Lyr Req: The Half Door

Subject: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From:
Date: 06 Sep 03 - 07:02 PM

I believe this song was recorded by a traveling irish folk singer s in the 60's or 7o's.her name was margaret barry she played banjo as she sangthe song.      

       the first line goes .



          as i was walking down the road
          i spied an ..................
          hearths were swinging open wide
          y0ur welcome to the............

          god bless all here i kindly said
          a sweet coleen popped out her head
          god save y0u kindly sir she said
          come in and close the half door

          she'd a bowl of potatoes upon her knee

can not understand the accent on some of the words .

its a lovely song ....

can you help with the lyrics...sean mccarthy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: Big Tim
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 04:34 AM

I have a recording of Margaret Barry (1917-89) singing the song: however Maggie's pronunciation is, well, idiosyncratic, and I cannot make out many of the words. I don't have a printed version and a google search produced nothing. However if nobody can find the printed lyrics, I will transcribe as best I can and post them this evening, after my house has emptied of visitors and dogs!

The songs evokes many memories for me as I was born in a cottage with a half-door in Donegal, built in 1900. We never gave any thought as to its purpose and as all the old people are now gone, I'm reduced to an academic solution. The following is Professor E. Estyn Evans' comment in his book "Irish Folk Ways" (1957):

"The half-door is often regarded as peculiarly Irish but in fact it is an old-fashioned feature, which has lived longer in the western isle than in Great Britain. It is found in parts of the north of England, for example in miner's cottages in County Durham, and is said to be characteristic of Chinese houses.

In Ireland, the half-door serves to let in the light while keeping out unwanted animals, and it makes a convenient arm-rest for purposes of conversation or contemplation. This is how a country-man justified it to me 'A man standing at the door would be wasting time, but leaning on the half-door, he is just passing time'" !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 04:59 AM

Bonnie Shaljean may be able to help - IIRC she made an album with Packie Byrne called "The Half Door".

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: Brían
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 05:57 AM

I have the words Joe Heaney sang to it I could add later. I know there is a polka by the same name. is this the melody to this song?

Brían

Subject: Lyr Add: THE HALF DOOR
From: Brían
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 02:28 PM

THE HALF DOOR
^^
As I was walking down the road
I spied a cozy neat abode
With a half door swinging open wide
You're welcome and drop in here;
"God save all here," I kindly said
A sweet colleen popped up her head
"God save you kindly, sir," she said
"Come in and close the half-door."

She'd a basket placed upon her knees
'T was full of potatoes I could see
Every one of them carefully
She peeled before my eyes there;
She looked at me with a roguish smile
She said, "Sit down and rest awhile
Since you came back to Erin's isle
We never close the half-door."

She said, "Play the Shaskeen Reel
And I will make you happy feel."
She turned right upon her heel
And lifted off the half-door;
I played that tune with grace and style
With every note she winked and smiled
'Til she had my heart beguiled
While dancing on the half-door.

She said, "Now, Sean! You'll have to stay
Until I make a cup o' tay
And then you can be on your way
And I'll hang up the half-door."
She didn't have to ask me twice
Her currant cake and tay was nice
Before I left I kissed her twice
She leaned across the half-door.

Source: Ethnomusicology Archives, University of Washington

Brían

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: Brían
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 02:35 PM

Here is a link to the tune: HALF DOOR. Does it resemble Margaret Barry's?

Brían

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 03:07 PM

The tune posted by Brían isn't the same as the Maggie Barry song. There is a remastered version on the Voice of the People series. You might find the words a little easier to decipher in this recording, but I think ( having read Brian's post above ) that they are pretty much the same.
If I get time this week I will try to ABC the tune. No promises.
Mary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: Big Tim
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 04:01 PM

Brian's posted lyrics are almost identical to those sung by Margaret Barry.

Verse one, line four is different: the first part is the same, the second is "you're welcome to the CAN'T DECIPER (!).

Maggie also sings verses three and four in reverse order.

"Shaskeen" was a word I couldn't make out: I believe there is now an Irish band with that name.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: Brían
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 08:39 PM

The Shaskeen Reel is a great reel. I couldn't find a close enough word for it in my focloir gaeilge, so i won't go there. I would be very interested in the melody to this song.

Brían

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 08 Sep 03 - 02:31 PM

The version recorded by Packie and Bonnie was instrumental only (air then a jig version), though the sleeve notes make it clear that the same song is intended.

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 08 Sep 03 - 02:53 PM

Just to confirm what Mick said above - those are the words I always associated with the tune.

Packie was also born in a Donegal cottage with a half door - no longer standing, alas, but I remember seeing the remains of it years ago as a cattle-byre. Now even that is gone. He used to talk about people dancing on the half-door, plaiting St Brigid rush-crosses (I have one he made for me) and other customs likewise gone forever. He said (as Big Tim has already mentioned) the door was for "keeping the animals out and letting the fresh air in".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: Neighmond
Date: 08 Sep 03 - 07:06 PM

I have one in my kitchen-my grandfolks always called them "Dutch doors"

FWIW

Chaz

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: GUEST,Donal
Date: 08 Sep 03 - 11:23 PM

Our half-door, whatever it's original purpose, was used to keep the smaller children inside.
                                             Don.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: Brían
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 08:42 AM

I have heard that because tenants were taxed for each windows, half doors were also used as windows. I am still interested in the tune for this song.

Brían

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Half Door
From: GUEST, GEST
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 03:23 PM

Quoted from http://local.ie/general/music/hot_press/hp_longford.shtml

"The Shaskeen is a tributary of the river Inny, which you'll encounter as it wends its way around Lanesborough. The reel's title has now been borrowed by a Galway band that liked it so much they christened themselves with it."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: akenaton
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 04:42 PM

I have ....Somewhere an old 78 of "The McNulty Family" singing the Half Door.Unfortunately I dont have a turntable for the lyrics.
      Ake

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: David Ingerson
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 08:49 PM

I got the song from Liam Callen who learned it from Joe Heaney when he was in Seattle. Someone along the way made a few changes:

She said "Play up the Shaskeen Reel"...

'Til I brew up a cup o' tay

Now that I think about it, are those "up" phrases Americanisms?

I'll see if I can find the time to do an ABC of the tune.

It sure is a fun song to sing (and to listen to).

David

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: Brían
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 10:29 PM

Thank you, David.

Brían

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: Big Tim
Date: 10 Sep 03 - 02:35 AM

No, "up" in this context is borrowed from the Old World! For example, from the Scottish song "Maggie Lauder",

Well done quoth he,
play up says she,

This song dates from the 17th century!

Ake: I'd love to hear that old recording of the song by the McNulty Family and I still have a turntable! I also live in Dunoon! If you fancy it, please PM me!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: Frank Maher
Date: 10 Sep 03 - 08:39 AM

I have the Record of the Half Door by the McNulty Family.....
I'll send it by e-mail to anyone who wants it..
Frank

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: Brían
Date: 10 Sep 03 - 02:43 PM

Thanks, Frank.

Brían

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: Brían
Date: 12 Sep 03 - 09:14 AM

Refresh!

Brían

Subject: Tune Add: THE HALF DOOR
From: Brían
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 11:21 PM

Here is the abc Mary provided us with:

X: 1
T:The Half Door
M:6/8
L:1/8
Z:M Humphreys
K:ADorian
GF|E2EA2,A,|E2F2G2E|D2DG2,A,|B,2CD2D|E2EA2,A,|E2FG2A|G2ED2B,|A,3A,2 E|A2
AE2E|A2GE2F|G2FG2E|D2CB,2G,|A,2B,C2D|E2FG2A|G2ED2B,|A,3A,2||


I have been singing this song to this melody now(after lowering the key a fifth to suit my voice), and I have a question about the rythm of the melody for others who have heard the song. I can sing the song as the abc is written in a single jig and it will have a rythm much like SPANCILHILL, but I want to change the rythm to be more like a Kerry polka. Which if either is more correct?

Brían

Subject: Tune Add: THE HALF DOOR
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 19 Sep 03 - 04:42 PM

Here's a transcription (more or less) of Packie and Bonnie's tune for the air (ornamentation omitted) and the jig too (the playing of the air is very free, the jig strictly rhythmic). I've given Mary's version transposed to the same key for comparison (there are a few abc errors in the version as given above).

(On the subject of Packie and Bonnie: Once when they lived a few doors away from me in Kilburn I had a call from Bonnie to check the streets for a carrier bag of Packie's whistles - he'd put them on top of the car before they drove off to a gig and forgot about them. Much searching of roads, driveways and dustbins failed to find the bag).

Mick

---

X: 1
T:The Half Door - Air
M:6/8
L:1/8
S:Packie Byrne and Bonnie Shaljean LP The Half Door
Q:3/8=55
K:D Dorian
A2|A2-A/A/ D2-D/D/|A>Bc- c2 A|G>AC- C2 C|EFG-G3|
[M:2/4][L:1/8]zG EG|[M:6/8][L:1/8]A2-A/A/ D2-D/D/|A2 A/B/ c2 c|d>cB c2 E|D3-D2 c|
d2 d A2-A/A/|ddA- A2 A/B/|c d2 c A2|GEC-C2 A|
D2 E F2 F/G/|ABc- c2 d|d2 c/B/ c2 E|D2 D-D||

X: 2
T:The Half Door - Jig
M:6/8
L:1/8
S:Packie Byrne and Bonnie Shaljean LP The Half Door
Q:3/8=110
K:D Dorian
EG||A2 D FED|AGA c2 A|GAG EDC|ECE GEG|
A2 D FED|AGA c2 d|cAG AGE|D3 D2 c|
dAA dAA|dcd A2 B|c2 c AcA|GED C2 E|
DCD EFG|AGA c2 d|cAG AGE|D3 D3||

X: 3
T:The Half Door - Mary's
M:6/8
L:1/8
Z:M Humphreys
K:D Dorian % transposed from A Dor
cB|A2AD2D|A2Bc2A|G2GC2D|E2FG2G|A2AD2D|A2Bc2d|c2AG2E|D3D2 A|d2dA2A|
d2cA2B|c2Bc2A|G2FE2C|D2EF2G|A2Bc2d|c2AG2E|D3D2||

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 19 Sep 03 - 05:00 PM

Hee hee hee, I remember THAT, alright! The club was somewhere up the M1 and I had to drive home at top speed to pick up some other whistles (all I could manage to find was a single dust-ridden one under his bed) and then back again, all the while Packie managing to hold the stage with only his inimitable chat. We were so grateful to Mick for his sterling efforts. Made for a great story anyway - Packie got a lot of mileage out of that episode...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: Brían
Date: 19 Sep 03 - 10:07 PM

Thank you for the abcs and the stories. I know well what a treacherous place to leave things the roof of the car is.

Brían

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the halfdoor
From: ard mhacha
Date: 20 Sep 03 - 11:27 AM

I was speaking to a friend last week who lived near Margaret Barry in Laurencetown Co Down.
Margaret passed away there a couple of years ago, my friend told me that Margaret never closed the door of her home and she had many visitors, the good people of Laurencetown cared for Maggie during her last days.
It seems when she was well she never refused a request for a song, Margaret wasn`t too fussy about what formation the verses took, and when stumped for the words would always throw in a line or two of her own.
I seen her on a few occasions busking outside Gaelic football grounds.
She was well liked by the villagers and her funeral drew people from far and wide. Ard Mhacha.