Lyr Add: Irish songs about balls, wakes, soirees

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Irish songs about balls, wakes, soirees
From: MartinRyan
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 08:47 AM

Used to hear that one regularly at a session I sang at for many years. I'll see if I can plug any of the gaps...

Regards

Subject: Lyr Add: FINNIGAN'S BALL (Bert Lee)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 08:23 AM

We already have:

FINNEGAN'S WAKE
KELLIGREW'S SOIREE
LANIGAN'S BALL
PHIL THE FLUTHER'S BALL
THE RAGMAN'S BALL
THE NIGHT OF THE RAGMAN'S BALL
BILLY JOHNSON'S BALL
STEVE O'DONNELL'S WAKE
MICK MCGILLIGAN'S BALL
THE NIGHT PAT MURPHY DIED

Anybody know any more?

Anyway, I have this to add to the collection, transcribed from The Virtual Gramophone:

(There are several gaps, indicated by "..." where I was unable to decipher the lyrics. Your corrections are welcome.)

FINNIGAN'S BALL
(Bert Lee, 1916)
(As sung by Lyle Evans in a recording released 1923.)

1. Michael Finnigan gave a ball
Down at ... old town hall.
We drove in cabs to the festive scene.
I took a couple but I ran between.
Oh, what a gathering we had there!
Oh, what a gathering, I declare!
Patsy Sullivan looked a wreck
'Cause he had a gathering upon his neck.
Down at Finnigan's ball, what a night of jollity!
Finnigan's ball, dancing all around!
We were ... social one and all
Till the call came out at Finnigan's ball.

2. Old Miss Melontree ...
She hadn't had a kiss since Lord knows when.
She bought a mask and went to the dance.
... was her only chance.
Set out to dance with Mike Muldoon.
Out on the stairs they began to spoon.
He spat in her face as he gave her a kiss
And said, "Heaven help the sailors on a night like this!"
Down at Finnigan's ball, ...
Finnigan's ball, playing in the band.
He was so thin and lean and small
That he fell through his trumpet at Finnigan's ball.

3. We had supper with lots to eat.
Sure, we'd the finest whiskey neat,
But there was trouble in store, oh, dear,
For Barmy Flynn drank Flannigan's beer.
Mrs. Bull had ...
She ate twenty-seven buns that night.
"These buns are nice," said Mrs. Bull,
"I couldn't eat another cause I'm too ... full."
Down at Finnigan's ball, little Mrs. Rafferty
Finnigan's ball, ... a dance,
But she slipped on the stairs and had a fall,
And she broke her promise at Finnigan's ball.

4. Clancy hired some evening clothes.
Where he got 'em from, goodness knows.
He donned that evening dressed with pride.
There was room for another twenty-six inside.
Clancy did a foolish thing:
He tied his trousers up with string.
String it broke and we all got a shock,
For down with his wallet came his ... stock.
Down at Finnigan's ball, that broke up the evening.
Finnigan's ball, then we said goodnight;
And here's to the health of the Finnigans all,
And here's to the very next Finnigan's ball!