Origins/ADD: Lannigan's Ball / Lanigan's Ball

Subject: RE: Origins/ADD: Lannigan's Ball / Lanigan's Ball
From: beachcomber
Date: 24 Feb 20 - 07:20 AM

In Ireland, from a long time ago, to be "on - the - batter" meant to be on an extended drinking spree. That is what was indicated in the song, as the young man spent what money he was able to procure in this fashion until he could no longer afford to do so.

Subject: RE: Origins/ADD: Lannigan's Ball / Lanigan's Ball
From: michaelr
Date: 22 Feb 20 - 04:45 PM

My Dublin friend Sean used to sing "it slipped out and I put it back in again"...

Subject: RE: Origins/ADD: Lannigan's Ball / Lanigan's Ball
From: clueless don
Date: 21 Feb 20 - 06:23 AM

One more detail - I'm not sure if it's the folk process, or just willful ignorance on my part, but I always sing

"Six long months I spent in Dublin, learning the steps to Lannigan's Ball"

Don

Subject: RE: Origins/ADD: Lannigan's Ball / Lanigan's Ball
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Feb 20 - 05:19 PM

irish writers are good at word play and subtle, not something some yorkshire people are good at a yorkshireman calls a spade a spade, an irish man knows how to use it and describe its beauty

Subject: RE: Origins/ADD: Lannigan's Ball / Lanigan's Ball
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Feb 20 - 05:11 PM

battered is an irish term for dancing, so he danced till he had no money. battered also means getting drunk, so it has two possbilities, not just one as our yorkshire friend steve seems to be so definite about

Subject: RE: Origins/ADD: Lannigan's Ball / Lanigan's Ball
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 20 Feb 20 - 03:02 PM

In the context of the song it could only mean one thing, more or less as Jerry says; to put it politely he indulged himself without any regard for the consequences; or figuratively, he flattened his batteries perhaps. Possibly a local expression from Galway.

Subject: RE: Origins/ADD: Lannigan's Ball / Lanigan's Ball
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 20 Feb 20 - 02:17 PM

Doesn’t it just mean that he had frittered away all his money, on say wine, women and song, but then became fully solvent again after inheritance? A variation on Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out, but as soon as you back on your feet everyone wants to join the party.

Subject: RE: Origins/ADD: Lannigan's Ball / Lanigan's Ball
From: GUEST,Debi Simons
Date: 20 Feb 20 - 02:01 PM

Hello--I'm working on background essays for the "Letters from Ireland" suite arranged by Mark Brymer which includes "Lanigan's Ball." I'm trying to figure out what Jeremy Lanigan is doing when he "battered away 'till he hadn't a shillin.'" Does that just mean that he did hard manual labor until he was rescued by the death of his father and his inheritance? But if his father owned a farm and had money, why was his son broke? Is there some hint here that Jeremy is kind of a ne'er-do-well who only comes into money when his father isn't around to keep him away from it? Sorry if this is an obvious question--just trying to make the words clear to the singers.

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Origins: Lanigan's Ball
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 08 Jul 10 - 05:37 PM

Lannigan's Ball c1860 by D K Gavan, the Galway Poet, for the Music Hall artiste Harry Clifton. See the Harry Clifton thread.

Subject: Origins: Lanigan's Ball
From: GUEST,mcclellan28
Date: 08 Jul 10 - 08:29 AM

Anyone know when "Lanigan's Ball" was written? Prior to 1782?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lannigan's Ball / Lanigan's Ball
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 11 May 10 - 01:20 PM

Correction to my previous posting of 1.5.09. Of course 'Tramp, Tramp' is George Frederick Root, not Henry Clay Work. Pity, it rather spoiled a good pun. At least we got to the root of the matter. Sorry!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lannigan's Ball / Lanigan's Ball
From: clueless don
Date: 04 May 09 - 09:20 AM

Thank you, Steve!

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lannigan's Ball / Lanigan's Ball
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 01 May 09 - 07:53 PM

Tony Pastor was a schister who copyrighted other people's songs.
'Lannigan's Ball', like 'Rocky Road to Dublin' was written by D K Gavin of Galway and popularised all over Britain by Harry Clifton. Pastor in America nicked many of Harry Clifton's songs and the sheets are there on the Levy website. I would guess that Clifton put the music to it but he often used earlier tunes. 'Work, Boys, Work and be Contented' was set to 'Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, or The prisoner's Hope Song' by, yes you've guessed it, Work!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lannigan's Ball / Lanigan's Ball
From: clueless don
Date: 01 May 09 - 09:39 AM

This question just came up on an Irish Step Dancing message board, so I thought I would ask:

Does the tune to which "Lannigan's Ball" is sung have any names other than "Lannigan's Ball"?

The tune is similar in parts to the set dance tune "Hurry the Jug", but I wouldn't call it the same tune.

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lannigan's Ball
From: GUEST,vectis sans cookie
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 05:58 PM

Gurney is right The Bards version of this is, for me, the definitive version. Especially "Julia" on the bodhron.

Subject: Lyr Add: LANIGAN'S BALL (T Pastor, N Bryant)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 12:01 AM

Another version:

Transcribed from the sheet music images at The Library of Congress American Memory Collection:

LANIGAN'S BALL
Words, Tony Pastor. Music, Neil Bryant. 1863.

In the town of Athol lived one Jimmy Lanigan.
He bathered away till he hadn't a pound.
His father he died and made him a man again,
Left him a farm of ten acres of ground.
He gave a large party to all his relations
That stood beside him when he went to the wall;
So if you but listen, I'll make your eyes glisten
With the rows and the ruptions at Lanigan's ball.

CHORUS: Whack! Fal, lal, fal, lal, tal, ladedy;
Whack! Fal, lal, fal, lal, tal, ladedy.

'Twas meself had free invitations
For all the boys and girls I might ask.
In less than five minutes, I'd frinds and relations,
Singing as merry as flies round a cask.
Kitty O'Harra, a nate little milliner,
Tipt me the wink, and asked me to call.
Whin I arrived with Timothy Galligan,
Just in time for Lanigan's ball. CHORUS

Whin we got there, they were dancing the Polka,
All round the room in a quare whirligig;
But Kitty and I put a sthop to this nonsinse.
We tipt thim a taste of a nate Irish jig.
Oh! Mavrone, wasn't she proud of me?
We bathered the flure till the ceiling did fall;
For I spent three weeks at Brooks' Academy,
Larning a step for Lanigan's ball. CHORUS

The boys were all merry. The girls were frisky,
Drinking together in couples and groups,
Whin an accidint happened to Paddy O'Rafferty:
He stuck his right fut through Miss Flanigan's hoops.
The craythur she fainted, and roared "Millia murther!"
Called for her frinds and gathered thim all.
Tim Dermody swore that he'd go no further,
But have satisfaction at Lanigan's ball. CHORUS

Och! Arrah, boys, but thin was the ruptions.
Meself got a wollop from Phelim McCoo.
Soon I replied to his nate introduction,
And we kicked up the divil's own phililaloo.
Casey, the piper, he was nearly strangled.
They squeezed up his bags, chaunters, and all.
The girls in their ribbons all got entangled,
And that put a stop to Lanigan's ball. CHORUS

In the midst of the row, Miss Kavanah fainted.
Her face all the while was as red as a rose.
The ladies declared her cheeks they were painted,
But she'd taken a drop too much, I suppose.
Paddy Macaty, so hearty and able,
When he saw his dear colleen stretched out in the hall,
He pulled the best leg out from under the table,
And broke all the chaney at Lanigan's ball. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lannigan's Ball
From: masato sakurai
Date: 26 May 03 - 01:10 PM

For midi, click on "DigiTrad: LANIGAN'S BALL" just below the thread title. Several versions (midi & score) are at JC's ABC Tune Finder.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lannigan's Ball
From: GillianA
Date: 26 May 03 - 12:52 PM

Hello, I was wondering if there was a midi file etc for this tune
thanks
GillianA

Subject: Lyr Add: LANIGAN'S BALL
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 06:59 AM

Lanigan's Ball

In the town of Athy one Jeremy Lanigan
Battered away 'til he hadn't a pound.
His father he died and made him a man again
Left him a farm and ten acres of ground.
He gave a grand party to friends and relations
Who didn't forget him when it comes to the will,
And if you'll but listen I'll make your eyes glisten
Of the rows and the ructions of Lanigan's Ball.

Chorus: Six long months I spent in Dublin,
          six long months doing nothing at all.
          Six long months I spent in Dublin,
          learning to dance for Lanigan's ball.

Myself to be sure got free invitation,
For all the nice girls and boys I might ask,
And just in a minute both friends and relations
Were dancing 'round merry as bees 'round a cask.
Judy O'Daly, that nice little milliner,
She tipped me a wink for to give her a call,
And I soon arrived with Peggy McGilligan
Just in time for Lanigan's Ball.

Chorus.

There were lashings of punch and wine for the ladies,
Potatoes and cakes; there was bacon and tea,
There were the Nolans, Dolans, O'Gradys
Courting the girls and dancing away.
Songs they went 'round as plenty as water,
"The harp that once sounded in Tara's old hall,"
"Sweet Nelly Gray" and "The Rat Catcher's Daughter,"
All singing together at Lanigan's Ball.

   Chorus.


They were doing all kinds of nonsensical polkas
All 'round the room in a whirligig.
Julia and I, we banished their nonsense
And tipped them the twist of a reel and a jig.
&'Och mavrone, how the girls got all mad at me
Danced 'til you'd think the ceiling would fall.
For I spent three weeks at Brooks' Academy
Learning new steps for Lanigan's Ball.

She stepped out and I stepped in again,
I stepped out and she stepped in again,
She stepped out and I stepped in again,
Learning new steps for Lanigan's Ball.

Boys were all merry and the girls they were hearty
And danced all around in couples and groups,
'Til an accident happened, young Terrance McCarthy
Put his right leg through miss Finnerty's hoops.
Poor creature fainted and cried, ``Meelia murther,''
Called for her brothers and gathered them all.
Carmody swore that he'd go no further
'Til he had satisfaction at Lanigan's Ball.

In the midst of the row miss Kerrigan fainted,
Her cheeks at the same time as red as a rose.
Some of the lads declared she was painted,
She took a small drop too much, I suppose.
Her sweetheart, Ned Morgan, so powerful and able,
When he saw his fair colleen stretched out by the wall,
Tore the left leg from under the table
And smashed all the Chaneys at Lanigan's Ball.

Boys, oh boys, 'twas then there were runctions.
Myself got a lick from big Phelim McHugh.
I soon replied to his introduction
And kicked up a terrible hullabaloo.
Old Casey, the piper, was near being strangled.
They squeezed up his pipes, bellows, chanters and all.
The girls, in their ribbons, they got all entangled
And that put an end to Lanigan's Ball.

Subject: RE: Lannigan's Ball
From: Gurney
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 05:11 AM

Hrothgar, no you didn't. It was invitation only.
"Meself, to be sure, had free invitations, for all the nice boys and girls I might ask..."

Mind you, there might have been a few Sweetbreads on the floor afterwards.

Subject: RE: Lannigan's Ball
From: Hrothgar
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 04:52 AM

Bought a ticket for Lannigan's Ball once, but I'm still not sure whether it was a dance or a raffle.

Subject: RE: Lannigan's Ball
From: Gurney
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 04:35 AM

Joe, Lannigan's Ball cannot be the song that you refer to as forgettable. The version I have, on a compilation 'Another feast of Irish Folk" is by The Bards, and if that doesn't bring out the Irish in you, there isn't any. And I know Swiss who are Irish after 6pm.

Subject: RE: Lannigan's Ball
From: masato sakurai
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 02:01 AM

A fragmentary variant titled "Jimmie Lanigan" (sung by Warde Ford; recorded by Sidney Robertson Cowell in Central Valley, California on September 4, 1939) is at California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties.

Subject: RE: Lannigan's Ball
From: masato sakurai
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 01:17 AM

It is also in Colm O Lochlainn's Irish Street Ballads (1939, 1967, no. 52; with tune).

Six editions and one parody are at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads:

Lannigan's Ball

The President's Ball (To the tune of "Lannegan's[sic] Ball")

~Masato

Subject: Lyr Add: FARRAGUT'S BALL - US Civil War song
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 11:21 PM

In the long run, maybe this song is forgettable. For the moment, I found it interesting. I found it at the American Memory collection of the Library of Congress.
-Joe Offer-

---

FARRAGUT'S BALL
B J. E. V., U.S. Steamer Richmond.
A Parody on "Lanigan's Ball."


On the blockade was one Admiral Farragut,
Who was noted for being a very brave man;
Who never was known to be scarified ne'er a bit,
And his vessels in all kinds of ructions he ran.
He gave a large party one day to his squadron,
Officers and men he invited them all;
And if you'll pay attention, I'll just try to mention,
The row and the ructions at Farragut's ball.

'Twas myself had a free invitation,
For me and my shipmates, every one;
And quickly it proved me a nice occupation,
Sponging a hole in a big nine inch gun.
I handled the sponge and the rammer so gracefully,
All the company loudly did bawl,
"Be gripes, you're a jewel, you do it so tastefully,
You're just in time for Farragut's ball."

When we got there, they were dancing a polka,
"Farragut's Polka," says I, "by my soul,"
The funniest polka that ever a mortal danced,
Nothing but whistle, crack, bang, whiz and howl;
Not even as much as a noggin of whisky,
The boys were all merry, the girls were all frisky,
But the devil a girl was there at all;
"To blazes," says I, "with Farragut's ball."

There was torpedoes served round to all of the company,
And a new kind of dish that they called "ricochet"
There was hot shot, and rifle shot, shrapnell and canister,
Till at length we were all of us, inside the bay;
When the rebel ram Tennessee raised her merry murther,
Commenced training her guns and shooting at all,
When our Monitors swore that they'd stand it no longer,
But they'd have satisfaction at Farragut's ball.

Oh! murther me, boys, hut then there was ructions,
The Tennessee right for our Admiral hied,
But he quickly replied to her nate introduction,
And poured a whole broadside slam bang in her side.
The Richmond, Brooklyn, Lackawana, and two or three,
Knocked off her plating, smoke stack, and all,
Shure we spent five days at Pensacola Academy,
Learning some steps for Farragut's ball.

At length she was battered and bruised up so perfectly,
That a stopper we put on to all of her pranks;
And Buchanan, who'd got his leg broken below the knee,
Surrendered his ship and his crew to the Yanks,
The ladies in Mobile, they all raised a doleful cry,
And loudly for vengeance every one of them bawled,
For they lost the price of their dresses and finery,
When their darling was taken at Farragut's ball.


Sold by H. H. SINGLETON, Bookseller, Stationer, and Periodical Dealer,
Post Office Building, Nashville, Tenn.
Sent to any address by mail, on receipt of Five Cents.

Undated, but it comes from a collection of Civil War Song Sheets

Subject: RE: Lannigan's Ball
From: Bruce O.
Date: 05 Jan 99 - 12:02 PM

Sorry, I goofed. I have notes for two books on the same page. The book mentioned above should be 'The Blarney Comic Songbook' not Casey's 'Rising of the Moon...'. Both were published in Glasgow by Cameron and Ferguson.

Subject: RE: Lannigan's Ball
From: Bruce O.
Date: 05 Jan 99 - 11:06 AM

I saw Casey's book at the Library of Congress, Music Division.

Subject: RE: Lannigan's Ball
From: Ole Bull
Date: 05 Jan 99 - 09:24 AM

Bruce; I'd like to get a hold of that Casey book- it sounds like a good one

Subject: RE: Lannigan's Ball
From: Bruce O.
Date: 02 Jan 99 - 02:18 PM

"Lannigan's Ball" is given on p. 50, of John K. Casey's 'The Rising of the Moon, and other Ballads, Songs and Legends', c 1865-70. No attribution is given or tune cited.

On p. 101 is "Lannigan's Wake" to the tune of "Lannigan's Ball", 'first sung in America by William Carleton at Tony Pastor's Opera House, New York'. This commence: "No doubt you've heard of poor Jerry Lannigan".

"Finnigan's Wake", p. 76, is there attributed to John F. Poole. "The Fellow That Looks like Me" (in DT) and "I'm going to fight mit Sigel" are also by Poole and are in the Levy sheet music collection.

Subject: RE: Lannigan's Ball
From: Ian Kirk
Date: 02 Jan 99 - 12:07 PM

It's in the Digitrad database with the tune under Lanigan's Ball

Ian

Subject: Lannigan's Ball
From: Patrick Shannon
Date: 02 Jan 99 - 11:41 AM

Looking for the words to Lannigan's Ball. Chorus is "Six long months I spent in Dublin, six long months doing nothing at all / Six long month's I spent in Dublin, learning to dance for Lannigan's Ball". The general tone of the song is a bit like that of Finnegan's Wake, ie, a party gone awry. Any help would be much appreciated.