Lyr Add: Fogan MacAleer (Larry Doyle)

Subject: Lyr Req: PEI lyric needed...great funny song
From: GUEST,Joshua Lange
Date: 08 Oct 06 - 12:58 AM

This is a wonderful song of which I used to have a tape recording. Who knows where that is. The song was written and recorded in Prince Edward Island and is performed unaccompanied. It begins:

O'er from Scotland came a sturdy lad
His name was McAleer
And many the ways and means he had
of land and work and gear
But he had the queerest notions,
They were like perpetual motions
And the waves that rock the oceans
Don't you know what I mean? (each verse ends with this)

There's about 8 or 10 more great verses, all concerning the strange goings on around the marrying of Fogan McAleer. Wonderful song. Please help with remainder of the lyrics if you have them

Subject: Lyr Add: FOGAN MACALEER (Larry Doyle)
From: sian, west wales
Date: 08 Oct 06 - 09:16 AM

From Sandy Ives' book, "Drive Dull Care Away"

FOGAN MACALEER
by Larry Doyle

There lived in bonny Scotland a man named MacAleer,
And plenty means and ways he had of land and working gear.
Yet he had the queerest notions, they were like perpetual motion
Or like waves that rock the ocean, don't you know what I mean?

He liked the men his neighbours and the boys both one and all,
But he could not bear the capers of the women great or small;
Not a woman could he bear then, sure the girls they would scare him -
How they schemed and tried to snare him, don't you know what I mean?

O Fogan was his christened name and Fogan was in need
Of a mare to match his sandy mane of equal strength and speed;
Yes, he knew where one was handy that would suit him like a dandy,
So he'd go to blacksmith Sandy, don't you know what I mean?

"Oh, well now," says Fogan, "come and listen unto me,
I'm looking for a mare to buy and I have come to thee;
Lauchlan Ban he has the very mare and only for the women there
I'd go and ask his terms, don't you know what I mean?"

"Oh, well now," says Sandy, "I will do the best I can,
I will see the women safe away and then see Lauchlan Ban;
You can call there at your pleasure, tonight if you have leisure,
For the mare she is a treasure, don't you know what I mean?"

So Fogan he went home then a contented happy man,
And that evening he went over to see neighbour Lauchlan Ban;
The old man was kind and civil while upstairs the women snivelled
For the blacksmith played the devil, don't you know what I mean?

"O well now," says Fogan, "my business I need not tell,
For Sandy has already told how I like her very well;
O I like her breed and colour, she is everything that's nice,
I will water, brush and bed her, keep her in in stormy weather,
And in daytime out on tether, don't you know what I mean?"

"In the name of God," says Lauchlan, "what's come over you at all?
For we never intend selling her like cattle in the fall;
She has plenty things to fit her and has something to take with her
But 'tis we will sorely miss her, don't you know what I mean?"

Then, "I do not want your presents," said Fogan MacAleer,
"I can pay the money down for her and find her working gear.
If you keep her in the stable, it is now I will be able
For to pay you on the table, don't you' know what I mean?"

"We don't keep her in the stable but upstairs she's snug and dry;
I will call her down this minute, since the two of your are in it
'Tis yourselves that should begin it, don't you know what I mean?"

Then he hollered out for Mary, while poor Fogan stood amazed
With the beads of sweat upon his brow on Lauchlan Ban he gazed;
But he had no time for thinking, it was done as quick as winking
And poor Fogan's heart was sinking, don't you know what I mean?

When Mary stepped into the room her father this did say:
"I suppose your mother told you what brought Sandy here today."
Then Mary blushed a rosy red and Fogan raised his drooping head,
His bashfulness was over, don't you know what I mean?
And so things turned out contrary, not the mare he got, but Mary,
But he got the mare with Mary, don't you know what I mean?

The irregular numbers of lines in verses make sense if you hear them actually sung on the accompanying CD - sung by Joseph Walsh, Morell, PEI.

sian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: PEI lyric needed...great funny song
From: GUEST,Bernie
Date: 08 Oct 06 - 01:21 PM

Joshua, I have the CD by the late Wendell Boyle; great PEI singer who helped popularize this song in recent years. If you need or want a tape copy of this one song, I'm sure Wendell would be OK with it. Just post your mailing address....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: PEI lyric needed...great funny song
From: GUEST,thurg
Date: 08 Oct 06 - 01:48 PM

Wendell Boyle was the best singer of traditional Canadian songs I ever heard, at least among the revivalists. Of course, he was virtually unrecognized outside of Orwell Corners ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: PEI lyric needed...great funny song
From: GUEST,Josh
Date: 08 Oct 06 - 07:08 PM

Hey All,

Thanks much to Sian for the quick turnaround on the lyrics. This is great. Still remember the melody, methinks, so the kids and I can have some fun with it. I'm wondering now who it was who sang the version I had. Probably Wendell Boyle since the opening words are just slightly different...

Bernie, Would you mind emailing me at [e-mail], I'd love to get a copy of the song.

Josh

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fogan MacAleer (Larry Doyle)
From: GUEST,Philip Pierlot
Date: 06 May 17 - 12:45 PM

The song is on a CD with Edward "Sandy" Ives' book "Drive Dull Care Away" which is at the UPEI library or you can purchase a copy on Amazon.ca. I got my copy several years ago from someone who had two. It is sung by Joseph Walsh, well known to my family and myself as he and his wife Winnie were our neighbours and we spent many hours at their beautiful old farmhouse. Joe was known for his singing, stories, had amazing eyesight and if you needed something prayed for you went to him.

Philip