Lyr Add: Taglioni (from Len Graham)

Subject: Lyr Add: TAGLIONI (from Len Graham)
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 01 Sep 98 - 06:44 AM

This version was collected by Len Graham, a fine Ulster singer, from an old man called John Loughran, in the 60's.The Notes are Len's. I have no independent confirmation of them!

Taglioni

A fashion's coming out they say, in fact for every season.
They're getting so innumerous that I can't tell what's the reason
There's one came out the other day, ha, ha, but it was bonny
It was my father's long-tailed shirt and we called it Taglioni!

Oh titty fol lol tol lor a lol, titty fol lol tol loney
It was my father's long-tailed shirt and we called it Taglioni!

One day as I went out to skate, the ice was rough and stony
And the ice it bent, so in I went - and I wet my Taglioni!

Oh a pretty maiden was standing by and they called her Miss Maloney
She said "Come into the house me boy and dry your Taglioni!"

She sat me down upon the chair, the fire was burning bonny
She says "Sit back a bit me lad, or you'll burn your Taglioni!"

Well this fair maid she had a dog and I think they called him Tony
There wasn't a time that I kissed the wee girl but he bit me Taglioni!

Well when I get money of my own,I'll buy a trap and pony.
I'll hire a man to wash me trap and he'll brush me Taglioni!

Notes
The name Taglioni is to ballet what you might say Chippendale is to furniture. This originally Italian family dominated the international ballet scene in the late 18th and most of the 19th century. Marie Taglioni (1804-84) became the most important ballerina of the romantic movement and the name is immortalised in music by the "Taglioni Polka" by J. Strauss, as well as by this song.
Marie Taglioni became quite a cult figure and her surname was used as an appendage to all kinds of trendy gear in the period and the character in this song seems to have been bang up to date with fashion!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr. Add. : Taglioni
From: Zorro
Date: 01 Sep 98 - 07:58 AM

Thanks for the lyrics Martin. I've always liked that song. I heard it first on "Thistle and Shamrock" and Fiona Ritchie described a Taglioni as like a tam with a bill.. True or no..?? Zorro.

Subject: RE: Lyr. Add. : Taglioni
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 06 Sep 98 - 06:34 PM

To me, "tam" is short for "tam-o-shanter". From the description in the song, it would be a funny place to wear a hat!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr. Add. : Taglioni
From:
Date: 07 Sep 98 - 03:34 AM

Martin - Thanks for adding this. I found it very hard to understand on Sean Keane's CD. Where do Len Graham's notes come from? Does he do a version, and where? - Susanne

Subject: RE: Lyr. Add. : Taglioni
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 07 Sep 98 - 03:58 AM

Susanne,

About three years ago, Len published a tape of field recordings he had made over the years - mostly older singers. It came complete with a booklet of notes , words etc. Can't remmeber what it was called at the moment but you could certainly get it through John Moulden's "Ulstersongs" operation - there's a link in the Links page for members. Taglioni was one of the songs on the tape.

A quick Alta Vista search confirms the ballet connection!

Regards

p.s. Len does, indeed, sing the song himself - but I'm not sure if he has recoded it.

Subject: Lyr Add: TAGLIONI COAT (from Bodleian)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Jul 07 - 01:19 AM

From Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, Harding B 14(168).

TAGLIONI COAT
Tune, "Umbrella Courtship"
W. Jackson and Son (Birmingham), "between 1842 and 1855."

I once was shabby, low, and mean;
Loved knock-'em-downs and skittles;
Could smoke a second-hand dudeen;
Thought trotters dainty victuals;
But now such things I never eats.
I've cut each vulgar crony,
And lounges through the parks and streets
Wrapped in a Taglioni.

Cigar in mouth, I'm known in all
The fashionable quarters.
There very often words will fall
From London's fairest daughters,
Such as, "O, what a shape and air!"
Although I'm rather bony,
My figure quite compact appears,
Wrapped in a Taglioni.

One chilly day not long ago,
I met a sad disaster,
When on the Serpentine to show
Myself a skating master.
I circles cut. The ice gave way,
Transparent, but not stony.
It cracked, gave way, I tumbled
And soaked my Taglioni.

I flounced about, with ... [illegible]
I just contrived to float did,
Until they kindly dragged me through,
The bottom of a boat did.
A lady pitied my distress
And said, "I've lots of money.
You at my house may change your dress
And dry your Taglioni."

I did, and while before the grate
My toggery was drying,
Her face, her furniture, her plate,
I constantly was eyeing.
But when to talk of love I tried,
In accents sweet as honey,
She blushed, hung down her head, and sighed,
"You'll burn your Taglioni."

I caught her hand, drooped on one knee,
And plied her well with flattery,
Until, "Dear youth, my heart," said she,
"You've stormed with cupid's battery."
We are married now, a happy pair.
I keeps a shay and pony.
A flunky, too, to curl my hair,
And brush my Taglioni.

God bless the ladies, one and all,
For they're angelic creatures.
Married, single, short, or tall,
I love their charming features.
All you who'd gain a bride with posh,
And rise by matrimony,
Don't sport a blouse or mackintosh,
But try a Taglioni.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Taglioni (from Len Graham)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 16 Jul 07 - 02:38 AM

Thanks for that, Jim.

To tidy up: the version collected by Len Graham was published in "It's of my Rambles", in 1993.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Taglioni (from Len Graham)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 07:03 PM

Just came across a Youtube version of Len singing this one:
Click here

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Taglioni (from Len Graham)
From: GUEST,Michael McNicholas
Date: 05 Oct 15 - 04:38 PM

Thanks to all for the wealth of information here over the years.

I came to know this song through Seán Keane's version (which he spells "Taglione") and for 20 years now, what seems to me must be a mondegreen in the first verse has been driving me crazy. I wonder if anyone can properly hear it and set me right.

Here is the song as taken from Keane's "All Heart No Roses" off of Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGw26J1FyXI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGw26J1FyXI

For 20 years, I have heard him singing the first verse thus:

When I was young and low in mien and lived down in the valley/
With twitty moon and eggs Eileen I went to Enniskillen/
But now I'm gettin' old and grey, give off all falderone/
Smoke second-handed cigarettes and wear me taglione.

Sure the first and fourth lines must be fine, and if we grant "falderone" is poetic license for "falderal" (meaning nonsense) the third line passes muster as well. But what to make of the second line? Is Twitty Moon a person's name? Eggs Eileen's friend, perhaps? And what are they doing in the company of the singer on his way to Enniskillen?

Can anybody make more sense than I have with this? I am thankful in advance.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Taglioni (from Len Graham)
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 06 Oct 15 - 04:28 AM

Sean Keane recorded a version of "Taglioni" when he was a member of the London / Irish band "Shegui", around 1980, I would think. I'll post his lyrics here soon.