Lyr ADD: Mrs. McGrath (University-Dubliners)

Subject: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: AuneK
Date: 03 Dec 98 - 07:23 AM

The Dubliners recorded a version of Mrs. McGrath, but instead of a son beeing sendt to the war, they make fun of Ciarán who is going to Dublin to study.

Does anyone know this song ?? If you know the lyrics, pleas help me

AuneK, Norway

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: AndreasW
Date: 03 Dec 98 - 07:54 AM

The only song from the Dubliners with McGrath in the title that I know about is
Master McGrath
which is about an Irish dog winning a race in England.
I know two Dubliner-songs with a McGrath or McGraw mentioned in the text:
Eileen Og
The Kerry Recruit
Is the song you are looking for one of those? I could give you the lyrics for them.
cu,
Andreas

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: Harry O
Date: 03 Dec 98 - 02:34 PM

A song eminently usable for p[arody. cf. the version starting:- To Mrs. Mary Tack, oul' Lloyd George said, "I will make a Black and Tan out of your son Ted With a mixed-up suit and his Glengarry hat. Now, Mrs. Mary Tack, wouln't you like that?" With a toor-eye-a, fol-de-diddle-a et. Does anyone know the rest of it ? Harry O

Subject: Lyr Add: MRS. MCGRATH
From: Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin
Date: 03 Dec 98 - 04:53 PM

The Dubliners did a version of the original as "The Kerry Recruit", where Mrs. McGrath's boy loses his leg, on an early album with Bobby Casey in place of Luke Kelly at that time. However, the one you want is the parody with Ciaran Bourke doing the singing (but not changing the name of Mrs. McGrath).

(Spoken introduction by Ronnie Drew)

Ciaran is the only member of the group whose father spent money to give him a university education. And would you believe that this is the result of it?

"O Mrs. McGrath," Dr. Tierney did brag,
"Send your son up to college where he can study ag.
He'll get a Volkswagen car and a tenner a week flat.
Mrs. McGrath, wouldn't you like that?"

Wid yer too ry aa, fol the diddle da
Too ry oo ry oo ry aa

Now Mrs. McGrath came from County Clare,
And for 47 or more years she'd lived there.
She was a milkin' cows and a feedin' pigs
To keep ould Ciaran in his Dublin digs.

But then one day, what a terrible shame,
As she swept out the kitchen now a letter came.
It bore bad news which was not expected.
Ciaran had failed four times and was now rejected.

(Spoken by Ciaran)
So Ciaran then wrote back to Daddy, and he said, "Dear Daddy . . .

It wasn't the work and it wasn't the strain,
And it wasn't on your own darling son that lay the blame.
But when I came up from Clare I was an innocent lad,
But the fellers in the digs they drove me to the bad.

O, I tried to stay in and work at night.
Sure, the fellers in the digs took me out in the spite.
And when you sent me my fees, now what do you think?
Sure, I spent all the money on the women and the drink.

Now the moral of the story is plain and clear -
Stay away from the women and keep off the beer.
And if you've got a son on the farm,
Keep the young pup there where he'll be out of harm.

Shoh slaynt,

Bobby Bob

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 28-Jan-02.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin
Date: 03 Dec 98 - 06:33 PM

Just to correct some things that didn't seem quite right when I was writing it, but now I've put my finger on why.

First of all, The Kerry Recruit was on a 1965 album 'The Dubliners in Concert', recorded at Cecil Sharp House in London in December 1964, where Bobby Lynch (not Casey - silly me) was with the group in place of Luke Kelly.

The Kerry Recruit is a different song - same theme/basic story, but that's the one made popular by Seumus Ennis:

At the age of 19 I was diggin the land
With me brogues on me feet and me spade in me hand.
And says I to meself, "Such a pity to see
Such a fine strapping lad spreadin turf round Tralee."

With me toorumenya, etc.

Mrs McGrath is a different song,

"O Mrs McGrath," the Sergeant said,
"Would you like to make a soldier out of your son, Ted?"

The Dubliners performed a version (Trad, arr Dominic Behan) on a 1968 album, Drinkin' & Courtin'.

Sorry about the infelicities. Glad of the opportunity to correct them first!

Shoh slaynt reesht,

Bobby Bob

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: AuneK
Date: 04 Dec 98 - 09:03 AM

Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin Thaks a lot

That was the one I was looking for !!!

Again Thanks a lot

AuneK, Norway

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: Big Mick
Date: 04 Dec 98 - 09:45 AM

Bobby,

Could you help me with your close, I believe it was in Irish, but spelled phonetically.

Mick

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: Philippa
Date: 04 Dec 98 - 02:16 PM

In case Bobby doesn't reply, it's Manx, which using a spelling system based on English - even though English spelling is not at all consistent phonetically. Irish would be 'slán leat' for goodbye (health/well-being to you). I don't know Manx Gaelic, but Scots Gaelic often uses the preposition "ri" in places where Irish uses "le"; thus "ris" (reesht) instead of "leat". Hopefully Bobby will tell us more.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin
Date: 04 Dec 98 - 02:45 PM

Yes, Manx orthography is quite distinct from the other Gaelic languages. There's been talk of changing it from time to time. However, there is the Bible and Apocryphya and the Book of Common Prayer in Manx, and quite a long history of writing, particularly long, sacred songs called 'carvals'. There's also a lot of folk music, including songs in Manx. It would be difficult to leave all that behind and switch to a more Irish or Scottish spelling system.

In Ireland a few years ago, we gave a book of Manx songs to an RTE producer, who looked askance at them to start with. He came back the next day and said he'd taken a stab at saying them out loud, and imagined an Irish speaker from Donegal saying the words, and he realised he could follow it.

Unable to resist a chance to promote Manx music and song, on the Green Linnet label, there's a CD of music by Manx harper, Charles Guard, including five or so tracks of tunes with a Manx provenance. I play my tin whistle on three of them. When first released on vinyl a good few years ago, RTE made it their record of the week.

In the past couple of years, a young lady called Emma Crhistian has been making a career for herseld singing in Manx, and playing Manx material on harp and recorder. I don't know how generally available her CD, 'Ta'n Dooid Çheet', is, but it's been very well received. Emma has been to festivals in the USA and Europe, and is proving very popular.

There's a lot of music happening in Mann, including song writing in Manx Gaelic and new pieces in a traditional mode being added all the time, so it's very alive.. uses the same format for the likes of 'slán leat', which comes out as 'slane lhiat' in Manx spelling.

'Shoh slaynt' would be 'seo slainte' in Irish, and 'reesht' is the 'ris', as in again.

There are probably a number of differences in use of prepositions. The only one that springs to mind just now is in welcoming. Where Irish (and Scots Gaidhlig?) uses 'failte roimh', Manx uses 'failt erriu', which would be 'failte oraibh' in Irish.

We've just had Feailley Ghaelgagh, a Manx Gaelic Festival here in Mann, and enjoyed several visiting singers and musicians from Scotland and Ireland, including Lillis O Laoire. It was very good - feer vie; an-mhaith; glé mhath.

Gura mie mooar eu son yn sym euish er y Ghaelg - thank you for your interest in the Manx Gaelic.

Mish, lesh firrinys,

Bobby Bob

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: Annraoi
Date: 04 Dec 98 - 07:40 PM

An t an Bob Carswell a bhíodh ah léamh na nuachta as Ghaelk blianta o shoin ar Raidio Ellan Vannin ? Annraoi.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: Big Mick
Date: 04 Dec 98 - 08:03 PM

Fascinating Bobby. I am in your debt for the lesson. A great contribution to our community. Please promote more Manxian music and poetry. I am very interested.

Slan go foill,

Michea/l

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin
Date: 05 Dec 98 - 01:15 PM

Shen kiart, Annraoi, as ta mee foast jannoo ny naightyn myr ayrn jeh'n chlaare aym fastyr Jedoonee er Radio Vannin, 'Claare ny Gael'.

Bobby Bob

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: GUEST,super shy
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 08:36 AM

does anyone know the rest of this verse from "Mrs.McGrath"

"O mother dear dont take on so

I got twenty pound for every toe"

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 09:14 AM

Anyone have the lyrics to the Mrs McGrath parody, "Biddy McGrath"? The only snippets that I can vaguely remember are:

I'll tell you a story that will give you a shock
All about a murder at the Ringsend dock
The (person in question?) was Biddy McGrath
And she strangled two sailors with the straps of her bra

Another verse goes

Now Biddy came home at a quarter past one
She was happy and contented at the job she'd done
She told the story to her ma and her da
Saying thanks be to Jaysus that I wore me bra

And there's a line (last verse?)

Keep a hand on your knickers and another on your bra

I have memories of it being sung raucously in the Slievemore Hotel, Achill Island twenty odd years ago.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: Mrrzy
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 09:48 AM

And back to the original song, what is the line that goes (Something) My son Ted (something something) Because he'd run from a cannon ball?

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: ard mhacha
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 01:06 PM

Beautiful lyrics Derrymacash, I remember having an LP which included that version, it came out around the early 1970`s. The Clancy Brothers recorded the "nice" version. Slan Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: ard mhacha
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 02:32 PM

AuneK,Not too good at this but just discovered Mrs McGrath on http://sunsite.utk.edu/civil-war/aboutcwarhp It is a very good US Civil War site and includes numerous songs with music. Good hunting, Slan Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 06:41 PM

Here's a version of Mrs McGrath that Alex Campbell made up in 1961:

"On this tour the tune of Mrs McGrath was in my mind the whole time, but the only thing I could remember was that he got his two fine legs blown off by a cannonball. I made up this parody."

Mrs McGrath (acc Bottle of Guinness or unacc.

Mrs McGrath tae the sarjeant said: "Are ye tryin' tae tak the mickey out o' my son Ted? Tae go back to tae the army he's no willin' Why ye send for the man they call Mister Macmillan? With my tooralay, faldiriddle a, Toorai-oorai-oorai-ay, With my tooralay, faldiriddle a, Tootao-oorai-oorai-ay"

The sarjeant said to Mrs McGrath "He'll have tae go back, fur that's the law, In a khaki suit he'll look tight fine An' we'll send him off tae the firin' line."

"Goodbye my son, so brave and bold Tak yer long woolen drawers they say this war is cold, And when yer off in Germanie Make sure you send yer allowance tae me."

A year's gone by and Ted's come back, Sits doon wi' his mither tae hae a crack She says: "Wur ye stupit or wur ye daft, Tae get yer two fine legs frae the knees cut aff."

"Oh mither dear I felt so queer, It must have been some o' that German beer, Fur when I went tae see the Russian reds, I fell aff the wa' an' I broke my legs.

"An now I've been rehabilitated It'd be an awfy hard job if I'd been decapitated On civvy street I'm doing gie well Wi' me two tin legs frae the National Health."

(From Frae Glesca Toon, the songs and stories of Alex Campbell)

Subject: Lyr Add: MRS. MCGRATH (Alex Campbell)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 06:48 PM

And with the line breaks that I left out. And a couple of mistakes corrected.)

Mrs McGrath (acc Bottle of Guinness or unacc.

Mrs McGrath tae the sarjeant said:
"Are ye tryin' tae tak the mickey out o' my son Ted?
Tae go back to tae the army he's no willin'
Why don't ye send for the man they call Mister Macmillan?
With my tooralay, faldiriddle a, Toorai-oorai-oorai-ay,
With my tooralay, faldiriddle a, Tootao-oorai-oorai-ay"

The sarjeant said to Mrs McGrath
"He'll have tae go back, fur that's the law,
In a khaki suit he'll look right fine
An' we'll send him off tae the firin' line."

"Goodbye my son, so brave and bold
Tak yer long woollen drawers they say this war is cold,
And when yer off in Germanie
Make sure you send yer allowance tae me."

A year's gone by and Ted's come back,
Sits doon wi' his mither tae hae a crack
She says: "Wur ye stupit or wur ye daft,
Tae get yer two fine legs frae the knees cut aff."

"Oh mither dear I felt so queer,
It must have been some o' that German beer,
Fur when I went tae see the Russian reds,
I fell aff the wa' an' I broke my legs.

"An now I've been rehabilitated
It'd be an awfy hard job if I'd been decapitated
On civvy street I'm doing gie well
Wi' me two tin legs frae the National Health."

(From Frae Glesca Toon, the songs and stories of Alex Campbell)

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 08:48 AM

Harking back to the "College" parody, the Dr. Tierney referred to was President of University COllege Dublin for many years.

Regards

Subject: Lyr Add: BIDDY McGRATH
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 09:28 AM

A telephone call home did the trick!

BIDDY McGRATH

I'll tell you a story, that'll give you a shock
It's all about a murder at the Ringsend dock
The girl in question was Biddy McGrath
She strangled two sailors with the straps of her bra

Chorus
With me too-rye-a, etc.

They tried to get her to drop her knickers
But clever as they were still they couldn't trick her
She remembered the story told by her ma
And she quietly untied the straps of her bra

Chorus

She tied one around the big fellow's head
And she flung him in the Liffey like a crust of bread
The little fella laughed, and he went ha ha
So she stuffed his mouth with the rest of her bra

Chorus

Biddy went home at a quarter to one
She was happy and contented at the job she'd done
She told the story to her ma and her da
Saying "Thanks be to Jaysus that I wore me bra"

Chorus

So all you girls that like sailors at night
Make sure that the straps of your bra are tight
Remember the story of Biddy McGrath
Keep a hand on your knickers and the other on your bra

Chorus

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: GUEST,Annraoi
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 10:02 PM

As a callow youth - was I ever other? -there was a parody beginning:-
"Now, Mrs. Mary Tack," oul' LLoyd George said
"I will make a Black and Tan out of your son Ted.
"With a mixed up suit and a Glengarry hat.
: Now, Mrs. Mary Tack, wouldn't you like that?"
With a toor aye ay, fol the diddle day
Toor aye, toor aye, toor aye ay.

And so it continued. Unfortunately I remember only fragments. Has anyone out there the rest?
Annraoi

Subject: Lyr Add: MASTER MCGRATH
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Aug 01 - 05:46 PM

http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/tollington/9/gentlemans.htm

Here's another version of Master McGrath that ard mhacha sent me - it's not so much a variant as a sequel, "Master McGrath II"- because the Master won the Waterloo Cup again in 1871, and this mighty be about it. I suppose it'd be possible to look up it up somewhere, and see if Lobelia was up against him that time.

ard mhacha says he got it out of an old booklet on Lord Lurgan`s Castle.

All eager they stood on famed Waterloo,
To see what their boasted Lobelia could do,
But Master McGrath as he cut through the air.
Soon showed them the blood of the winner was there.

As swift as an arrow when shot from a bow,
He passed their Lobelia and gave them to know,
That nothing in England or Scotland awa`,
Was ever yet able to pass Master McGrath.

For Babs was brought on and thousands laid down,
That Scotland would bring home the prize of renown,
But scarce had they slipped our brave Master McGrath,
Than Waterloo echoed to Erin go Bragh.

The victory cheer was loud in proclaiming,
That Master McGrath like a swallow was leading,
For yonder he had it so we may give up,
Once more to Lord Lurgan the Waterloo Cup.

(Lobelia was the English champion dog and Babs at the Bowster the Scottish. Slan Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Aug 01 - 05:51 PM

And here is a picture of the Waterloo Cup of the time, with all the gentry on horses, and the dogs. I don't know if the Master is in the picture, but he well might be.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ : Mrs. McGrath
From: ard mhacha
Date: 19 Aug 01 - 05:30 AM

McGrath, The black dog with the whiteblaze on his chest in the centre of the painting is a good likeness of Master McGrath, but then again, you know what they say about dogs and irishmen, they all look alike. Slan Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs. McGrath
From: GUEST,Grace Wagner
Date: 06 Jul 15 - 01:27 PM

I found this recently...it's to the same tune that the Jolly Roger's use.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mBxIeGJ6su4