THE RARE OLD MOUNTAIN DEW 

COME BY THE HILLS

MACNAMARA'S BAND

LONG BLACK VEIL

THE FROGS WEDDING

THE RARE OLD MOUNTAIN DEW      Back to Top
  
LET THE GRASSES GROW AND THE WATERS FLOW 

IN A FREE AND EASY WAY


BUT GIVE ME ENOUGH OF THE RARE OLD STUFF


THAT'S MADE NEAR GALWAY BAY


COME GOUGERS ALL, FROM DONEGAL SLIGO AND LEITRIM TOO


AND WE'LL GIVE YOU THE SLIP AS WE TAKE A SIP


OF THE RARE OLD MOUNTAIN DEW



AT THE FOOT OF THE HILL THERE'S A NEAT LITTLE STILL,


WHERE THE SMOKE CURLS UP TO THE SKY;


BY THE WHIFF OF THE SMELL YOU EAN PLAINLY TELL


THERE'S POITIN BOYS CLOSEBY.


FOR IT FILLS THE AIR, WITH A PERFUME RARE THAT BETWIXT BOTH ME AND YOU


AS HOME WE ROLL, WE'LL DRINK A BOWL 
  
OR A BUCKET FULL OF MOUNTAIN DEW



NOW LEARNED MEN WHO USE THE PEN HAVE WROTE ITS PRAISES HIGH


OF A SWEET POITIN FROM IRELAND GREEN, DISTILLED FROM WHEAT AND RYE. 
  
FORGET YOUR PILLS, IT WILL CURE ALL ILLS OF THE PAGAN, CHRISTIAN OR JEW


TAKE OFF YOUR COAT AND DRINK A BOAT 
  
OR A BUCKET FULL OF MOUNTAIN DEW 
  
 



  
  
COME BY THE HILLS     Back to Top
  
COME BY THE HILLS TO A LAND WHERE FANCY IS FREE 

AND STAND WHERE THE PEAKS MEET THE SKY AND THE LOCHS REACH THE SEA


WHERE THE RIVERS RUN CLEAR AND THE BRACKEN IS GOLD IN THE SUN


AND THE CARES OF TOMORROW MUST WAIT 'TIL THIS DAY IS DONE



COME BY THE HILLS TO THE LAND WHERE LIFE IS A SONG


AND SING WHILE THE BIRDS FILL THE AIR WITH THEIR JOY ALL DAY LONG


WHERE THE TREES SWAY IN TIME AND EVEN THE WIND SINGS IN TUNE


AND THE CARES OF TOMORROW CAN WAIT 'TIL THIS DAY IS DONE



COME BY THE HILLS TO A LAND WHERE LEGEND REMAINS


WHERE STORIES OF OLD STIR THE HEART AND MAY YET COME AGAIN


WHERE OUR PAST HAS BEEN LOST AND THE FUTURE HAS STILL TO BE WON


AND THE CARES OF TOMORROW MUST WAIT 'TIL THIS DAY IS DONE 
  
  
   


MACNAMARA'S BAND     Back to Top


MY NAME IS MACNAMARA, I'M THE LEADER OF A BAND,

AND THOUGH WE'RE SMALL IN NUMBER, WE'RE THE BEST IN ALL THE LAND.

OF COURSE I'M THE CONDUCTOR AND I'VE OFTEN HAD TO PLAY

WITH ALL THE FINE MUSICIANS THAT YOU READ ABOUT TODAY.



OOH, THE DRUMS THEY BANG, THE CYMBALS CLANG, THE HORNS THEY BLAZE AWAY,

MCCARTHY PUFFS THE OULD BASSOON, DOYLE (AND I) THE PIPES DO PLAY.

HENNESSEY TENNESY TOOTLES THE FLUTE, THE MUSIC IS SOMETHING GRAND,

AND A CREDIT TO OULD IRELAND'S BOYS IS MACNAMARA'S BAND.




WHENEVER AN ELECTION'S ON WE PLAY ON EITHER SIDE,

AND THE WAY WE PLAY THE FINE OULD AIRS FILLS EVERY HEART WITH PRIDE.

IF DEAR TOM MOORE WAS LIVING NOW HE'D MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND

THAT NONE CAN DO HIM JUSTICE LIKE OULD MACNAMARA'S BAND.

 

  
OOH, THE DRUMS THEY BANG, THE CYMBALS CLANG, THE HORNS THEY BLAZE AWAY,

MCCARTHY PUFFS THE OULD BASSOON, DOYLE (AND I) THE PIPES DO PLAY.

HENNESSEY TENNESY TOOTLES THE FLUTE, THE MUSIC IS SOMETHING GRAND,

AND A CREDIT TO OULD IRELAND'S BOYS IS MACNAMARA'S BAND.




WE PLAY FOR FAIRS OR WEDDINGS AND FOR EVERY COUNTY BALL,

AND AT ANY GREAT MAN'S FUNERAL WE PLAY "THE DEAD THEY MARCH IN SAUL."

WHEN GENERAL GRANT TO IRELAND CAME HE SHOOK ME BY THE HAND,

AND SAID HE NEVER HEARD THE LIKE OF OULD MACNAMARA'S BAND.



 
OOH, THE DRUMS THEY BANG, THE CYMBALS CLANG, THE HORNS THEY BLAZE AWAY,

MCCARTHY PUFFS THE OULD BASSOON, DOYLE (AND I) THE PIPES DO PLAY.

HENNESSEY TENNESY TOOTLES THE FLUTE, THE MUSIC IS SOMETHING GRAND,

AND A CREDIT TO OULD IRELAND'S BOYS IS MACNAMARA'S BAND.



 
OOH, JUST NOW WE ARE PRACTICING FOR A VERY GRAND AFFAIR,

IT'S AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION, ALL THE GENTRY WILL BE THERE.

THE GIRLS AND BOYS WILL ALL TURN OUT WITH FLAGS AND COLOURS GRAND,

AND IN FRONT OF THE PROCESSION WILL BE MACNAMARA'S BAND.

 
     
OOH, THE DRUMS THEY BANG, THE CYMBALS CLANG, THE HORNS THEY BLAZE AWAY,

MCCARTHY PUFFS THE OULD BASSOON, DOYLE (AND I) THE PIPES DO PLAY.

HENNESSEY TENNESY TOOTLES THE FLUTE, THE MUSIC IS SOMETHING GRAND,

AND A CREDIT TO OULD IRELAND'S BOYS IS MACNAMARA'S BAND.



 



 



LONG BLACK VEIL      Back to Top
(TRADITIONAL)

                                  
TEN YEARS AGO ON A COLD DARK NIGHT

THERE WAS SOMEONE SHOT 'NEATH THE TOWN HALL LIGHT

FEW WERE AT THE SCENE BUT THEY ALL AGREE

THAT THE MAN DID THE SHOOTING LOOKED A LOT LIKE ME



THE JUDGE SAID "SON, WHAT IS YOUR ALIBI

IF YOU WERE SOMEWHERE ELSE YOU WON'T HAVE TO DIE"

I SPOKE NOT A WORD, THOUGH IT MEANT MY LIFE

FOR I'D BEEN IN THE ARMS OF MY BEST FRIENDS WIFE



SHE WALKS THESE HILLS IN A LONG BLACK VEIL

SHE VISITS MY GRAVE WHILE THE NIGHT WINDS WAIL

NOBODY KNOWS, NOBODY SEES,

NOBODY KNOWS BUT ME

 

THE SCAFFOLD WAS HIGH, AND ETERNITY NEAR

SHE STOOD IN THE CROWD, BUT SHE SHED NOT A TEAR

BUT SOMETIMES LATE AT NIGHT, WHEN THE COLD WIND MOANS

SHE VISITS MY GRAVE, AND SHE CRIES O'ER MY BONES

 


SHE WALKS THESE HILLS IN A LONG BLACK VEIL

SHE VISITS MY GRAVE WHILE THE NIGHT WINDS WAIL

NOBODY KNOWS, NOBODY SEES,

NOBODY KNOWS BUT ME
  
  

THE FROGS WEDDING   Back to Top


NOW THERE WAS A FROG LIVED IN A WELL
WITH A RING-DUM BULL-A-DUM-A-COY-ME
AND A MERRY MOUSE LIVED IN A MILL
WITH A RING-DUM BULL-A-DUM-A-COY-ME,


CHORUS

COY-ME NERO KILL-TO-CAR-O COY-ME NERO COY-ME
PLIM-STRIN SLAMMER-DIDDLE, LADDLE-BULL- A-RING-TING
A-LING-DUM BULL-A-DUM-A-COY-ME.


NOW THIS MERRY FROG HE CAUGHT A SNAIL
WITH A RING-DUM BULL-A-DUM-A-COY-ME
THIS MERRY FROG HE CAUGHT A SNAIL
AND RODE BETWEEN HIS HORNS AND TAILS


WITH A RING-DUM BULL-A-DUM-A-COY-ME.

CHORUS


LADY MOUSE, A WILL YOU ME KITTY ALONE, KITTY ALONE
LADY, MOUSE, A WILL YOU MARRY ME
KITTY ALONE, AND I AM LADY MOUSE, A WILL YOU MARRY ME
ASK MY UNCLE RAT SHE SAID TO MY CAX-MY-CAREY, DUCK-IN-I-DILL,
KITTY ALONE, AND I AM.

UNCLE RAT, WILL YOU MARRY LADY MOUSE? KITTY ALONE KITTY ALONE
UNCLE RAT, WILL YOU MARRY LADY MOUSE?
KITTY ALONE, AND I AM UNCLE RAT, WILL YOU MARRY LADY MOUSE?
YES, KIND SIR, AND HALF MY HOUSE TO MY CAX-MY-CAREY, DUCK-IN-I-DILL
KITTY ALONE, AND I AM.


LADY MOUSE, WHERE WILL THE WEDDING BE? KITTY ALONE, KITTY ALONE
LADY MOUSE, WHERE WILL THE WEDDING BE? KITTY ALONE, AND I AM
LADY MOUSE WHERE WILL THE WEDDING BE?
UP IN THE TOP OF A HOLLOW TREE TO MY CAX-MY-CAREY, DUCK-IN-I-DILL
KITTY ALONE, AND I AM.



THEN THE FIRST TO COME WAS A GREAT BIG BEAR,
M-HM THE FIRST TO COME WAS A GREAT BIG BEAR,
AND HE FILLED UP THE OLE ARMCHAIR, M-HM.
THE SECOND TO COME WAS A GREAT BIG SNAKE
AND HE ATE UP AL THE WEDDING CAKE, M-HM
OH WASN`T THAT A CATASTROPHE, M-HM


OH WASN`T THAT A CATASTRPOHE


TO HAPPEN IN THE OLE OAK TREE, M-HM.
THEN WHILST AT DINNER THEY ALL SAT HEIGH HO, HEIGH HO
THEN WHILST AT DINNER THEY ALL SAT
IN CAME THE KITTEN AND THE CAT
WITH A ROWLEY POWELY, GAMMON AND SPINACH
HEIGH HO, SAID ANTHONY ROWELY.
WELL SAYS HE; MISTER RAT, WILL YOU GIVE US A SONG?


HEIGH HO, HEIGH HO


  
SAYS HE, MISTER RAT WILL YOU GIVE US A SONG?
AND I HOPE YOU WON`T DETAIN US LONG
WITH A ROWELY POWELY, GAMMON AND SPINACH
HEIGH HO: SAID ANTHONY ROWELY.



THEN THE CAT SHE COLLARED THE BLOOMING GREAT RAT
HEIGH HO, HEIGH HO
THE CAT SHE COLLARED THE BLOOMING GREAT RAT
AND TE KITTEN SHE COLLARED THE POOR LITTLE MOUSE
WITH A ROWLEY POWELY, GAMMON AND SPINACH
HEIGH HO, SAID ANTHONY ROWELY


THEN THIS LITTLE FROG WENT DOWN THE HILL
WITH A RING-DUM BULL-A-DUM-A-COY-ME
THIS MERRY FROG WENT DOWN THE HILL WITH A RING-DUM BULL-A-DUM-A-COY-ME


COY-ME NERO-TO-CARE-O COY-ME NERO COY-ME
PLIM-STRIN SLAMMER-DIDDLE, LADDLE-BULL-A-RING-THING
A-LING-DUM BULL-A-DUM-A-COY-ME


AND THERE HE MET THIS LITTLE WHITE DUCK
WITH A RING-DUM BULL-A-DUM-A-COY-ME
AND THERE HE MET THIS LITTLE WHITE DUCK
WHO SWALLOWED HIM UP WITH A QUACK, QUACK, QUACK!


AND A RING-DUM BULL-A-DUM-A-COY-ME COY-ME NERO KILL-TO-CARE-O
COY-ME NERO COY-ME PLIM-STRIN SLAMMER-DIDDLE, LADDLE-BULL-A-
RING-THING A-LING-DUM BULL-A-DUM-A-COY-ME.

Irish Song Charts are available in pdg format at Spike's Music Collection.

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"MacNamara's Band" 

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