Lyr Req: McCarthy and McClusky

Subject: Lyr Req: McCarthy and McClusky
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Oct 05 - 07:58 PM

I'm sorry I don't know the name of the song... But, when I was quite a bit younger, my father used to sing this song about McCarthy and McClusky. I remember a dogfight and a circus. And, in every case, a problem arose, like the baboon died at the circus, and the singer (my father) had to take its place... Sorry that I'm not very specific but any help would be greatly appreciated - the song's name, the author's name, the lyrics, etc. Thanks a lot.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McCarthy and McClusky
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 08 Oct 05 - 09:27 PM

I've heard the same song, first with the legit performer taking sick and the current singer of the song having to take his place, then the dogfight, and finally a faked funeral with the singer having to become the deceased. The version I know was in the repertoire of a NY/PA (USA) man named Ezra "Fuzzy" Barhight....where did your father learn/sing his version?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McCarthy and McClusky
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 05 - 02:06 PM

From asking him before, my father said he learned it from his father... Beyond that, he wasn't sure. He thought it could have been brought by our family when they moved from Ireland. But, he thought it was more likely an Irish-American tune, from the locals. This is pretty interesting becasue we're in northern PA, just off the NY border...

Do you have the lyrics to your version? I'll ask around and see what I can find on ours if you're interested...

Thanks a lot for helping me out.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McCarthy and McClusky
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 09 Oct 05 - 05:31 PM

Interesting indeed! The song seems to have been rarely found in oral tradition, aside from this version by Ezra Barhight. He learned alot of his songs in the lumbercamps of Potter Co. PA, and also around Wellsville NY in Allegany County - are you anywhere near there? Many of the farmers & lumbermen in this area were Irish according to Barhight, and this song certainly seems like an Irish-American creation to me.

I may have started another thread here a few years ago on the same song, possibly under the title "Do Not Be Offended Please". I'm going to go look right now...

I'll post the lyrics to Barhight's version later this weekend. I'd love to see your family's version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McCarthy and McClusky
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 09 Oct 05 - 08:35 PM

GUEST,

There is another thread on this song, titled "Origins: do not be offended, please" - I don't know how to provide a link to it here, but if you search under that title, you'll find it.

Here is the Ezra Barhight version of the song:

Oh, do not be offended please, because I start to sing
For if I did not come out here, this curtain down they'd bring
The man who ought to sing this song, he has taken very sick
As I was standing idle, well, they grabbed me very quick

And they wanted me to take his place, and do the best I could
They said 'go out and sing his song', I told them that I would
They're standing there for to watch me now, my actions for to see
They said 'you cant get more than killed', how pleasant that would be

McKelsey & McLassy too, each match their dogs for fight
They posted $50 each and they fight on Friday night
We all went down to Harpo's Place, McKelsey's dog was there
But I could not find McLassy nor his bulldog anywhere

Then they wanted me to take his place and do the best I could
They said 'get out and win my boy, we know your pluck is good'
They tried to make me strip my coat and fight the dog you see
But I could lose my eyes, my ears, my nose, how pleasant that would be

My sister got a policy upon her husband's life
He went away & left her there to a disappointed life
She said if only he were dead, the insurance she could claim
And so she got a coffin and upon it carved his name

Then she wanted me to take his place and do the best I could
To lay out flat and be nailed up in a coffin made of wood
And when the mourners were all gone then she'd set me free
But perhaps she'd forget about me then how pleasant that would be!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McCarthy and McClusky
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 09 Oct 05 - 09:08 PM

The old thread (we'll forget about the short-lived duplicate, though of course that's still in the archive here as well) is at  Origins: 'do not be offended, please' (Song)

The Roud Folk Song Index assigns it to number 12785; just one example at present, in Pankake, Prairie Home Companion (1988) 180-1: text and music from Garrison Keillor, title How Pleasant That Would Be. Apparently no indication of prior source.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McCarthy and McClusky
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 05 - 10:07 PM

That's amazing! Barhight got it from Irish farmers/lumbermen in the Potter County area? We're a bit east of there. Our family is in Bradford County and Susquehanna County (mainly Susquehanna)... As for the lyrics, I'll get them as soon as I can. It might be a little while, maybe Wednesday or so.