Saturday, February 6, 2010

Eireann go Bragh!

Ok, so since there hasn't been a whole lot to post about lately (aside from out electricity going out for while) I am going to start posting the lyrics to some of my favorite Irish or Scottish folk songs for any wannabe celts out there!

Most of these I can sing passably, and they are quite fun to roar at the top of yer lungs whilst doing the dishes or folding laundry, startling all nearby family members and wildlife into submission.


The first, Nell Flaherty's Drake, I like because of the wonderful imagination the singer apparently has for torments to inflict upon his enemy.


Oh my name it is Nell and the truth for to tell
I come from Cootehill which I'll never deny
I had a fine drake and I'd die for his sake
That me grandmother left me and she goin' to die
The dear little fellow his legs they were yellow
He could fly like a swallow or swim like a hake
Till some dirty savage to grease his white cabbage
Most wantonly murdered me beautiful drake

Now his neck it was green almost fit to be seen
He was fit for a queen of the highest degree
His body was white, and it would you delight
He was plump, fat, and heavy and brisk as a bee
He was wholesome and sound, he would weigh twenty pound
And the universe round I would roam for his sake
Bad luck to the robber be he drunk or sober
That murdered Nell Flaherty's beautiful drake

May his spade never dig, may his sow never pig
May each hair in his wig be well trashed with the flail
My his door never latch, may his roof have no thatch
May his turkeys not hatch, may the rats eat his meal
May every old fairy from Cork to Dun Laoghaire
Dip him snug and airy in river or lake
That the eel and the trout they may dine on the snout
Of the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty's drake

May his pig never grunt, may his cat never hunt
May a ghost ever haunt him the dead of the night
May his hens never lay, may his horse never neigh
May his coat fly away like an old paper kite
That the flies and the fleas may the wretch ever tease
May the piercin' March breeze make him shiver and shake
May a lump of the stick raise the bumps fast and quick
On the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty's drake

Well the only good news that I have to infuse
Is that old Paddy Hughes and young Anthony Blake
Also Johnny Dwyer and Corney Maguire
They each have a grandson of my darlin' drake
May treasure have dozens of nephews and cousins
And one I must get or me heart it will break
For to set me mind easy or else I'll run crazy
So ends the whole song of Nell Flaherty's drake!



The song can be heard here: http://free.napster.com/player/?play_id=24897567&type=track

8 comments:

  1. ...Nell?


    Sorry I can't get over that. Hahaha!

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  2. Yes Nell!

    You read the post, so I expect you to be ready to sing next play practice!

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  3. I like it.

    I always thought there was a dragon in that song. Huh? Apparently not.

    I'll have to scratch that song off the favourites list. Firebreathing is awe inspiring. Ducks not so much.

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  4. i like that song. i've had it for a while now. but Nell does suck as a name. if he had a problem, maybe he could have called Nell tech support. they might've been able to replace his lost drake. he might have even gotten an upgrade, NELL Drake 2.0. now with more flapping power than ever before!
    check out my blog weirdonerants.blogspot.com. in it i rant about politics and weird and strange happenings in my life, there are some funny stories to tell. i just started so not many up yet.

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  5. Hey! Thanks for reading and commenting guys!
    Tragedy, I thought the same thing the first time I heard the song, "A dragon? Cool! I din't know the Irish sang about dragons!"
    Then I caught the line about greasing cabbage, and I realized it was talking about a Mallard being used as grease to fry cabbage in;P
    It's still a great song though! One of my favorites.

    DtC, only two words: BAD PUN!

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  6. Come on, Einar. Ya gotta admit, it's a little "punny".

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  7. *Wince* Read the rules again please!

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