Origins: Pat Reilly (Planxty)

Subject: Lyr Add: JOHNNY GALLAGHER (from Bodleian)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 11:59 PM

Here's one of the versions from a broadside in the Bodleian collection:

JOHNNY GALLAGHER

As I was going to Newry one day,
I met Sergeant Cairns by chance on the way.
Says he, "Johnny Gallagher, will you come along
To the sweet town of Newry for to take a dram?"

While sitting at the table and taking a dram,
Says he, "Johnny Gallagher, you're a handsome young man.
If you list and take the bounty and come along with me
To the sweet town of Antrim, strange faces you'll see."

"I may go where I will. I've got no one for to mourn.
My mother she is dead and she will never return.
My father's got married, and brought a wife home,
And to me he proves cruel and he does me disown."

He put his hand into his pocket. One shilling he drew.
"Take you this, Johnny Gallagher, in hopes you'll ne'er rue."
I took up the shilling and the bargain was made.
The ribbons were bought which made my cockade.

When you go to Waterford, there you must stand
Before your colonel, with your hat in your hand.
McRay and Pat Reily were a little too low,
And it's back to Gallgolly from this they must go.

Here's the sweet town of Antrim where I was born and bred,
To the sweet town of Leitrim where I've sported and played,
Where the beautiful fishes come rolling along,
Whilst the long day and the short night bring me to my home.

Bad luck to you, Cairns, wherever you be.
You are the first young man who ruined me,
For had you proved honest and learned me a trade,
I ne'er would have listed or wore a cockade.

God help the poor parents that rear a bad son.
They know not the danger that they have for to run,
For in a cold guard-house all night for to lie in,
Neither blankets or sheets for to roll themselves in.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Pat Reilly' (Planxty)
From: GUEST,^&*
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 06:37 PM

Heard John Faulkner singing a "Johnny Coughlin" variant of this last night - hadn't heard it for a long time. He recorded it on Kind Providence many years ago, IIRC.

Click here for a Newfoundland version which seems close to his.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Pat Reilly' (Planxty)
From: GUEST,^&*
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 06:32 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Pat Reilly' (Planxty)
From: Ernest
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 02:11 PM

Great song, Big Tim, thanks for reminding me. Does anyone know where (on the net, if possible)to find dots/chords?
Yours
Ernest

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Pat Reilly' (Planxty)
From: ard mhacha
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 01:47 PM

Big Tim, You are spot on regarding Andy Irvines singing of Pat Reilly, brilliant. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Pat Reilly' (Planxty)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 17 Aug 03 - 03:29 PM

Note the reference in Folktrax to Shield's SRT i.e. "Shamrock, Rose and Thistle" which lists some sources and summarises: It is a product of the nineteenth century Irish popular press.

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Pat Reilly' (Planxty)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 15 Aug 03 - 07:11 AM

Additions:

Johnny Gallacher

Johnny Gallagher

Johnny Gallocher

Johnnie Gallocher

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Pat Reilly' (Planxty)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 15 Aug 03 - 06:45 AM

A version (3 editions) is at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads:

Johnny Golicher

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Pat Reilly' (Planxty)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 15 Aug 03 - 06:41 AM

Info from folktrax:

JOHNNY GALLAGHER - "As I was a-walking to Newry one day" - meets Sergeant Kelby or Kelly - enlists at Antrim - ends up in guardhouse & curses his parents - ROUD#920 - GREIG-DUNCAN 1 p186 "John Gallagher" - JFSS 5:19 1915 p159 Broadwood: Mrs Joiner, Chiswell Green, Hertfordsh 1914 "Captain Galligan" - HENRY SOP #574/ HUNTINGTON 1990 pp80-81 "Pat Reilly" - HEALY OISB 1 pp91-92 BS (w/o) "Johnny Golicher" - PURSLOW FD 1974 p48 Hammond: Robert White, Dorchester, Dorset 1906 - FMJ 3:2 1975 pp155-6 Janet Blunt: Mrs Nation, Bathpool, Devon 1916-7 "Johnny Collishaw" - SHIELDS SRT 1981 p132-3 Eddie Butcher, Aughil, Co Derry 1966 (European Ethnic SRT-3) "Pat Reilly" & Bs facsimile: "Johnny Golicher" ("It being on a Monday morning") --- FOWKE TSO 1965 #17 pp46-7 O J Abbott, Ont 1958 - PEACOCK SNO 1965 2 pp469-470 Wm Stephens, Nfl 1959 "Johnny Coughlin" -- Mary DUFFY rec by Fred Hamer, Stockton, Co Durham 1968: VWML-003 1989 cass - tune: "Villikins" (William & Dinah)

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Pat Reilly' (Planxty)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 15 Aug 03 - 06:22 AM

Songs of the People

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Pat Reilly' (Planxty)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 15 Aug 03 - 06:20 AM

This is the version in Sam Henry's Song of the People (pp. 80-81):

Pat Reilly

Other titles: "John(nie)(y) Collishaw (Coughlin) (Golicher) (Gallac(g)her)."

Source not given.

s: An old song from the heart, "spelt by the unlettered muse," preserved here for old time's sake. In verse four the air is repeated for lines five and six.

It being on a Monday morning, it being our pay day,
I met Sergeant Jenkins at our going away;
Says he to Pat Reilly, 'You're a handsome young man,
We'll go down to John Kelly's, where we'll get a dram.'

And while we sat boozing and drinking our dram,
He says to Pat Reilly, 'You're a handsome young man,
I'd have you take the bounty, come along with me
To the sweet County Longford, strange faces you'll see.'

Oh, it's I took the bounty, the reckoning was paid,
The ribbons were brought, I got up the cockade;
It's early the next morning we all had to stand
Before our grand general with our hats in our hands.

He says to Pat Reilly, 'You're a little too low,
With some other regiment I'm afraid you must go.'
I may go where I will, I have no one to mourn,
For my mother she's dead and will never return;
My father's twice married, brought a stepmother home,
And she fairly denies me and does me disown.

It's not in the morning that I sing this song,
But it's in the cold evening when I walk my lone,
With my gun o'er my shoulder I bitterly weep
When I think of my beloved one that's now fast asleep.

My blessing on my mother, reared me neat and clean;
Bad luck to my father, made me serve the queen.
If he had been honest and learned me my trade,
I never would have listed or worn the cockade.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Pat Reilly' (Planxty)
From: Big Tim
Date: 15 Aug 03 - 04:42 AM

The words are in the DT, along with Planxty's less than helpful notes, which tell us nothing that we can't deduce from the lyrics. It's an absolutly wonderful anti-recruiting song, probably 19th century and vividly brought to life by a terrific interpretation from Andy Irvine.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Pat Reilly' (Planxty)
From: RolyH
Date: 14 Aug 03 - 05:24 PM

According to the sleeve notes of 'The Well Below The Valley' they learned it from Sam Henry's Northern Ireland collection 'Songs of the People'

The song is credited to 'Trad arr. Planxty'

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Pat Reilly' (Planxty)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 14 Aug 03 - 05:11 PM

Tim

Remind us of the song?

Regards

Subject: Origins: 'Pat Reilly' (Planxty)
From: Big Tim
Date: 14 Aug 03 - 04:35 PM

Anyone know anything about the origins of this song: date, composer, etc.