BIDDY MULLIGAN, THE PRIDE OF THE COOMBE
Chorus:
You may travel from Clare to the county Kildare
From Francis Street back to the Coombe;
But where would you see a fine widow like me?
Biddy Mulligan the pride of the Coombe, me boys,
Biddy Mulligan the pride of the Coombe.
I'm a buxom fine widow, I live in a spot in Dublin, they call it the Coombe.
Me shops and me stalls are laid out on the street, and me palace consists of one room.
I sell apples and oranges, nuts and sweet peas, bananas and sugar stick sweet
On a Saturday night I sell second-hand clothes, from the floor of me stall in the street.
Chorus
I sell fish on a Friday, spread out on a board; the finest you'll find in the sea.
But the best is my herrings, fine Dublin Bay herrings, there's herrings for dinner and tea.
I have a son, Mick, he's great on the flute, he plays in the Longford Street band;
It would do your heart good for to see him march out on a Sunday for Dollymount Strand.
Chorus
In the park, on a Sunday, I make quite a dash; the neighbors look on in surprise.
With my Aberdeen shawl thrown over my head, I dazzle the sight of their eyes.
At Patrick Street corner, for sixty-four years, I've stood, and no one can deny
That while I stood there, nobody could dare to say black was the white of my eye.
Chorus
THE BIG STRONG MAN
Have you heard about the big strong man, he lived in a caravan?
Have you heard about the Jeffrey--Johnson fight?
Oh, what a hell of a fight
You can take all the heavyweights you got, What do you got
Got a lad who could beat the whole lot
He used to ring the bells in the belfry
Now he's gonna fight Jack Dempsey
Chorus:
That's me brother Sylvest What's he got
He' got a row of forty medals on his chest Big chest
Killed fifty bad men in the west He knows no rest
Bigger the man, don't push, just shove,
Plenty of room for you and me
He's got an arm, like a leg, Lady's leg
And a punch that would sink a battleship Big ship
Takes all the army and the navy to put the wind up Sylvest
He thought he'd take a trip to Italy
He thought that he'd go by the sea
He jumped off the harbor in New York,
And he swam like a man made of cork
He saw the Lusitania in distress What'd he do
Put the Lusitania on his chest Big chest
Drank up all the water in the sea
And walked all the way to Italy
Chorus
He'd thought he take a trip to old Japan
And they pull out the whole brass band
He played every instrument you got
Like a lad he beat the whole lot
The old Church bells will sing Hell's Bells
The old Church choir will sing Hell's fire
The all turned out to say farewell to my big brother Sylvest
Chorus
Recordings include: The Wolfe Tones' "Rifles of the I.R.A.”; Live Alive-oh!" 1980; "25th
Anniversary" 1989.
BIKO DRUM
(Wally Page)
And they went home on an Easter road
On a silent night tryin' not to show
Who goes where and who goes when
Thinkin' some day soon they'll get it back again
From the ghetto in Capetown to dig the gold
Little boy blue can't be sold
Under tin roof and a plastic wall
Thinkin' someday soon we're goin' to leave it all
And the renegades sing all the renegade songs
And the ones who know hope they're doin' wrong
The blacks and the coloreds play the Biko Drum
Listen to the Biko Drum
Transvaal Kids on a Transvaal day
Little by little the show the way
To a city of dreams and solid ground
Thinkin' someday soon we're gonna come around
Steve he's livin' in a prison cell
All the friends that know hope he's doin' well
Down here they listen to the Biko Drum
Down here they listen to the songs he sung
Nelson listen to the people sing
Nelson Mandela the people's king
Twenty-five years in a white man's jail
Twenty-five years we couldn't make him say
BIRNIE BOOZLE
Chorus:
Gin ye marry me lassie at the the kirk o' Birnie Boozle
Till the day ye dee lassie ye will ne'er repent it
You will wear when you are wed a kirtle and a hielan' plaid
High upon the heather bed sae coothy and sae cantie
When ye gan wi' me lassie tae the kirk o' Birnie Boozle
Little brogues an a' lassie oh but you'll be cantie
Chorus:
Gin ye marry me lassie at the the kirk o' Birnie Boozle
Till the day ye dee lassie ye will ne'er repent it
Though your tocher is but sma' hodden grey will wear for a'
I'll save ma siler tae mak' ye braw you will ne'er repent it
When ye gan wi' me lassie tae the kirk o' Birnie Boozle
Little brogues an a' lassie oh but you'll be cantie
Chorus:
Gin ye marry me lassie at the the kirk o' Birnie Boozle
Till the day ye dee lassie ye will ne'er repent it
I'll hunt the otter and the brock the heart, the hare, the heather cock
An pu' ye limpets fare the rock tae mak' ye dishes dainty
Gin ye marry me lassie at the the kirk o' Birnie Boozle
Little brogues an a' lassie oh but you'll be cantie
Chorus:
Gin ye marry me lassie at the the kirk o' Birnie Boozle
Till the day ye dee lassie ye will ne'er repent it
BLACK CAVALRY
In the first of me downfall I put out the door,
And I straight made me way on for Carrick-on-Suir;
Going out by Rathronan 'twas late in the night
Going out the west gate for to view the gaslight
Chorus:
Radley fal the diddle I
Radley fal the riddle airo.
There I met with a youth and unto him I said
"Would you kindly direct me to where I'll get a bed?"
It was then he directed me down to Cook's Lane,
To where old Dick Darby kept an old sleeping cage
There I put up and down 'til I found out the door,
And I cried, "Must I then spend the night on the floor?"*
And the missus came out and these words to me said,
"If you give me three coppers I'll give you a bed.”
She took me upstairs and she put out the light,
And in less than five minutes I had to show fight.
In less than five more, sure the story was worse,
For the fleas came about me and brought me a curse.
All round me body they formed an arch,
And all round me body they played the dead march.
The bloody old major gave me such a nip
That he nearly had taken the use of me hip.
Now I'm going to me study, these lines to pen down,
And if any poor traveler should e'er come to town,
If any poor traveler benighted like me,
Oh, beware of Dick Darby and the black cavalry.
THE BLACK DOUGLAS
(Roy Williamson/George Weir)
There was a man sae dark and true wha Scotland loo'ed sae dear
There was a king wha lang will rue the Scots wha flayed him sair
Gan cry the hounds o' Douglasvale, gan string the Ettrick bow
Gan warn the spears o' Liddiesdale that Edward leads the foe
He wore the cross our Andrew bore by the steps o' calvary
He won the sword our Robert wore by the field o' Balvennie
Gan shear the chains o' slavery, gan dance my leige man lee
Gan ring the bell o' Liberty shod wi' the metal free
He won his spurs doon by St. Bride upon the green she free
He held the leopard and the tide by the field o' Lintounie
Gan shine the shield yer father bore, gan strike yer metal free
Gan shine the helm yer father wore by the field of Torwoodlee
He rode yin nicht when it was mirk doon by the leopard's lair
He chased the tyrant in his shirt around the field sae fair
Gan pack yer bags ye English loons, gan tak ye banners hame
Gan tak yer king wha sought oor croon and lost the bloody game
BLACK JACK DAVID
Blackjack David is the name that I bear
Been alone in the forest for a long time
But the time is come, and when a lady I find
I will love her and hold her, singing through the green, green trees
The skin on my hands is like leather, alright.
My face is so hard from the cold wind
But my heart's so warm with the song that I sing
Will charm a fair lady, singing through the green, green trees
Now fair Eloise rode out that day
From her fine, fine home in the morning
In the flush of dawn, came a sound to her ear
Drifting, floating, singing through the green, green trees
Now sixteen summers was all that she'd seen
And her skin was soft a velvet
But she's forsaken her fine, fine home
And Blackjack David is singing through the green, green trees
Saddle me up my fine grey mare
Cried the lord of the house next morning
For my servants tell me that my daughter is gone
With Blackjack David, singing through the green, green trees
Well he rode all day and he rode all night
But he never did find his daughter
But he heard from afar, come drift on the wind
Two voices, laughing, singing through the green, green trees
Oh, Blackjack David is the name that I bear
Been alone in the forest for a long time
But now I've found me a lady so fair
And I love her and I'll hold her, singing through the green, green trees
THE BLACK VELVET BAND
In a Tralee in the sweet County Kerry, Apprentice to trade I was bound
And many an hour of happiness have I spent in that neat little town
Till a sad misfortune came o'er me, and cause me to stray from the land
From away from my friends and companions and the girl with the black velvet band
Chorus:
Her eyes they shone lights diamonds, Her neck it was just like a swan
And her hair hung over her shoulders, Tied up with a black velvet band
As I was out strolling one evening, not meaning to go very far
A met with a ficklesome damsel selling her trade at the bar
When a watch she took from a customer and placed it right into my hand
And the law came put me in prison, Bad Cess to the black velvet band
Chorus
Next morning before judge and jury for trial I had to attend
The judge he said me young fellow, "Your case I will now apprehend.”
"Seven long years penal servitude, to be spent far away from the land.”
"Far away from your friends and companions and the girl with the black velvet band
Chorus
No come all me jolly young fellows, I'll have you take warning by me
Beware of the pretty young maidens who lurking around in Tralee
They will fill you brandies and porters, until you're unable to stand
And the very next thing that you know my lads, you've landed in Van Dieman's Land
Chorus
BLACK VELVET BAND
(New Zealand Version)
It was the time for leaving.
An emigrant I was bound
To say farewell to my true love
And dear old London town.
Chorus:
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
As I took hold of her hand.
Her hair hung down to her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band.
I knew not when I'd see her
When I bade her adieu.
For I was bound for New Zealand
To see my contract through.
I'm saving every penny
And silver to be found;
I'll latch on to every sovereign
That reaches Auckland town.
And when I'm rich and proper
And own a store in town,
I'll sail back home for my true love
And then I'll settle down.
BLIND ANGUS OF THE HILL
(Gordon Menzies)
Far away in a northern land, where high the mighty mountains stands,
'Tis said there dwells a hermit man, Blind Angus of the Hill.
Ancient as the very stone that Jacob laid his head upon.
In mountain cave he dwells alone, Blind Angus of the Hill.
Oft has he saved a drowning child, and countless times cruel death beguiled,
Within the gleam of winter's smile when ice bedecks the rill.
Travelers in the drifting snow, knowing not which way to go,
Find safety by his campfire glow—Blind Angus of the Hill.
Chorus:
Angus is forever young. The birds and beasts to him have sung.
Each in their own bewildering tongue, and time for him stands still.
His spirit is with nature twined, conversing with the fairy kind.
Angus rules the very wild—Blind Angus of the Hill.
'Twas in the rule of old King James, for witchcraft Angus lay in chains.
He healed the sick, he cured the lame by sorcery, 'tis said.
His eyes were both put out for shame as chained he stood 'neath the hellish flame,
A vision from the sky there came, and this is what was said.
“The birds and beasts will all unite, to see for you both day and night.
To you the gift of second sight is granted with a will.
The mountain path of life you'll climb, until the very end of time.
A guardian of all mankind—Blind Angus of the Hill.”
Chorus:
Angus is forever young. The birds and beasts to him have sung.
Each in their own bewildering tongue, and time for him stands still.
His spirit is with nature twined, conversing with the fairy kind.
Angus rules the very wild—Blind Angus of the Hill.
BLOOD STAINED BANDAGE
A cold may morn was breaking over Dublin's weary town
Sixteen brave men have fallen to the rifles of the crown
Because they loved their country and served it night and day
But before they face the rifles, this is what those boys did say
Chorus:
'Take away the blood stained bandage from off an Irish brow
We fought and bled for Erin and we will not shirk it now.
We have helped her in her struggle in answer to her call,
And because we sought to free her we are placed against the wall.'
Daly, Heuston, Colbert, MacDonagh and MacBride.
McDermott and the brothers Kent, with Clarke and Plunkett died.
Mick Mallin, Pat and Willie Pearse, O'Hanrahan and Ceannt;
And last of all James Connolly, this message to them sent
Chorus:
'Take away the blood stained bandage from off an Irish brow
We fought and bled for Erin and we will not shirk it now.
We have helped her in her struggle in answer to her call,
And because we sought to free her we are placed against the wall.'
'Take away the blood stained bandage from off an Irish brow
We fought and bled for Erin and we will not shirk it now.
We have helped her in her struggle in answer to her call,
And because we sought to free her we are placed against the wall.'
BLOODY ORKNEY
This bloody town's a bloody cuss, no bloody trains, no bus
And no one cares for bloody us, in bloody Orkney
The bloody roads are bloody, the bloody folk are bloody mad
They'd make the brightest blood sad, in bloody Orkney
All bloody cloud, all bloody rain, no bloody curbs, no bloody drains
The council's got no bloody brains, in bloody Orkney
The things you buy are bloody dear, a bloody bob for bloody beer
And is it good? NO BLOODY FEAR, in bloody Orkney
The bloody flicks are bloody old; the bloody seats are bloody cold
You can't get in for bloody gold, in bloody Orkney
The bloody dancers make you smile; the bloody band is blood vile
It only cramps your bloody style, in bloody Orkney
No bloody sport, no bloody games, no bloody fun, the bloody dames
Won't even give their bloody names, in bloody Orkney
There's nothing greets your bloody eye, but bloody sea and bloody sky
Roll on dee mob, we bloody cry, in bloody Orkney