Song Lyrics
THE LIAR
(words—Tommy Makem)
I was born about ten thousand years ago
In Bellmullet in the County of Mayo
It was me that chased the vermin, while St. Patrick preached the sermon
And I'll whoop the man that says it isn't so
Chorus:
Singing rightful too-ra-laddie too-ra-lee
There is no one who can tell a lie like me
You can search until you tire, you won't find a bigger liar
I've been lying since the dawn of history
I saw Eve go pickin' apples off a tree
She came over and she offered one to me
I turned and said, "Dear madam, go try your luck with Adam
I'm going home to have some fish and chips and tea."
I saw Delilah cuttin' Samson's hair
She snipped away until his head was bare
When he couldn't run away, she married him next day
And they opened a barber shop in Clare
With King Billy at the Boyne I heard them call
On his followers to follow till they fall
Then he said, "We'll win quite easy, and we'll canonize, young Paisley."
Then he up and sang a verse of Derry's Walls
In was back in sixty-two in Donoghue's
I was singing there with Luke and Ronnie Drew
Luke sez, 'Nick your singing's grand, so let's form a ballad band
And a great big hairy beard I went and grew
Oh I'd like ride your sister's motor bike I'd like ride your sister's motor bike
I'd like ride your sister, I'd like ride your sister I'd like ride your sister's motor bike
Would you like to ride on Johnson's Motor Car
would you like to ride on Johnson's Motor Car
Would you like to ride on Johnson, would you like to ride on Johnson
Would you like to ride on Johnson's Motor Car
It was during World War II I met them all
There was Roosevelt and Churchill and De Gaulle
Then one day I nearly fainted, I was having my house painted
There was Hitler hanging paper in the hall
LIBERTY
(Roy Williamson/George Weir)
By the cross our Andrew bore by the sword our William wore
By the crown our Robert swore to win our Liberty
Call the falcon from the glen call the eagle from the bend
Call the lion from his den to win our Liberty
By the man was faith was old by the man they sold for gold
By the man they'll never hold to win our Liberty
Call the thieves all in his dale call the spears of Allendale
Call the brave of Yarrow Veil to win our Liberty
By the arm that bends the bow by the arm that plies the blow
By the arm that lays them low to win our Liberty
Call the banners from the West call the raven from his nest
Call the clans that dance the best to win our Liberty
By the field that once was green by the shield that silver sheen
By the sword in battle keen to win our Liberty
Bless the man with faith we hold bless the man in chains they sold
Bless the man in cloth or gold a' won our Liberty
Bless the man in cloth or gold a' won our Liberty
THE LID OF ME GRANNY'S BIN
(Joe Mulhearn)
As I was climbing into bed, at my poor granny's side,
I looked out the window, the Brits had arrived.
The house was surrounded; they smashed the front door in.
They've come to take away, the lid of me granny's bin.
Well she opened up her window, and she clambered down the spout,
Soon her bin was rattling, to call her neighbors out.
She took out her whistle, and blew away like hell,
And soon we heard an echo, as the neighbors blew as well.
Chorus:
With a Scream, Bang, Shout, Rattle up a din.
Let the army know, my Girls, The Brits is comin' in.
Now rattle up your bin lid. Beat the message out.
Get your head down. Whistle, Bang, Shout.
A Tommy came right upstairs, a rifle in his hand.
She kicked him with her button boots, as down the hall she ran.
Up came another one, His medal for to win.
But all he got right on the gob, was the lid of me granny's bin.
The music rose like thunder, as the bins and whistles played.
The enemy soon retreated, they knew they'd overstayed.
It wasn't made of silver; it wasn't made of tin,
But once again it saved us all, the lid of me granny's bin.
Chorus
The English have the telly, the radio and press.
To all communications, they've always had access.
But from Pettigo to Bellaghy, from the bone to Castlefin,
The only way to spread the news, Is rattle your granny's bin.
Chorus
THE LILY AND THE POPPY
(Eric Bogle)
They say the Easter Lily blooms no more, no more in Erin
Now the Irish dance to different tunes and scorn the lily's wearin'
While in Flanders Field the poppies grow in bright blood red perfusion
A badge of pride no more, no more, a badge of shame and treason
Chorus:
Ireland, Oh Ireland, what have you become
Ireland, Oh Ireland, they were all your sons
Freedom is a fragile flower a poppy of lily
Withered by dreams that soon turn sour in this land of empty bellies
So once more, once more, our wild geese flew to freedom's false horizon
To seek an age old Irish rendezvous with suffering, grief and mourning
Chorus
Far from here the wild geese fly past hate and love and caring
In countless graves they nameless lie the long lost sons of Erin
The passing years shall not condemn those who those lie beneath the poppy
When from the same green slender stem there grew an Easter Lily
Chorus
LILY THE PINK
(Traditional; Arr., Iain C. MacKintosh & HamishImlach)
Oh we'll drink, we'll drink, we'll drink
To Lily the Pink, the Pink, the Pink
The saviour of the human race
She invented medicinal compound
Most effective in every case
Auntie Minnie was thin and skinny, all flat and nowhere round
Then they gave her medicinal compound, and now she weighs five hundred pounds
President Ronnie won't ban the bomb, he doesn't want no peace at all
Then they gave him medicinal compound, he sings the Internationale
Sylvester Stallone was skinny and boney, and his muscles never grew
Then they gave him medicinal compound, now he's Rocky XXII
Maggie Thatcher, our money snatcher, she used to hate St Patrick's Day
Then they gave her medicinal compound, and now she's joined the IRA
Comrade Gorbachev was always sore because he only drank tea from his samovar
Then they gave him medicinal compound, Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o, there's vodka in the jar
LILY THE PINK [2]
(Irish Rovers' version)
Chorus:
We'll drink, a drink, a drink
To Lily the Pink, the pink, the pink
The savior of the human race
She invented medicinal compound
Most affectations in every case
Here's a story a little gory
A little bit happy a little bit sad
Of Lily the Pink and her medicinal compound
And how it drove her- to the bad
Well Ebenezer thought he was Julius Caesar
So they put him in a home
And they gave him medicinal compound
And now he's Emperor of Rome
Chorus
Freddy Clinger the Opera singer
Would take a glass with his voice to soothe
Rubbed hi-O tonsils-, with medicinal compound
Now he breaks glasses over his head
Johnny Hammer had a terrible stammer
He could hardly say a word
So they gave him medicinal compound
And now he's seen but never heard
Chorus
Uncle Paul he was very small
He was the shortest man in town
So they gave him medicinal compound
Now he only weighs a half of a pound
Lily died and went up to heaven
All the church bells they did ring
She took with her medicinal compound
Hark the Herald Angels sings
Chorus
Repeat Chorus
LIMERICK RAKE
I am a young fellow that's easy and bold. in Castletown Conners I'm very well known.
In Newcastle West I spent many a note, with Kitty and Judy and Mary.
My father rebuked me for being such a rake. And spending my time in such frolicsome ways.
But I ne'er could forget the good nature of Jane, Agús fagaimid siúd mar atá sé.
My parents had reared me to shake and to mow, To plough and to harrow, to reap and to sow,
But my heart being airy to drop it so low I set out on high speculation.
On paper and parchment they taught me to write,
In Euclid and Grammar they opened my eyes,
And in Multiplication in truth I was bright, Agús fagaimid siúd mar atá sé.
If I chance for to go to the town of Rathkeal, the girls all round me do flock on the square,
Some give me a bottle and others sweet cakes, To treat me unknown to their parents,
There is one from Askeaton and one from the Pike, Another from Arda, my heart was beguiled,
Tho' being from the mountains her stockings are white, Agús fagaimid siúd mar atá sé.
To quarrel for riches I ne'er was inclined. For the greatest of misers must leave them behind.
I'll purchase a cow that will never run dry, And I'll milk her by twisting her horn.
John Damer of Shronel had plenty of gold, And Devonshire's treasure is twenty times more,
But he's laid on his back among nettles and stones, Agús fagaimid siúd mar atá sé.
This cow can be milked without clover or grass, For she's pampered with corn, good barley and hops
She's warm and stout, and she's free in her paps, And she'll milk without spancel or halter.
The man that will drink it will cock his caubeen, And if anyone coughs there'll be wigs on the green,
And the feeble old hag will get supple and free, Agús fagaimid siúd mar atá sé.
If I chance for to go to the market at Croom, With a cock in my hand and my pipes in full tune,
I am welcome at once and brought up to a room, where Bacchus is sporting with Venus.
There's Peggy and Jane from the town of Bruree, And Biddy from Bruff and we all on the spree,
Such a combing of locks as there was about me, Agús fagaimid siúd mar atá sé.
There's some say I'm foolish and more say I'm wise, But being fond of the women I think is no crime,
For the son of King David had ten hundred wives, And his wisdom was highly recorded.
I'll take a good garden and live at my ease, and each woman and child can partake of the same,
If there's war in the cabin, themselves they may blame, Agús fagaimid siúd mar atá sé.
And now for the future I mean to be wise, And I'll send for the women that acted so king,
And I'll marry them all on the morrow by and by, If the clergy agree to the bargain.
And when I'm on my back and my soul is at peace, These women will crowd for to cry at my wake,
And their sons and their daughters will offer their prayer, To the Lord for the soul of their father
LION ON THE GOLD
(Gordon Menzies)
For most of my life I have wandered the world
Through manys a nation with flags all unfurled
But in all of my travels no prouder flag I've found
Than the red rampant lion of the golden ground
It's the red rampant lion of Scotland
North by the Shetlands and South by the Tweed
It's honored forever in story and deed
First into battle it always could be found
The red rampant lion of the golden ground
It's the red rampant lion of Scotland
We've lost men at Floodin, at Flanders and Spain
More Culloden and El Alimain
But we've never been conquered and still we rally round
The red rampant lion of the golden ground
It's the red rampant lion of Scotland
The thistle is bonny when flowering alone
But whaur dare to meddle, she'll cut to the bone
And to Scotland my darling, me heart is ever bound
By the red rampant lion of the golden ground
It's the red rampant lion, the lion of Scotland
A Scotland united and free
THE LITTLE BEGGARMAN
I am a little beggarman, a begging I have been
For three score years in this little isle of green
Up to the Liffey down to Tessague
I 'm known by the name of Johnny Dhu
Of all the trades a going, sure the begging is the best
For when a man is tired he can sit him down and rest
He can beg for his dinner, he has nothing else to do
But to slip around the corner with his old rigadoo
Chorus:
Didddle-le-Idle-Deedle-Idle-Deedle-Idle-Dum
Idle-Deedle-Idle-Deedle-Idle-Deedle-Idle-Dum
A-Deedle-Idle-Deedle-Idle-Deedle-Idle-Dum
Idle-Deedle-Idle-Deedle-A-Deedle-Idle-Dum
I slept in a barn one night in Currabawn
A wet night came on and I slept until the dawn
There was holes in the roof and the raindrops coming through
And the rats and the cats were a playing peek a boo
Who did I waken but the woman of the house
With her white spotted apron and her calico blouse
She began to frighten and I said boo
Sure, don't be afraid at all, it's only Johnny Dhu
I met a little flaxen haired girl one day
Good morning little flaxen haired girl, I did say
Good morning little beggarman and how do you do
With your rags and your tags and your auld rigadoo
I'll buy a pair of leggins and a collar and a tie
And a nice young lady I'll go courting by and by
I'll buy a pair of goggles and I'll colour them with blue
And an old fashioned lady I will make her too
So all along the high road with my bag upon my back
Over the fields with my great heavy sack
With holes in my shoes and my toes a peeping through
Singing, skin a ma rink a doodle with my auld rigadoo
O I must be going to bed for it's getting late at night
The fire is all raked and now 'tis out of light
For now you've heard the story of my auld rigadoo
So good night and God be with you, from auld Johnny Dhu
So good night and God be with you, from auld Johnny Dhu
LITTLE GOMEZ
(Eric Bogle)
Oh, I used to have a doggie and I called him little Gomez
Because he was a Mexican Chihuahua
Though there wasn't much to him what there was all cojones
In fact he was a randy little fella big dogs, small dogs were all the same to him
The canine equivalent of Errol Flynn
At the drop of a sombrero he'd jump up and get stuck in
Taking Gomez out for walkies was embarassin'
I remember one day in the park his tally rose by four
An enviable score he was amassing, two very patient poodles and an Irish Labrador
And a woman who just happened to be passing
I tried every way to curb his carnal appetite
I kept him on a leash by day, I locked him up at night
I even put some bromide in his chunky meaty bites
But the only thing that might have worked was Kryptonite
Then came the fateful day when he tried to consummate
A liaison with a Saint Bernard from Dublin
And although he was quite clearly fighting well above his weight
He didn't let that minor detail stop him
He nearly pulled it off, oh, what an acrobat!
But the bitch got bored and down she sat
Well, they say that after making love you sometimes feel quite flat
I'm sure that little Gomez would agree with that
I buried Gomez in the park, his happy hunting ground a sad but fitting finale
Though I had to make a grave that was very flat and round
’Cause he looked like squashed tamale
But oh, how I missed my wee Chihuahua chum
I went down to the pet shop to find another one
I went there feeling happy, but I left there feeling glum
Because the man behind the counter loved corny puns
And he said "Yes, we have no Chihuahuas we have no Chihuahuas today
We have Alstations, Dalmatians, fruits of all flirtations,
An alpine Pekinese in a toupee
But yes, we have no Chihuahuas we have no Chihuahuas today"
LIVERPOOL LOU
(Dominic Behan)
Chorus:
Oh Liverpool Lou, lovely Liverpool Lou
Why don't you behave, love, like the other girls do?
Why must my poor heart be following you
Stay home and love me, my Liverpool Lou
When I go a-walking, I hear people talking
Schoolchildren playing, I know what they're saying
They're saying you'll grieve me, that you will deceive me
Some morning you'll leave me all packed up and gone
Chorus:
Oh Liverpool Lou, lovely Liverpool Lou
Why don't you behave, love, like the other girls do?
Why must my poor heart be following you
Stay home and love me, my Liverpool Lou
The sound from the river keep telling me ever
That I should forget you like I'd never met you
Tell me their song, love, was never more wrong love
Say I belong love to my Liverpool Lou
Chorus:
Oh Liverpool Lou, lovely Liverpool Lou
Why don't you behave, love, like the other girls do?
Why must my poor heart be following you
Stay home and love me, my Liverpool Lou
LOCH LOMOND
By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond,
Where me and my true love were ever won't to gae
On the bonnie bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond
Chorus:
O' ye'll tak the high road and I'll tak the low road,
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye;
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie bonnie banks o' loch Lomond
Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen,
On the steep steep side o' Ben Lomond,
Where in deep purple hue, the Hieland hills we view,
And the moon coming oot in the gloaming.
Chorus:
O' ye'll tak the high road and I'll tak the low road,
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye;
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie bonnie banks o' loch Lomond
The wee birdies sing, and the wild flowers spring,
And in sunshine the waters are sleeping,
But the broken heart will ken nae second spring again,
Though the waefu' may cease fae their greeting
Chorus:
O' ye'll tak the high road and I'll tak the low road,
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye;
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie bonnie banks o' loch Lomond