed by me in Coventry in 1969 and is registered with THE PERFORMING RIGHTS SOCIETY in London under it's orginal title THE SICK NOTE and all the above alternative titles. No other Artist or Writer had any part in the writing of this song nor may any claim be made for arrangement, the song under all the above titles is performed in it's original form, only the Title has been changed.

---

http://monologues.co.uk has what appears to be the monologue from Gerard Hoffnung

THE BRICKLAYER'S STORY
by Gerard Hoffnung

I've got this thing here that I must read to you. Now, this is a very tragic thing... I shouldn't, really, read it out. A striking lesson in keeping the upper lip stiff is given in a recent number of the weekly bulletin of 'The Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors' that prints the following letter from a bricklayer in Golders Green to the firm for whom he works. Respected sir, when I got to the top of the building, I found that the hurricane had knocked down some bricks off the top. So I rigged up a beam, with a pulley, at the top of the building and hoisted up a couple of barrels of bricks. When I had fixed the building, there was a lot of bricks left over. I hoisted the barrel back up again and secured the line at the bottom and then went up and filled the barrel with the extra bricks. Then, I went to the bottom and cast off the rope. Unfortunately, the barrel of bricks was heavier than I was and before I knew what was happening, the barrel started down, jerking me off the ground. I decided to hang on! Halfway up, I met the barrel coming down... and received a severe blow on the shoulder. I then continued to the top, banging my head against the beam and getting my fingers jammed in the pulley! When the barrel hit the ground, it burst it's bottom... allowing all the bricks to spill out. I was now heavier than the barrel and so started down again at high speed! Halfway down... I met the barrel coming up and received severe injury to my shins! When I hit the ground... I landed on the bricks, getting several painful cuts from the sharp edges! At this point... I must have lost my presence of mind... because I let go of the line! The barrel then came down... giving me a very heavy blow and putting me in hospital! I respectfully request 'sick leave'.

Subject: DEAR BOSS,BRICKLAYERS SONG,WRITER.
From: GUEST
Date: 15 May 02 - 06:14 PM

To those of you particularly in the U.S.A. who do not recognise the original titles of this song, or those who have recorded or performed it under any of it's alternative titles. The original title of the song is Paddy and the Barrell or The Sick Note, composed by me in 1969 in Coventry. No other writer or artist had any part in the writing of this song and the song under all known titles is the exclusive copywright of Pat Cooksey. This song has been registered with the Performing Rights Society in London for nearly 30 years. Although I always give credit to Gerard Hoffnung as my inspiration the story dates back to the English music halls, and appeared in several joke books and other publications long before Hoffnung's version in 1958, Gerard Hoffnung credits the Manchester Guardian as his source. There are worldwide more than 100 recordings of my song under various titles, more details can be found on my biography at www.patcooksey.com Any further licencing requests should be addressed to me at [e-mail] Best wishes and thanks to those who responded to the previous thread.

---

(transferred from another thread)

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 14 May 02 - 02:10 AM

Pat, I got the song from Robbie O' Connell as Dear Boss, and he gave me your name, and until now, efforts to track you down were fruitless. Thanks for getting in touch here on the Mudcat, and I look forward to hearing from you privately.

Seamus

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Pat cooksey. Germany.
Date: 13 May 02 - 06:10 PM

Dave Bennett, Coventry.

Nice to hear from you Dave, greetings from Innsbruck, in Austria, just finished a concert, the beer is also flowing here, best wishes to all my friends in Coventry. Hope to see you all in June, if you see Eddie Mac, say hello from me.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Geoff hart.
Date: 13 May 02 - 07:46 AM

The Clancy Brothers also recorded this with Robbie O'Connell titled DEAR BOSS.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Donal.
Date: 13 May 02 - 06:41 AM

Have heard many versions of this song and it seems Noel Murphy's only contribution was to replace the name PADDY with MURPHY. As far as I know Noel Murphy has never mentioned that he got the song from the writer Pat Cooksey although those of us still around from the Rocky Road folk club in Coventry know this to be the case.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Mr Red
Date: 13 May 02 - 05:39 AM

Pat - did you have a sick note for getting it wrong? -
Barrel of laughs couldn't be more appropriate!
I suspect even the genesis of the story is "experience" and many of them, by more than one person and more than one decade!

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 13 May 02 - 05:28 AM

Thanks Pat! I'm just a mere floor singer and a very occasional one at that (instrumental sessions are my first love) but your song has been one of my "party pieces" for I don't know how long. It's pleasing to know that even the author can get it wrong (with mitigating circumstances).

Jon

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Pat Cooksey, Nuremberg, Germany.
Date: 13 May 02 - 04:31 AM

Seamus Kennedy. Thanks for your note, will be in touch. As I was unaware of the titles under which my song has been recorded untill recently these titles were not registered with ASCAP in the U.S.A. they are now. You at least credited me as the writer, unlike the numerous other American, and American based artists who did not, thanks again.

To Jon Freeman. Five years ago I was invited on stage in the Meistersingerhalle, in Nuremberg, by the Dubliners to sing the song in duet with Sean Cannon, as I could't hear my monitor I had no idea which verses Sean was singing, and Paddy met the barrell many more times than usual, it was probably the longest version of The Sick Note ever heard, you are not alone.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,macca
Date: 13 May 02 - 03:06 AM

At the same Oxford Union dinner, Hoffnung related a terrific tale about the answers to enquiries regarding holidays in the Dolomites. I recall the "... regret that I cannot abide your auto.." and "... a French widow in every room". How about it.... has anybody ever tried to work those into a song? And if so, where is it?

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 13 May 02 - 02:44 AM

I was wondering about "simple song" too... The song has gone horribly wrong on me on the odd occassion and poor old Paddy's been left stranded in mid air...

Jon

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 13 May 02 - 01:55 AM

Pat, great song, which I have recorded with full attribution to yourself. Please e-mail me at [e-mail] to discuss royalties.

Yours gratefully,

Seamus Kennedy

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 12 May 02 - 05:12 PM

Simple song?????

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Pat Cooksey. Germany.
Date: 12 May 02 - 03:44 PM

Thanks from you all, it's amazing how far a simple song can travel.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 12 May 02 - 02:05 PM

We've just had an excerpt from the Hoffnung rendition on BBC Radio 4's Pick of the Week - it seems there was an appreciation of the Tales of Gerard Hoffnung on Radio 3 last Monday night. Harry Enfield was saying that he didn't think the Barrel of Bricks was very funny when he first heard it, but Hoffnung grew on him later.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Gerard.
Date: 12 May 02 - 12:49 PM

Pat sang this song regularly when he lived in Dunmore East in Waterford, great to hear he's still around. His Rally Song is still popular here.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Harold Evers.
Date: 12 May 02 - 07:58 AM

Gerard Hoffnung's Oxford Union address was based on an article from the Manchester Guardian, the story was told by an American naval officer to his crew as an example of one of his men returning late from leave. This story in turn was taken from the Readers Digest in 1940, in 1937 Laurel and Hardy used the idea in the film Way out West. The story with illustration appeared in an English joke book dated 1918, and was known in the english music halls from this time. Pat Cooksey's song Paddy and the barrell, the Sick Note, etc, dates from 1969, and is known worldwide, under all recorded titles I have heard the words are Cooksey's original, based on this old story, but introducing the Irish element, a superb example of songwriting. Stan Laurel appeared in the english music halls before emigrating to America, perhaps this is where the sketch began.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: C-flat
Date: 12 May 02 - 04:43 AM

Thankyou Noreen!

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: paddymac
Date: 12 May 02 - 03:51 AM

I have found this song to be a fun audience participation number. I get the audience clapping to establish a tempo, and then do it a capella. Just getting the tempo going can be fun, and funny. Our crowds always seem to enjoy it. During a benefit show last summer, I got the crowd to tap quarters on the table instead of clapping, then "passed the plate" to pick up the quarters. I try to pick a time when there are several folks who are neither sober nor drunk, but in that fun place inbetween, and I always dedicate it to "everyone who has ever had to earn their living by the sweat of their brow."

Thanks, Pat, for a great contribution to the betterment of liffe.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Hannes. Germany.
Date: 11 May 02 - 06:00 PM

The dubliners made this song popular in Germany and I heard them sing it first in Munich nearly twenty years ago, they always credit pat as the writer.Pat Cooksey is very popular in my region and I saw him play two years ago at the Bardentreffen in Nurnberg with Sean Cannon in front of many thousands of people, it was one of the best concerts I ever heard, Pats a great singer and songwriter.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Noreen
Date: 11 May 02 - 03:21 PM

C-flat, go to the version of the lyrics in the DT: WHY PADDY'S NOT AT WORK TODAY (Excuse Note) (Pat Cooksey) and at the bottom you will find click to play.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: michaelr
Date: 11 May 02 - 03:15 PM

Wow - it's great to hear from the author of this very funny song, which I have been singing every St Patrick's Day for years!

I first heard it on the Shanachie video "Kevin Burke & Michael O'Domhnaill In Concert", where it's listed as "Barrel of Bricks".

Thanks, Pat, for contributing to this forum. I've always had you listed as the author.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 11 May 02 - 03:01 PM

The Sick Note is in the DT, and the tune is there too.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 11 May 02 - 01:51 PM

Packie Byrne sang it at the (English) National Folk Festival last month, to a very appreciative audience.

Kitty

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: C-flat
Date: 11 May 02 - 01:07 PM

Can anyone tell me where I can hear "the sick note"? I'm familiar with the lyrics but not the tune.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,dave4guild
Date: 11 May 02 - 01:04 PM

It was great to hear from Pat Cooksey after a gap of some years.I used to play in the Dyer's Arms in the 70's with Pat and lots of other musicians including Sean Cannon and The Furies and know that Pat has written lots of other songs, all of them excellent, many of them very funny. We had a re-union of the Dyer's Crowd in Coventry in March, where the music & ale flowed,just like old times! All my best wishes to them and the folks at Upton, particularly in the Muggery. Dave Bennett

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Mr Red
Date: 11 May 02 - 12:41 PM

Thanks for correcting my misconception. I was told Noel Murphy was the "composer" though I arrived at it in full knowledge of the "Debate at the Oxford Union" LP too.
I would love to know what inspired Gerrad Hoffnung too.

Subject: Origins: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Pat Cooksey. Germany.
Date: 11 May 02 - 11:54 AM

Forgot to mention my new website is under construction at the moment, my biography is available at www.patcooksey.com This gives a bit more information about the early days of the song.
The letter in the readers digest was indeed from a naval officer telling a similar story, I don't have the music hall details to hand but I have seen it mentioned as far back as 1917.
The song PADDY STOLE THE ROPE is not the same song as mine, but tells of similar misfortune.
The quote from me in 1996 is correct, but it was me who tried to compete with Neil Armstrong in the Skillet Pot folk club in Birmingham.
When my website is complete all other known titles will be listed, I cannot remember them all at the moment, but some others are Paddys Lamentation, The Excuse Letter, Paddy and the Rope, Paddy and the Bricks, Brendan and the Bricks, and Paddys Calamity, there are also two versions in German as the Dubliners have made the song very famous here, in my own concerts in Germany the audiences love the song although they must know it backwards by now.
I hope finally to visit the U.S.A. later in the year and sing the song myself.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 11 May 02 - 11:21 AM

Regardless of history, this one has got to be the funniest folk song I know. Thanks for writing it!!

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Abby Sale
Date: 11 May 02 - 10:31 AM

Pat: Thank you for your post and setting the record straight of it. This is one of the few great classic modern songs that have certainly gone into tradition. (No dis. to your copyright.)

The other remarkable thing about the song is that it it one of the most-titled songs in the world. You mention: Paddy and the Barrell (original), The Sick Note, Murphy and the Bricks, Dear Boss, The Bricklayers Song. I also have: The Sick Letter; The Barrel Song; Why Paddy's Not at Work Today; Why Yassir's Not at Work Today; The Excuse Note; Paddy's Excuse; A letter from a bricklayer in Golders Green to the firm for whom he worked; Bricklayer's Accident Report

Any more? You mention some knowledge of over 20 titles-- perhaps some others can list a few.

=============

Then we have the following item which you may wish to verify:

On 9th February 1996, Pat Cooksey ...introduced it as follows: Quote, I wrote this song back in 1969 for a friend of mine, Sean Cannon, who was working on a building site and Sean was getting a bit of a name for himself as a singer... When we arrived at the club we did not realise that Neil Armstrong had chosen that precise moment to take his first steps on the moon and nobody turned up at the club at all. Sean did not sing this song that night but has sung it many, many times since.

===============================

Last (and, again, just for the nitpicking of it to better understand this great song) Sam Hinton writes that "It was generally cited as an actual letter that had been received by some government agency, and I remember reading it somewhere around 1937. In 1940 it appeared in READER'S DIGEST as an actual letter supposed to have been received by a naval officer from an enlisted man who was explaining why he had overstayed his leave;. this story had the victim working on a silo on his parents' farm."

Sam then credits both you and Hoffnung for reducing the story to its essential brilliance. I agree. It even goes over in Orlando, Florida and little else I sing does.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 11 May 02 - 09:22 AM

See this earlier discussion for  How Paddy Stole The Rope.  There are also links to a broadside example at the Bodleian and to sheet music of 1885, credited to Fred Albert and Frank Egerton, at the Library of Congress.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 11 May 02 - 09:09 AM

There's a song called "When Paddy Stole the Rope" which has some of the same ides - that may be the musichall one in question

Regards

p.s. Pat - been back to Ennis lately? Plenty of singing there still.

Subject: RE: the sick note/ murphy and the bricks.
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 11 May 02 - 08:48 AM

Well, from one who has been known to sing it (though I'll NEVER be competent enough as a Singer to record it - or anything else!) I say a big 'thanks', Pat, for a great song!

& yes, please stick around!