The Dubliners

[fox69]

"Spancil Hill"

"Spancil Hill"



Last night as I lay dreaming of pleasant days gone by
Me mind being bent on rambling, to Ireland I did fly
I stepped on board a vision, and I followed with a will
'Til next I came to anchor at the cross at Spancil Hill

It being on the 23rd of June, the day before the fair
When Ireland's sons and daughters and friends assembled there
The young, the old, the brave and the bold came, their duty to fulfill
At the parish church in Clooney, a mile from Spancil Hill

I went to see me neighbors, to see what they might say
The old ones were all dead and gone, the young ones turning gray
But I met the tailor Quigley, he's as bold as ever still
Ah, he used to mend me britches when I lived in Spancil Hill

I paid a flying visit to my first and only love
She's as white as any lily, gentle as a dove
And she threw her arms around me saying, "Johnny, I love you still"
As she's Nell the farmer's daughter and the pride of Spancil Hill

I dreamed I held and kissed her as in the days of yore
Ah Johnny, you're only jokin', as many's the time before
Then the cock, he crew in the morning, he crew both loud and shrill
I awoke in California, many miles from Spancil Hill

 

[fox69]

"Spanish Lady"

"Spanish Lady"


As I came down through Dublin City, at the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I spy, but a Spanish Lady
Washing her feet by the candlelight
First she washed them, then she dried them
Over a fire of amber coals
In all me life I ne'er did see, a maid so sweet about the soul

[Chorus:]
Whack for the Too Rye Ooh Ray Lady,
whack for the Too Rye Ooh Rye Aye

As I came back through Dublin City at the hour of Half past Eight,
Who should I spy but the Spanish Lady,
brushing her hair in the broad daylight
First she brushed it, then she tossed it
On her lap was a silver comb
In all me life I ne'er did see, a maid so fair since I did roam.

[Chorus]

As I returned to Dublin City, as the sun began to set
Who should I spy but a Spanish lady
Catching a moth, in a golden net.
First she saw me, then she fled me
Lifted her petticoats o'er her knee
In all me life I ne'er did see, a maid so fair as the Spanish Lady

[Chorus]

Ive wandered North, and I have wonder South
Through Stoney Barter and Patricks Close
Up and around, by the Gloucester Diamond
And back by Napper Tandys' house
Auld age has laid her hands on me
Cold as a fire of ashy coals...
But, there is the love of me Spanish Lady, a maid so sweet about the soul

[Chorus x2]

 

[fox69]

"Step It Out Mary"

"Step It Out Mary"



In the Village of Kildoran
lived a maiden young and fair
Her eyes, they shone like diamonds,
she had long and golden hair,
the countryman came riding up to her
daddy`s gate, mounted on a milk-white stallion,
he came at the stroke of eight

Step it out Mary, my fine daughter,
step it out Mary if you can.
Step it out Mary, my fine daughter,
show your legs to the countryman.

I have come to court your daughter.
Mary of the golden hair,
I have gold and I have silver,
I have lands beyond compare.
I will buy her silks and satins
and a gold ring for her hand.
I will buy her a mansion,
she'll have servants to command

Step it out Mary, my fine daughter,
step it out Mary if you can.
Step it out Mary, my fine daughter,
show your legs to the countryman.

Oh kind Sir I have a soldier
and I`ve pledged to him my hand.
I don`t want your gold nor silver,
I don`t want your horse nor land."
Mary`s father Spoke up sharply,
you will do as you are told,
you`ll mary him on sunday
and you`ll wear the ring of gold."

Step it out Mary, my fine daughter,
step it out Mary if you can.
Step it out Mary, my fine daughter,
show your legs to the countryman.

In the village of Kildoran
there`s a deep stream running by.
They found Mary there on sunday,
she had drowned with soldier boy.
In the cottage there is music,
you can hear her daddy say
Step it out Mary my fine daughter,
sunday is your wedding day.

 

[fox69]

"Sullivan's John"

"Sullivan's John"



O'Sullivan John to the road you're gone,
far away from your native land,
You've gon with the tinker's daughter
far along the road to roam,
O'Sullivan John you wont stick it long
till your belly will soon be slack,
As you roam the road with a mighty loan,
and a tool box on your back.

I met Katie Coffee with her neat baby,
behind on her back strapped on,
She'd an old ash plant in her hand
to drive the donkey along,
Enquiring at every farmers house, as
along the road she passed,
And it's where would you get an
old pot to mend, and where would she get an ass.

There's a hairy ass fair in the County Clare
in a place they call Spancil Hill,
Where my brother James got a wrap of a haimes,
and poor Paddy they tried to kill,
They loaded him up in an old ass and cart
while Kate and big Mary looked on,
Ah, bad luck to the day that I went away,
to join with the tinkers band.

 

[fox69]

"Tá An Coileach Ag Fógairt An Lae"

"Tá An Coileach Ag Fógairt An Lae"



Tá 'n coileach a' fógairt an lae
Tá 'n coileach a' fógairt an lae
Tá an mhuc ag a' ndoras
A d'iarraidh é oscailt
Tá 'n coileach a' fógairt an lae

Tá 'n coileach a' fógairt an lae
Tá 'n coileach a' fógairt an lae
Tá 'n chearc is a hál
Ina gcodladh go sámh
Tá 'n coileach a' fógairt an lae

Tá 'n coileach a' fógairt an lae
Tá 'n coileach a' fógairt an lae
Tá bó na leath - adhairce
'Tál bhainne do'n teaghlach
Tá 'n coileach a' fógairt an lae

Tá 'n coileach a' fógairt an lae
Tá 'n coileach a' fógairt an lae
Tá an ghealach 'na lui
Is an ghrian ag éirí
Tá 'n coileach a' fógairt an lae

 

[fox69]

"Take It Down From The Mast"

"Take It Down From The Mast"



Take it down from the mast, Irish traitors,
The flag we Republicans claim.
It can never belong to Free Staters.
You brought on it nothing but shame.

Then leave it to those who are willin'
To uphold it in war or in peace.
The men who intended to kill it,
Until England's tyranny cease.

You've taken our brave Liam and Rory,
You've murdered young Richard and Joe.
Your hands with their blood are still gory,
From fillin' the work of the foe.
For we stand with Enright and Larkin,
With Daley and Sullivan the bold.
We'll break down the English connection,
And bring back the nation you sold.
Take it down from the mast, Irish traitors,
The flag we Republicans claim.
It can never belong to Free Staters,
You brought on in nothing but shame

 

[fox69]

"The Auld Triangle"

"The Auld Triangle"



A hungry feeling, came o'er me stealing
And the mice were squealing in my prison cell
And the auld triangle, went jingle jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal

To begin the morning, a screw was bawling
Get up you bowsie, and clean up your cell
And the auld triangle, went jingle jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal

The lags were sleeping, humpy Gussy was creeping
As I lay there weeping for my girl Sal
And the auld triangle, went jingle jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal

Up in the female prison, there are seventy five women
'Tis among them I wish I did dwell
Then the auld triangle, could go jingle jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal
All along the banks of the Royal Canal

 

[fox69]

"The Ballad Of Ronnie's Mare"

"The Ballad Of Ronnie's Mare"



You can sing of all your sport'n hero's
Like Mr. (McGranderas)
But there's a horse in the county of Wicklow
That's beaten all of the best
The slowest humper, the lowest jumper
The great for a straw 'round the park

The servant lasses, the upper classes
And daughters of millionaires
They all appear from far and near
For a ride on Ronnie's mare
For a ride on Ronnie Drew's mare

In (Graystone's) town on a Sunday morning
A crowd will always appear
To catch a glimpse of the famous mare
They call the horse of the year
She's the best at racin', but sees no disgracin'
In pulling a big old wee cart

In the (Bardeby) bar boys talked of the horse show
One said she ought to be showed
She was (chiltered) and trained by the two Heaven's boys
And the grass by the side of the road
Though she won 'm in Dublin without any troublin'
Next day she was back in the cart

Joe Sweeny the puncher suggested one day
They should enter her in for a race
So all was arranged, Billy Fox would be jockey
And New Castle would be the place
But the boys all agreed it, even if she succeeded
She'd go back to deliverin' milk

Well, the boys where there to lay out the ready's
And cheer the horse past the post
But when Fox had a look at the competition
He tottened as white as a ghost
We'll have some hassle to beat Willy Castle
Says Ronnie "(fuck you sake)"

The race it was tough, but the mare she was flyin'
They knew that she couldn't loose
But in the midst of the celebrations
Arrived some tragic news
In her finest hour all the milk had gone sour
So now she was out of a job

 

[fox69]

"The Beggarman"

"The Beggarman"


The night been dark and very cold
A woman took pity on a poor old soul
She took pity on a poor old soul
And she asked him to come in

[Chorus:]
Wid me too roo roo roo rentum high
Me too roo roo roo rentum high
Too roo roo roo rentum high
And it's time for the beggar man

He sat in down in the chimney nook
He hung his coat upon a hook
Hung his coat upon a hook
And merely he did sing

[Chorus]

In the middle of the night the ould one rose
She mist the beggar man and all his cloth's
Crapped and crapped and crapped again
Says me has me daughter gone

[Chorus]

Four long years had past and gone
When this old man came back again
Asking for a charity
Which she let you beggar man

I ever lodged any book to one
And with that one me daughter's gone
With that one me daughter's gone
So merely you may gang

[Chorus]

Would you like to see your daughter now
With two babies on her knee
With two babies on her knee
And another one coming on

[Chorus]

For yonder she sits and yonder she stands
The finest lady in all the land
Servant's there at her command
Since she went with the beggar man

[Chorus]

 

[fox69]

"The Black Velvet Band"

"The Black Velvet Band"



In a neat little town they called Belfast
Apprenticed to trade I was bound
And many an hour's sweet happiness
Have I spent in that neat little town
A sad misfortune came over me
Which caused me to stray from the land
Far away from my friends and relations
betrayed by the black velvet band
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
And her hair, it hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band
I took a stroll down broadway
Meaning not long for to stay
When who should I meet but this pretty fair maid
come a tripping along the highway
She was both fair and handsome
Her neck, it was just like a swan
And her hair, it hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
And her hair, it hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band
I took a stroll with this pretty fair maid
And a gentleman passing us by
Well, I knew she meant the doing of him
By the look in her roguish black eye
A gold watch she took from his pocket
And placed it right into my hand
And the very first thing that I said, was
Bad luck to the black velvet band
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
And her hair, it hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band
Before the judge and the jury
Next morning, I had to appear
The judge, he says to me:
"Young man, you're case it is proven clear
We'll give you seven years penal servitude
To be spent far away from the land
Far away from your friends and relations
Betrayed by the black velvet band"
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
And her hair, it hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band
So come all you jolly young fellows
A warning take by me
When you are out on the town, me lads
Beware of the pretty colleens
They'll feed you with strong drink, me lads
'Till you are unable to stand
And the very first thing that you'll know me lads
You've landed in Van Diemen's Land
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
Her neck, it was just like a swan
And her hair, it hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band