Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer

To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café ^TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=20913
32 messages

Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer

30 Apr 00 - 09:56 AM (#220348)
Subject: Galbally Farmer
From: GUEST,Crazy Eddie

Seeking words to "The Galbally Farmer" A humerous Irish ballad. Any assistance much appreciated. Eddie

30 Apr 00 - 10:08 AM (#220352)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE GALBALLY FARMER
From: GUEST,Frank Harte.

THE GALBALLY FARMER.

One evening of late as I happened to stray,
To the county Tipp'rary I straight took my way,
To dig the potatoes and work by the day,
I hired with a Galbally farmer.
I asked him how far we were bound for to go.
The night it was dark, and the north wind did blow.
I was hungry and tired and my spirits were low,
For I got neither whiskey nor cordial.

This niggardly miser he mounted his steed
To the Galbally mountains he posted with speed;
And surely I thought that my poor heart would bleed
To be trudging behind that old naygur.
When we came to his cottage I entered it first;
It seemed like a kennel or ruined old church:
Says I to myself, "I am left in the lurch
In the house of old Darby O Leary."

I well recollect it was Michaelmas night,
To a hearty good supper he did me invite,
A cup of sour milk that would physic a snipe—
'Twould give you the trotting disorder.
The wet old potatoes would poison the cats,
The barn where my bed was was swarming with rats,
'Tis little I thought it would e'er be my lot
To lie in that hole until morning.

By what he had said to me I understood,
My bed in the barn it was not very good;
The blanket was made at the time of the flood;
The quilt and the sheets in proportion.
'Twas on this old miser I looked with a frown,
When the straw was brought out for to make my shake down.
I wished that I never saw Galbally town,
Or the sky over Darby O Leary.

I worked in Kilconnell, I worked in Kilmore,
I worked in Knockainy and Shanballymore,
In Pallas-a-Nicker and Sollohodmore,
With decent respectable farmers:
I worked in Tipperary, the Rag, and Rosegreen,
At the mount of Kilfeakle, the Bridge of Aleen,
But such woeful starvation I never yet seen
As I got from old Darby O Leary.

—from More Irish Street Ballads by Colm O Lochlainn (Dublin: The Three Candles, 1965), page 114.

30 Apr 00 - 06:56 PM (#220493)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: kendall

I recorded this gem for Folk Legacy some years ago.

01 May 00 - 01:41 PM (#220881)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: GUEST,Annraoi

There is an alternative version, I think, beginning:-

One evening of late as I happened to stray
Down by Clonakilty and sweet Drimoleague
I entered an ale-house, some time I delayed
'Til I wetted my whistle with porter

Or words to that effect. I have them in my collection somewhere. If I can unearth them I'll post them. Annraoi

01 May 00 - 08:41 PM (#221133)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: GUEST,Annraoi

Another verse has just surfaced:-

I hadn't proceeded a mile of the road
When I hard a dispute at a farmer's abode
'Twas the son of the Landlord - an ill lookin' toad -
And the wife a bold tenant farmer

I'm going to bed to lie down in the dark with a stone on my stomach and commune with the Éigse.

Annraoi

01 May 00 - 09:10 PM (#221158)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: GUEST,Frank Harte

01 May 00 - 09:13 PM (#221161)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: GUEST,Frank Harte

Its a different song that you have there Annraoi...the verses you are quoting are from a song called 'The wife Of The Bold Tenant Farmer' as mentioned in the last line of the verse.

Slan........Frank.

02 May 00 - 03:06 PM (#221593)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: GUEST,Annraoi

Thanks for the clarification, Frank. Annraoi

07 May 00 - 01:51 AM (#224243)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: GUEST,Crazy Eddie

Thanks Frank and Annraoi, I have heard the song "The Bold Tenant Farmer" sung to the same air as "The Galbally Farmer". In fact, I wonder if the Galbally Farmer isn't based on the other one.

Frank, the verses you've supplied agree pretty well with what I can remember of the song, but I seem to remember that the donkey died of old age, and the singer was obliged to assit in butchering it. The ate the donkey, ( which as you can imagine was fairly tough)............ In the last verse, the Farmers old wife dies. The farmer tells the singer to fetch the knife and the cooking pot. This is the last straw, and the singer runs away. Do you have any of these verses?? Thanks, Eddie ;o)

15 May 00 - 05:22 PM (#228392)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: MartinRyan

Eddie
Yet another song - also done as a recitation, often. Its called "The Salt" usually. Have a search in the DT and the forum - I think its around.
Regards

29 Aug 00 - 08:14 AM (#287091)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: GUEST,Crazy Eddie

Thanks Martin, I missed this, 'cos I went on holidays soon after, and have only remembered to search for it again now. I can't figure how I got the two songs confused. Similar themes, but from the verse structure, it seems they must have different completely airs! Anyway, now I know. Thanks again, Eddie

21 Oct 00 - 11:24 AM (#323956)
Subject: The Wife of the Bold Tenant Farmer
From: Alice

I'm listening right now to Joe Heaney's recording of The Wife of the Bold Tenant Farmer. I thought I'd check the Mudcat for lyrics, and this is the only thread that comes up. Can anyone supply all the verses to The Wife of the Bold Tenant Farmer?

Alice

29 Apr 01 - 06:01 PM (#451699)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE BOLD TENANT FARMER^^
From: toadfrog

In a very unfortunate moment I erased my Joe Heany tape. These are the words I remember his having sung. As I do not know the Irish language and geography I have to leave some blanks, and my transliteration of what I do recall may be inaccurate.

BOLD TENANT FARMER

One evening of late as I happened to stray,
Down by Clonakilty and sweet Drimouleague.
I entered an ale-house, some time I delayed
And I wet my old whistle with porter.
So I spit on my hands and I raised up my stick
And down the court road like a deer I did let.
I fear neither [incomprehensible] nor Old Nick,
And I sang like the lark in the mornin'

Diddly aidel dul daidel dul daidel dul day,
Diddly aidel dul daidel dul daidel dul day,
Darum diddly aidel dul daidel dul day,
And I sang like the lark in the mornin'.

I had not proceeded one mile down the road,
When I heard a dispute in the farmer's abode,
The son of the landlord, an ill-lookin' toad,
And the wife of the bold tenant farmer.
"Oh what in the devil come over you all?
"When I ask for the rent, sure I get none at all.
"At the next Assizes you'll pay for it all.
"I'll take the high road to [Clonlara?].

Oh, hurrah for the bold farmer's wife! She replied,
You're worse than your daddy on the other side,
Our National Land League will pull down your pride,
And you never will get to [Clonlara?].

Oh, your husband was drinking in town last night,
Shouting and bawling for Walton and Strite [?]
Our plan of campaign it will give you a fright.
[forgotten line].
Oh, if he was drinking, what's that to you?
I'd rather he drinks it than gives it to you!
You skinny old miser, you're not worth a chew!
And your mossy old land is no bargain.
Then I shouted "hooray," and she shouted "yoo-hoo,"
And across the green fields like Old Nick he then flew.
Cryin' God help the landlord and old Ireland too.
Auristaughe michu mauritoshe

JWM

29 Apr 01 - 06:21 PM (#451715)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: Troll

Toadfrog, your missing words are: " I fear neitherbailiff, landlord or Old Nick,
And I sang like the lark in the mornin'.
Eddie, youve got three songs here. The Galbally Farmer, The Wife of the Bold Tenant Farmer, and The Salt. Three different songs and three different tunes. The Salt is in the DT but it's hard to find. Try the Digitrad and Forum Search and you'll get it.
Btw, I still need a tune for The Salt.

troll

29 Apr 01 - 06:23 PM (#451716)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: Noreen

I've recently had a look at a much longer version than this, and will try to get hold of it- Joe Kerins is getting fed up of me borrowing all his books! (No he's not really).

In the final verse above, he was

Shouting and bawling the bold tenant's rights
Our National Land League will soon put you right
for it's able to brave every storm.

29 Apr 01 - 06:26 PM (#451721)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: Noreen

Troll, I've only ever heard The Salt as a recitation.

29 Apr 01 - 11:09 PM (#451880)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: toadfrog

Noreen: Thanks for putting me straight. But doesn't your first line belong in the final vers, and the second two lines in the third verse? Because brother Toad gets the first line, and the farmer's wife the other two?

30 Apr 01 - 08:29 AM (#451984)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: Noreen

Oh yes, of course you're right, amphibious person. I was listening to it in my head without thinking of the story. Sorry! I'll try to get the whole version if anyone still wants it, though it won't be easily spotted at the bottom of this thread!

Noreen

26 May 01 - 11:31 AM (#470947)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: Noreen

Lyrics to The Wife of the Bold Tenant Farmer are posted in a new thread: Lyr Add: Bold Tenant Farmer

Noreen

19 May 03 - 03:56 PM (#955643)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: Felipa

"The Galbally Farmer, The Wife of the Bold Tenant Farmer, and The Salt. Three different songs and three different tunes."

I'm looking at a photocopy version of the Galbally Farmer called "The Spalpeen's Complaint or The Cranbally Farmer" in the PW Joyce Collection of Old Irish Music and Songs (published 1909 if my memory is correct). The tune is almost the same as the one I know to the Wife of the Bold Tenant Farmer, but without a chorus.

19 May 03 - 04:21 PM (#955648)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: MartinRyan

Felipa

Yes - The Salt is the odd one out, although the Bold Tenant farmer is most often sung to another tune, as I think we discussed.

Regards

21 May 03 - 09:56 AM (#956898)
Subject: The Spalpeen's Complaint of the Cranbally Farmer
From: Felipa

The text given by PW Joyce for "The Spalpeen's Complaint of the Cranbally Farmer" is almost exactly the same as Frank Harte has for the Galbaly farmer. Joyce says he remembers the song since boyhood and has "a copy of 'The Cranbally Farmer' on a roughly-printed sheet. This same 'Cranbally Farmer' - the man himself - was well known in the district sixty years ago as a great old skinflint; and the song drew down on him unicversal ridicule."

"Sixty years ago" would have been around 1850.

Joyce explains that spalpeens were labouring men "who travelled about in the autumn seeking employment from the farmers, each with his spade, or his scythe, or his reaping-hook. They congregated inthe towns on market and fair days, where the farmers of the surrounding districts came to hire them. Each farmer brought home his own men, fed them on good potatoes and milk, and put them to sleep in the barn on dry straw - a bed - as one of them said to me- 'a bed fit for a lord, let alone a spalpeen.'"
Spalpeen is spelled "spailpín" in Irish, and I believe the song "An Spailpín Fanach" is on Mudcat, as well as a translation of The Whistling Gypsy with the same title.
(see the Hiring Fair Songs thread for further discussion on this topic)

The towns in the last verse are, says Joyce, in Counties Tipperary, Cork and Limerick. naygur is a niggard, a stingy person.

Where Harte has "It would give you the trotting disorder." Joyce has "Your stomach 'twould put in disorder" and writes "This line, as it stands, wants the vigour of the original, which it is not desirable to reproduce here in its naked simplicity.")

21 May 03 - 11:53 AM (#957004)
Subject: Tune Add: Cranbally Farmer / Spaleen's Complaint
From: MMario

X:1
T:Cranbally Farmer
N:aka The Spaleen's Complain
N:aka Galbally Farmer
N: P W Joyce, "Old Irish folk Music and Songs",
I:abc2nwc
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:D
z4zD|D3/2 E/2 D D C D2|F G A B2d/2 d/2|
w:One eve-ning of late as I hap-pened to stray, To the
c A F G F G|A3/2 F/2 D =C2D|D3/2 E/2 D D =C D|
w:coun-ty Tipp-'ra-ry I straight took my way, To dig the pot-a-toes and
F G A B2d|c A F G F D|D3D2A|
w:work by the day, I hired with the Gal-bal-ly farm-er. I
d3/2 e/2 d =c d c|B =c B A2G|F G A =c A F|
w:asked him how far we were bound for to go, For~the night it was dark and the
G F D =C D|D E D D C D|
w:north wind did blow, I~was hun-gry and tired and my
F G A B2d|c A F G F D|D3D2z
w:spi-rits were low, For~I got neith-er whis-key or cor-dial.

22 May 03 - 12:03 AM (#957413)
Subject: DTADD Version: Cranbally Farmer
From: Joe Offer

The Voice of the people CD serices has a 1983 recording of "Cranbally Farmer," sung by Tom Lenihan of County Clare. The lyrics are very similar to vesions of "Galbally Farmer" and "Darby O'Leary" that have been posted here - but there are interesting differences.
-Joe Offer-

THE CRANBALLY FARMER

One evening of late as I happened to stray
To the county Tipperary I straight took my way,
To dig the potatoes and work by the day,
I hired with the Cranbally farmer.

I asked him how far we were bound for to go.
The night it was dark and the North winds did blow.
I was hungry and tired and my spirits were low.
I had neither whiskey nor porter.

He heeded me no answer but mounted his steed.
To the Cranbally mountains we posted with speed.
I said to myself that my poor heart would bleed
To be trudging behind that old nagger.

When we entered his kitchen, I entered it first.
It seemed like a kennel or a ruined old church,
Says Ito myself, "I am left in the lurch
Here in the house of old Darby O'Leary."

I well recollect it was Michaelmas night
To an awful bad supper he did me invite,
A cup of sour milk that would physic a snipe
Your stomach 'twould put in disorder.

'Twas then that old miser I looked at with a frown,
When the straw was brought in for to make my shake-down.
I wish I had never seen Cranbally town
Or the sky over Darby O'Leary.

I've worked in Kilcolomb; I've worked in Kilmore;
I've worked in Knockbrack and in Shanballymore.
In palace in acre and sallow damor (?)
With decent respectable farmers.

I've worked in Tipperary; the rag and rose green.
I've worked in Knockernie and the bridge of Eileen,
But such willful starvation I've never yet seen,
As I got from Darby O'Leary.

23 Jun 07 - 04:32 PM (#2085065)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: GUEST

Hello I am looking for a recitation called Bradys of Kilan,It starts As I went out to a hiring fair at a place they call the strand I hired there for six long months with Brady of Kilan.

23 Jun 07 - 05:00 PM (#2085090)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: GUEST,mg

Interesting song...Is that near the Galtee?? Mountains? I was reading something somewhere that they did an inventory of some part of that district long ago and out of 9,000 people there were something like 10 beds for them to sleep in, maybe 50 chairs and 200 stools...I can't remember the exact numbers but it was appalling...mg

24 Jun 07 - 09:45 AM (#2085528)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: DannyC

Andy O'Brien recorded a lovely song version of the "Brady - Hiring Fair" piece on an album called "The Corner House" with a group called "The Irish Tradition" in the late 1970s. I think he calls it "The Hiring Fair" and sings the subject's name as a Mister Tom McCann.

24 Aug 09 - 11:12 PM (#2707814)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: GUEST,Lunalass

Check out this for what seems to be proper words and attribution for the lyrics as a poem:
Gather Round Me: The Best of Irish Popular Poetry

More info here:
The Sliabh na mBan Hillbillies

And from Wikipedia's article on Galbally:

"A well known folk song, "The Galbally Farmer", (with a tune also known as "Thank God we're surrounded by water"), tells of the trials suffered by a hired labourer working for the miserly farmer of the title, Darby O'Leary"

The internet is a wonderful, dangerous toy, isn't it? :-D

26 Aug 09 - 06:27 PM (#2709402)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE GALBALLY FARMER
From: Jim Dixon

These lyrics are copied from Gather Round Me: The Best of Irish Popular Poetry By Christopher Cahill (see link above):

THE GALBALLY FARMER
Diarmuid O Riain (1777-1885)

One evening of late as I happened to stray
To the county Tipp'rary, I straight took my way
To dig the potatoes and work by the day.
I hired with a Galbally farmer.
I asked him how far we were bound for to go,
The night being dark and the north wind did blow,
I was hungry and tired and my spirits were low,
For I got neither whiskey nor cordial.

This miserable miser, he mounted his steed.
To the Galbally mountains he hastened with speed,
And surely I thought that my poor heart would bleed
As I tried to keep up with his travel.
When we came to his cottage, I entered it first.
It seemed like a kennel or a ruined old church.
Says I to myself, "I am left in the lurch
In the house of old Darby O'Leary!"

I well recollect it was Michaelmas Night.
To a hearty good supper he did me invite:
A cup of sour milk that was more green than white.
'Twould give you the trotting disorder.
The wet old potatoes would poison the cat,
And the barn where my bed was, was swarming with rats.
'Twas little I thought it would e'er be my lot
To lie in that hole until mornings.

By what he had said to me, I understood.
My bed in the barn it was not very good.
The blanket was made at the time of the Flood,
The quilt and the sheets in proportion.
'Twas on this old miser I looked with a frown
When the straw was brought out for to make my shake-down,
And I wished that I never saw Galbally Town
Or the sky over Darby O'Leary!

I've worked in Kilconnel. I've worked in Kilmore.
I've worked in Knockainy and Shanballymore,
In Pallas-A-Nicrer and Sollohodmore
With decent respectable farmers.
I worked in Tipperary, the Rag, and Rosegreen,
At the Mount of Kilfeakle, the Bridge of Aleen,
But such woeful starvation I have never yet seen
Than I got from old Darby O'Leary!

26 Aug 09 - 06:51 PM (#2709417)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE SPALPEEN'S COMPLAINT OF DARBY O'LEARY
From: Jim Dixon

From the Bodleian broadside collection, Harding B 26(619):

THE SPALPEEN'S COMPLAINT OF DARBY O'LEARY.

One evening of late as I happened to stray,
To the County Tipperary, I straight took my way.
To dig the potatoes or work by the day,
I hired with a Galbally farmer.
I asked him how far he bound for to go,
The night being dark and the north winds did blow;
"Sirs, I am fatigued and my spirits are low
I can neither drink whiskey or cordial."

This crafty old miser, he mounted his steed.
To the Galbally mountains he posted with speed.
I certainly thought my poor heart it would bleed
To trudging along with that miser.
When I came to his cottage, I entered it first.
It appeared like a kennel or old preaching church.
Now then I said, "I am left in the lurch,
Contented with Darby O'Leary."

I recollect very well 'twas on a Michaelmas night.
To a hearty good supper he did me invite:
A cup of sour milk that was would poison a snipe,
Or give you the trotting disorder.
The milk was so sour it would poison the cats.
Likewise his old barn was covered with rats.
'Tis little I thought it would ever be my lot
To lie with his tribe until morning.

By what he had said, I then understood.
The covering there it was not very good.
The blanket was made since the time of the Flood,
The quilt and the sheets in proportion.
It was on this old miser I looked with a frown
While he was preparing for me the shake-down.
I wish I never saw Galbally town
Or the sky over Darby O'Leary.

I worked in Kilconnel. I worked in Killmore.
I worked in Knockany and Shanballymore,
In Pallas-a-Nicker and Soliheadmore
With decent respectable farmers.
I worked in Tipperary, the Rag, and Rose Green,
At the Mount of Killfeale and Bridge of Aleen,
But woeful starvation I never yet seen
As I got from old Darby O'Leary.

So now to conclude and to finish my song,
May he or his offsprings never live long.
May the offspring of Luther or some of his clan,
That did spread all over this nation.
But if you were forced to travel to Cork,
To seek for employment with spade, shovel or fork,
That some whirlwind may ship you off to New York
If you work for old Darby O'Leary.

27 Aug 09 - 06:50 AM (#2709701)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Galbally Farmer
From: GUEST,Kendall

I got this from the Dubliners and they called it Darby O'Leary.