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Lyr Req: Night that O'Rafferty's Pig Ran Away
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Subject: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Vibeke Date: 25 Mar 99 - 03:17 PM I'm trying to find the lyrics to a song called O'Rafferty's Pig, as a surprise for a friend who just turned fifty. All I know about it is that it has been sung by a Steve Benbow in 1960, by Gorden Lightfoot (though not recorded) at a concert or live performance, and that it must be quite old as it was sung to my friend as a boy by his mother. I also have some of the lyrics:
Well O'Rafferty's Pig was a wonderful animal If someone could help me that would be great :)! Thank you, Vibeke from Norway |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Anne Date: 25 Mar 99 - 06:15 PM Is this Rafferty have anything to do with the one in Raffertys Motorcar?
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Colleen Brennan Date: 26 Mar 99 - 12:05 PM Hello, I can't help with the lyrics, but as far as I know the song originates from Ireland. I also think the Dubliners might have performed it. Hope this might be of some help, and good luck in finding the lyrics. Regards Colleen |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Colleen Brennan Date: 26 Mar 99 - 05:06 PM Hello again, I have had a look around, and if it is of any help, Gordon Lightfoot performed the song you are looking for at the Purple Onion in Toronto in 1964, and the full title of it is The Night O'Rafferty's Pig Ran Away. Still had no luck with finding the lyrics though. Regards Colleen |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Vibeke Date: 27 Mar 99 - 12:22 PM To Colleen Still no luck in digging up the lyrics, but thank you so much for trying anyway. I appreciate the effort! From Vibeke |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Mick Lowe Date: 02 Dec 99 - 07:53 PM Just thought I'd refresh this thread as I'd like the lyrics as well Cheers Mick |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Micca Date: 02 Dec 99 - 08:14 PM Hi Vibeke, Thanks for reviving a memory my mother and one of her Uncles used to sing this to me when I was young ( about 50 years ago) I think one of the verses went something like, Big Mrs Moore she ran like an Elephant puffing and blowing with Mrs Maguire The pig it collided the Mrs backslided and I'm afraid thats all ive got for the moment, when I've recovered from a bout of gastric flu' I will try a deep meditation and see if anmore comes back. Many thanks for reviving ahappy memory. I am sure tho' that the last line of what you've got should be " and everyone making a grab at his tail" |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Micca Date: 03 Dec 99 - 06:26 AM Here is some more recovered over night. Big Mrs Moore she ran like an Elephant puffing and blowing with Mrs Maguire she fell on the ground and Begorra the sound was like the burst of a pneumatic tyre da da da die da da da da da da da da Mrs Quin The pig it collided the Mrs backslided and shifted her bustle up under her chin |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Mick Lowe Date: 04 Dec 99 - 07:20 PM Hopefully someone out there in Mudcatland knows all the lyrics to this Come on guys and gals.. put your thinking caps on Mick |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Mick Lowe Date: 05 Dec 99 - 07:09 PM Come on guys, you're not trying |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Mick Lowe Date: 08 Dec 99 - 08:31 PM Do I have to say "pretty please"? Think of it as an early Christmas present to me Mick |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Cailleach Date: 09 Dec 99 - 11:09 AM Sorry Mick, but that's what I meant about pearls before swine. |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Mick Lowe Date: 09 Dec 99 - 07:51 PM Nice pun Phillipa re Pearls and "swine" It looks as though O'Rafferty's pig has made a clean getaway of it.. depsite my attempts at an APB..oh well you can't win them all Mick |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Philippa Date: 09 Dec 99 - 07:59 PM Okay, I'll let the rest of you in on it. The Prof was looking for both this song and the Irish for the Snowy Brested Pearl (for his website). I e-mailed him the latter under the title 'Pearls before Pigs' (as well as posting the lyrics at Mudcat) |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Mick Lowe Date: 09 Dec 99 - 08:04 PM Well at least I've got you out of your shell, though I do apologise profusely for spelling your name incorrectly Philippa. Heck I can't even spell Michael, which is why I stick to Mick..LOL Thanks for all your help re Snowy Breasted Pearl Mikc....doh!!!! |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Mick Lowe Date: 11 Dec 99 - 07:06 PM Perhaps I should have posted this on a Jewish news group instead of here at the cat.. Come on.. any takers? Mick |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 11 Dec 99 - 08:23 PM Val Doonican had a song called "Rafferty's Motor Car".I can't remember that one too well. But he also sang "Paddy McGinty's Goat", and "Delaney's Donkey", and I think it's likely a pig came into it somewhere.
That should help you know where to start looking.
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: SingsIrish Songs Date: 12 Dec 99 - 10:32 PM Here's my proposal my dear Mick... CHANGE THE WORDS TO THE FAMED MARE SONG!!! ie The Runaway Mare...fondly referred to by my family as "McCarthy's Mare"...you recall that post of yours to help me out. And you already have the music! LOL It may take awhile, but it will turn up sometime. Perhaps it is a greased pig and that's why we can't get our hands on it.......... Mary |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Mick Lowe Date: 13 Dec 99 - 05:57 PM I won't even begin to mention Val Doonican and his awful Aran sweaters (I know a place that makes really good ones if anyone is interested) and his even more awful rocking chair.. all I will say about him is bring back Joseph Locke (and anyone who knows me will get the significance of that remark).. Now Mary, if I thought for one moment there was somebody domecile in either France or Belgium likely to be reading this, then I would agree re "the Mare", but as us more civilised countries tend to shy away from eating horse meat I don't think we'll get much joy with that.. SO>> come on the rest of you.. what talking pork here.. not BSE.. there's nothing to be afraid of.. be forthcoming.. Thank you for your indulgence Mick |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 13 Dec 99 - 09:28 PM What's at issue here isn't the dread Val Doonican but the song. Unfortunately Christy Moore doesn't seem to have recorded it, so if Vibeke wants the words the Doonican route seems most likely to lead to it. There's probably a sheet music version out somewhere.
If we have to abandon songs because the wrong fella sings them, we'll lose a lot of good songs. And bring back Joseph Locke any time. Actually, I flash on a vision of a Father Ted episode that never happened in which Joseph Locke and Val Doonican would come to Craggy Island, for a concert with Shane McGowan. |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Mick Lowe Date: 14 Dec 99 - 06:27 PM Now that would have been an intersting episode of Father Ted.. I'm not sure I can picture in my mind how bringing Val Doonican, Joseph Locke (r.i.p.) and that conservative figure of the establishment Shane McGowan together, would actualy work out.. I supose there have been stranger bedfellows, though I'm hard pressed to think of any at this moment in time. And I hate having to refer to you as McGrath of Harlow.. I'm Mick by the way.. On a lighter note, any non-Europeans happening to stumble over this particularly inoxuous thread, will probably not know or care that today the British Euro-M.P.'s walked out during a speech by monsieur Shitface, as a demonstration at Les Hoppers still banning British beef.. so what do I have to do in order to get some lyrics about a little porker.. walk out of the mudcat.... Don't answer.. SEG.. just come up with the lyrics.. please.. Thanks to all MIck |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: SingsIrish Songs Date: 14 Dec 99 - 06:52 PM Mick, I didn't realize the pig gets eaten...guess McCarthy's Mare song won't work. smirk MK |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 15 Dec 99 - 02:43 PM I put "O'Rafferty's pig" into a search engine, and the only thin it came up with was a site about Gordon Lightfoot (whohas abit mkre street cred than Val Doonican I suppose) - it came up with this.
http://www.mmlc.nwu.edu/~mfifer/lightfoot/faqs/faq-7a.html
It's not very helpful, but somewhere in there is a report on a concert years ago where he sang "The night O'Rafferty's pig ran away" along with Woody Guthrie's "1913 Massacre" and Bob Dylan's "Ballad of Hollis Brown". An interesting range of content. Would have done for my Craggy Island concert.
I've been thinking about that too - I can see Val Dooinican as a role model for Father Ted, Shane for Fathr Dougal and Joseph Locke for Father Jack. I suppose to round it out you'd have Sinead O'Connor for Mrs Doyle.<
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Mick Lowe Date: 15 Dec 99 - 08:34 PM I can't go on calling you McGrath from Harlow.. and that's not Jean I take it, but...shit.. my geography has just failed me.. Middlesex??? I never really got into Father Ted to "Know" who all ther other characters were.. which one was the mad old sod as opposed to the young mindless F***er?.. I'd have Joseph Locke down for the old wrinklie and possibly Shane for Mrs Doyle.. no I'm not going to elabourate/spread rumours about him... you'll just have to wait until my book comes out Any suggestions for transplanting characters in Ballyk?.. Now this I do watch religiously Enough from me and we've still not got the lyrics.. there must be some pig fanciers out there...perhaps it should be called O'Rafferty's Sheep then everyone in Wales would know it.. in the biblical sense that is Mick
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: John in Brisbane Date: 15 Dec 99 - 11:31 PM Mick, an absolute long shot for you. I have a teeeeny inkling that I saw it in a collection called (ish) 'Songs and Ballads From The Pubs of Ireland', by Healy (Vols I and II). I don't have quick access to a copy, but if someone else would care to check please in order to put us all out of our misery.
If that doesn't work I'll have to pull out the big guns.
Regards, John |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Mick Lowe Date: 16 Dec 99 - 08:19 PM Cheers John I don't think I ought to ask re you pulling out the big guns.. I know the series of books you mean (never got round to buying them ).. Hopefully someone reading this will have.. Thanks again Mick |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 16 Dec 99 - 08:55 PM I'm Kevin McGrath. If you look in the bbc rogues gallery there's a photo of me.I suppose if I was French I could be a Jean.
Well it's not in Folksongs and Ballads popular in Ireland. Still no luck.
I could give you "The Peeler and the Goat" (which is in the DT, (but they call Bansha, where my godfather Will Gavin lived "Penshaw"), or "Nell Flaherty's Drake" (and that's in the DT too - but they have Nell living in Clonmel instead of Cootehill, but that's fine by me, because it gives me a Clonmel song which is easier to sing than "The Convict of Cluinmealla"); and "Brannigan's Pup" -which is also in the DT, as "Old Mickey Brannigan's Pup". And the DT's also got "Delaney's Donkey and "Paddty McGinty's Goat".
But the pig seems to have given us all a clean pair of heels, so far.
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: John in Brisbane Date: 17 Dec 99 - 01:49 AM Kevin, was that 'Ballads From The Pubs Of Ireland' by James N Healy that you checked out? Regards, John |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Metchosin Date: 17 Dec 99 - 01:57 AM Guys I think its Candadian, Gordon Lightfoot performed it years ago at least a version called The Night O'Rafferty's Pig Ran Away. Something about a Mounty ending up eating the evidence of the crime? |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Metchosin Date: 17 Dec 99 - 01:59 AM Jeez I can't even spell the name of my own country. A little too much Auchentoshan maybe? |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Metchosin Date: 17 Dec 99 - 02:02 AM It also would have helped if I had read the beginning of the thread. You already know that. |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 17 Dec 99 - 02:49 PM Naah - it was the Ossian set of four "volumes".
Maybe someone could ask Gordon Lightfoot for the words, since he's the only person so far identified as definitely having sung it. There must be someone round Mudcat who knows him to ask. |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Mick Lowe Date: 17 Dec 99 - 08:41 PM Metchosin.. what can I say.. If you're going to drink a single malt then it's got to be Bowmore.. well that's my favourite.. (Like when I can afford it).. And Hi to you Kevin.. I know what you mean re all the other songs you listed.. i.e. have them, seen them, got the t-shirt.. I wonder why this one is so elusive.. personally I've never heard it (just got someone asking for it).. and a great idea re Gordon Lightfoot.. does anyone here know/converse with him.. for that matter why hasn't he got either his own web site or more's to the point, checking out the mudcat.. after all.. it's THE place to bve seen at Thanks for all your suggestions and "Revelations".. call me old fashioned if you will.. I always feel more comfortable talking to a "person" rather than a pen-name. I would have said puseodnym if I could spell it.. |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Metchosin Date: 17 Dec 99 - 10:03 PM Fortunately Mick the bottle was a gift, although I do experiment occasionally as money permits. I haven't had the pleasure of a Bowmore yet but I will keep it in mind. I did have the distinct displeasure of purchasing a bottle of Laphroaig a while back, which is fine if you like to suck your scotch off a creosote coated piling. |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Mick Lowe Date: 18 Dec 99 - 07:47 PM Metchosin... come on...own up.. what kind of name is that to be hiding behind when we're talking serious stuff.. i.e. single malt whisky.. Laphroaigh I quite like but it has got a distinctive peaty taste about it, which is why my personal favourite is Bowmore.. it's not " extreme" in its quality.. i.e. some may consider it bland as far as single malts go.. I prefer to condsider it sophisticated, it doesn't have any of the "vulgarity" of Laphroaigh or the others.. I like to think of it as refined.. in the cultural sense that is, rather than the images conjured viz oil refinement. And as how I would like to talk all night re the merits of scotch (i.e. whisky and the only time you use the word "Scotch").. we are not getting any closer to the lyrics I need.. But as it's the season of good cheer, I shall raise a glass to all who have participated to this particular thread.. Cheers Mick |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Metchosin Date: 19 Dec 99 - 01:41 AM Not just peaty Mick, it tastes as if you are standing down wind of a heap of burning kelp and so does Lagavulin. I don't mind a hint of the smoke and the sea but there is a limit. But this isn't going to help find O'Rafferty's pig is it? Lang may your quaich reek, .......... the stinking whale |
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Subject: Lyr Add: NIGHT THAT O'RAFFERTY'S PIG RAN AWAY^^ From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 20 Dec 99 - 01:28 PM Got it. I emailed Frank Harte, who has every Irish song ever sung I reckon, and he came back with this: I recorded this song about twenty years ago in Tallaght but with the echo of the room it was very difficult to decipher it . However Glenn Commiskey filled in the words for me that were missing from the version which I recorded.
THE NIGHT THAT O'RAFFERTY'S PIG RAN AWAY. As for the tune I'm not sure - it'd go well to Liliburlero. Thank you Vibeke for putting us on to the song. It's a cracker. Should be in the DT. Probably will be. |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Frank Harte Date: 20 Dec 99 - 05:52 PM Thwe air that the song about 'O'Rafferty's Pig' was sung to was almost the same as the old song.. .Father O'Flynn.... 'Father O'Flynn you've a wonderful way with you, All the old sinners are wishful to pray with you, All the young children are wild for to play with you, You've such a way wth you Father avic.' etc. etc
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 20 Dec 99 - 07:10 PM Welcome back to the Mudcat Frank. And the words of Father O'Flynn are in the Digital Tradition at push for a priest
The DT doesn't have the tune. I think I know it though. Which reminds me - are there any words to "The Musical Priest"? |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Mick Lowe Date: 20 Dec 99 - 07:23 PM What can I say.. well maybe lots knowing me.. First off I need to apologise for my awful memory (people laugh when I say it's getting worse day by day.. but it ain't no joke.. Metchosin.. I realise now we've had the conversation before re your pen name before.. How could I forget a stinking whale?.. I should like to put the blame on the pressures of Christmas, but.. heck.. I know what my memory is like.. none existant.. Before getting onto the mega thanks for the lyrics,, I want to say this.. i.e. Father O' Flynn .. the song... If you're in an Irish session then the tune is refered to as "Top of the Old Cork Road".. if you're going to be pedantic about it, the then the tune is actually "Yorkshire Lassies" That aside.. thanks for the lyrics.. Mick |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: John in Brisbane Date: 20 Dec 99 - 07:24 PM I had to remind myself what Father O'Flynns sounds like. Having listened to the jig in AABB format I assume that that each verse is sung as AB. I've downloaded the MIDI from the Jordan-O'Connell site and will re-aarange it to AB unless anyone believes otherwise, before posting to Alan's Mudcat Midi site. Regards, John |
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Subject: O'Rafferty's Pig - seeking tune From: Joe Offer Date: 20 Feb 01 - 07:52 PM OK. I'm confused. The tune for this one is supposed to be the same as for Father Flynn, which is supposed to be the tune of Top of Cork Road, which is supposed to be the same as for Humours of Whiskey which would be this tune (click). For the life of me, I can't imagine how the tune fits the words. Is it the right tune, and can anybody send me a Noteworthy file that fits the lyrics (correctly) to the tune? Thanks. -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: Snuffy Date: 20 Feb 01 - 09:02 PM Joe I posted an ABC of a tune of Father O'Flynn in this thread Tune Add: Please Post Tunes Here I . It doesn't fit exactly as is, but it shouldn't be too hard for you to fit the words to this tune. (Well, it works for me with a bit of juggling) Wassail! V |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: GUEST,Doug Chadwick Date: 03 Jun 01 - 03:53 PM Hope you don't mind me coming late into this thread ! In my experience, comedy songs such as "Paddy McGinty's Goat", "Delaney's Donkey" and "O'Rafferty's Pig" tend to use very well known tunes. I seem to recall O'Rafferty's Pig being sung to "The Irish Washerwoman". Other than verse 3, the lyrics posted by 'McGrath of Harlow' on 22-Dec-99 seem to fit well enough with a little careful editing. Verse 3 doesn't really seem to fit to any tune that fits the other verses. |
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Subject: RE: O'R's Pig - variation on Harte's version From: GUEST,Brian Kennedy Date: 16 May 02 - 03:17 AM My Grandad used to sing this one to us -thanks for bringing it back to me. In his version he has "But the local solicitor said they must all KISS the pig" which I remember well, as subversion is dear to the heart of all wee boys and girls... |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: ard mhacha Date: 16 May 02 - 06:07 PM Sorry i`m late , and yes McGrath Val Doonican sang this song a few times on his TV programme, and believe it or not, my old Kilkenny School Master taught us this song. Frank Harte is right the air is akin to Father O`Flynn, just a wee bit slower, Ard Mhacha. |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: GUEST,beachcombers Date: 17 May 02 - 04:08 PM Hey, hey hey, easy on you lot, what has old Val ever done to you that you should take the piss so?? Val has been working in the music business since the 40s he was never an overnight success , he worked damn hard to make a living both in Ireland and later in Britain after he emigrated and even when he did "make it big" there, if only for a few short years, he never forgot his people or his roots and the people of Waterford are , generally, proud of him. A fine singer and an excellent musician he won't , I suspect, be too put-out by remarks like those in these postings. beach BTW Val never wore an "Aran sweater" , that was Liam Clancy you were thinking of. |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: GUEST,Elsie Townley Date: 13 Jul 02 - 04:18 PM The bit I remember was: ? laid hold of his head, ? laid hold of his tale Murphy stood with a knife in his hand while Biddy, she held the pail ............while Docherty danced a jig, I'll never forget the fun we had when Rafferty killed the pig. |
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Subject: RE: O'Rafferty's Pig - Could anyone help please? From: GUEST,pat rarfferty Date: 31 Oct 02 - 04:19 PM my grandfather also used to sing this one ,but i seem to remember the line "she had eggs and tomatoes all over her garters the night that old rafferty's pig ran away" |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: O'Rafferty's Pig From: GUEST,John Scott Date: 26 Nov 03 - 06:05 AM Alternative Part? Widow Malone fell thorugh a shop window Among pickles and jam and red herrings she lay There were eggs and tomatas all over her garters The night that O'Rafferty's pig ran away. |
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