Song Lyrics
FOOTBA' REFEREE
(Matt McGinn)
Chorus:
Why did I ever become a footba' referee
I coulda been an engineer or a sailor on the sea
Whenever there is a fault to find they always pick on me
Why did I ever become a footba' referee
I used tae play at center half when I was very young
And sticking out for fair play I never could hold my tongue
The men at the top were watching and they quickly spotted me
They said, Now there is a decent man we'll make him a referee
Chorus
When first I took my whistle out I did feel very proud
I played it like a fluter and I smiled at all the crowd
I gave them two decisions then I heard a terrible boo
For fifty thousand voices roared, Coconuts to you
When Rangers played the Celtic I was stuck oot on the field
I'd only been there a minute or two when the crowd began to squeal
The half o' them said, He's a Fenian wi' a heart to Ireland
The others said, He's a bull-nose and he's had the shake o' the hand
Chorus
The game had run on half an hour when two began tae fight
I tried tae separate them and tae tell them who was right
They bashed me and they battered me and they left me nearly lame
The crowd all roared, Go bury him and let's get on wi' the game
Chorus
They brought me o'er to Italy as a very honoured guest
Between Milan and Roma I did my level best
But the crowd they didnae fancy me I could tell by the way they squealed
They'd to bring a helicopter in to get me aff a' the field
Chorus
FOUR GREEN FIELDS
(Tommy Makem)
What did I have, said the fine old woman
What did I have, this proud old woman did say
I had four green fields, each one was a jewel
But strangers came, and tried to take them from me
But my fine strong sons, they fought to save my jewels
They fought and they died, and that was my grief said she
Long time ago, said the fine old woman
Long time ago, this fine old woman, did say
There was war and death, plundering and pillage
My children starved, by mountains, valleys and streams
And their wailing cries, they reached the very heavens
And my four green fields, ran red with their blood said she
What have I now, said the fine old woman
What have I now, this fine old woman, did say
I have four green fields, one of them's in bondage
In stranger's hands, that tried to take them from me
But my sons have sons, as brave as were their fathers
And my four green fields, will bloom once again, said she
FOUR POUNDS A DAY
(Stan Kelly)
The rain is falling on the sight, the tea is on the brew
We're sitting on our arseholes, with bugger all to do
Outside our picks and shovels, lads, slowly rust away
We're rained off and contented on four pounds a day
Chorus:
Four pounds a day, me lads, and nothing much to do
No trouble from the foreman, he's in the union too
Some what the rain to go to Spain, we want the rain to stay
We're rained off and contented on four pounds a day
It's early in the morning, we start at ten o'clock
We search the skies impatiently, be jaz, I felt a drop
The Cam-lads are on bonus and each brew means better pay
We're rained off and contented on four pounds a day
Chorus
So Freddy get the cards out, the racing page as well
And as for the contractors, we hope they go to hell
It looks as if the rain's set in, we shant do much today
What matter if on Friday, we all draw our pay
Chorus
THE FOX AND THE HARE
Chorus:
The fox and the hare, the badger and the bear; the birds in the greenwood tree
All the pretty little rabbits, so engaging in their habits and they're all have mates but me
The next she was a charm, a little girl with a farm, well versed in harrows and ploughs
As she gathered a rig of lots of little pigs, she squeezed new milk from the cows
She was sixteen stone, all muscle and bone, she looked with an evil stare
Alas! She would be mine but she fell into decline; she swallowed up a mouse in her beer
Chorus
The next one that came was a bright and jolly dame, with a purse as long as my arm
It was full of yellows gold, 'twas a beauty to behold with the heart of a miser's charm
Her only sin was a love for gin it brought he hopes to wreck
For she slipped on her heel on a piece of orange peel, she fell down and she broke her neck
Chorus
To add to me score, I had half a dozen more; my list goes a long way round
Some crossed o'er the sea for a better chap than, whilst more of them were hanged or drowned
The last one I had through drink she went mad, in vain I tried to stop her
Sorrow was my tale; I discovered one day she was slowly boiled to death in a coffer
Chorus
THE FOXY DEVIL
(Joe Dolan)
When I was and handy in my prime
In taverns I would and bide my time
Its there I met your company, I'd sit and drink my fill
It's there that you took hold of my, I think you've got me still
Chorus:
You're the foxy devil when you like
You set my mind at ease and then you strike
You set my mind a reeling; you make me shout and sing
My memory flees I get no ease, till I have another drink
You're the crafty rogue and that's for sure
For you company there is no cure
I've squandered all my money, the best years of my life
All on your charms in spite of harm, in spite of peace and strife
Chorus:
You're the foxy devil when you like
You set my mind at ease and then you strike
You set my mind a reeling; you make me shout and sing
My memory flees I get no ease, till I have another drink
Whiskey in the morning or at night
Gives strength to sing and dance to love and fight
And so despite misfortune I'll take you as you are --
The best of friends and enemies, the best I've known by far
Chorus:
You're the foxy devil when you like
You set my mind at ease and then you strike
You set my mind a reeling, you make me shout and sing
My memory flees I get no ease, till I have another drink
FRED THE MOUSE
(Norman King)
Once I had a little mouse, I used to call him Fred
I always sang him little songs before he went to bed
He'd sit there and he'd listen and he'd watch with eyes so bright
Then he to bed would scamper off and I would say goodnight
Chorus:
Freddy was the charmer, Freddy was the lad
Freddy was not all that good, but he wasn't all that bad
He was full of little tricks, especially hide and seek
He used to hide beneath the chair and out the side he'd peek
He wink and nod and he'd off again to another hiding place
And I would laugh and he would squeak, wasn't he the case
Chorus
Then one day a lady mouse came into his life
Soon the house was full of mice, it caused me strain and strife
The landlord started rarin' up, he said I kept a zoo
But when you have a friend like Fred what else could you do
Chorus
Now the time has come to leave, I've been infested out
I've never had no second thoughts and I've never had no doubts
That of all those friends that I've ever had Freddy was the one
That made me glad to leave my home and find another one
Chorus
Chorus
FREE BORN MAN OF THE TRAVELING PEOPLE
(Ewan MacColl)
I am a freeborn man of the traveling people
Got no fixed abode, with nomads I am numbered
Country lanes and byways were always my ways
Never fancied being lumbered
O we knew the woods, all the resting places
And the small birds sang when wintertime was over
Then we'd pack our load and be on the road
They were good old times for the rover
There was open ground where a man could linger
Stay a week or two for time was not your master
Then away you'd jog with your horse and dog
Nice and easy, no need to go faster
Now and then you'd meet up with other travelers
Hear the news or else swap family information
At the country fairs, we'd be meeting there
All the people of the traveling nation
All you freeborn men of the traveling people
Every tinker, rolling stone, or gypsy rover
Winds of change are blowing, old ways are going
Your traveling days will soon be over
FREE THE PEOPLE
(Phil Coulter/Bill Martin)
SPOKEN:
Laws are made for people,
But the law can never scorn
The right of a man to be free
Chorus:
Free the people, let them have their say
Free the people, let them see the light of day
A dismal dawn was breaking when they took her man away
Not knowing what was his crime
Just what he was guilty of not one of them could say
But they'd think of something in time
He said, 'Good bye and remember, we shall overcome'
Chorus
Comforting her children softly crying in the night
She tries very hard to explain
You know your daddy never did a thing that wasn't right
So soon he's bound to be home again
He is a good man and he shall overcome
Chorus
SPOKEN:
What does it profit him, the right to be born
If he suffers the loss of liberty
Laws were made for people and the law can never scorn
The right of a man to be free
We are the people and we shall overcome
Chorus
FREEDOM'S SWORD
(Gordon Menzies)
In days gone by, Scot's workin' man
Was loyal tae his fudile clan.
For what was wrong and what was right,
His cause was always Scotland's fight.
And I was born 'neath Scotia's Hills,
My heart with Highland grandeur fills.
For with the Garry's waters flows,
A history bitter more that the sloe.
The Bruce and Wallace cracked the band,
That fettered loyal Scottish hands.
And for a while our land was free,
Then came the shame of sixteen-three.
King James the Christian's wisest foe,
Forsook his name the South to rule.
But soon he spawned a Stuart son,
Who vainly faced Culloden's guns.
From Berwick North tae John O'Groats
The Lairds have donnned their Saxon coats.
And who for Scotland's freedom stood,
Soon drowned in false Westminster's flood.
We labored 'neath the Saxon yoke,
MacGregor's name shall ne'er be spoke.
The hills are over run with sheep,
And freedom has been put to sleep.
But times have changed the years have gone,
Yet English justice lingers on.
Our working men as in the past,
Betrayed by Saxon ruling class.
The time is right; the time is now,
Renew your patriotic vow.
I fear no hell nor English strife,
For Scotland I will give my life.
THE FRIDAY GAME
(Bill Hill)
'Twas the other Friday night I went to jiggin' wi' me mates,
Tae a place well kent in Edinburgh toon
And in case the seen got heavy, we nipped in tae hae a bevy,
Three pints, four vodkas and a blue lagoon
'Twas a quarter past eleven when we climbed on board the bus,
Arguing wi' the drive o'er the fare
We were shoutin' out and singin', and the bus was fairly mingin',
Wi' fish suppers we were eatin' up the stairs
Well, we staggered in the dancing, past the bouncers in their suits
And I sez, 'I'll see you later.' tae the lads
So I nipped in tae the bog tae comb my hair and squeeze my plooks
Amd brush the dandruff frae my shoulder pads
When I joined up wi' Ronnie I was feeling ten feet tall,
Nae dolly could resist my after shave
From my usual position, leaning up against the wall,
I perused the talent while the disco played
Chorus:
Oh, the jiggin', dancin', swingin' is the life for all young men
Who've got red blood in their veins instead of blue
For some folk the dancin' isnae their idea o' paradise
But it's Mecca for the likes of me and you
Well now, Ronnie, sez to me, 'Do ya fancy splittin" up these two?'
So casually we sauntered cross the hall
Ah but, my one sez, 'You're not on, cause I heard you're on the brew,'
'And anyway I dancin' wi' my pal'
Well, somewhat taken doon, we wandered roond and roond the floor,
Tae see if we could find a bit o' spare,
But every bird we chanted up, just dinna want tae know,
Ye have though that we had beasties in oor hair
The night being half way over, and we had nae make the grade,
To sum up the evening, rubbish, was the word
So, we had a competition, wi' a screw-top for the prize,
Tae the one that got off wi' the ugliest bird
Well, I latched on tae this cracker, the most mauket one in sight,
She look as though her doctor was a vet
She'd a face like a half caramel and pimples on her nose,
Aye, and legs that could kick start a jumbo jet
Chorus
Well, I causally nicked my fag and stuck the dought behind my ear
And tenderly I clutched her sweaty paw
And although her face was crabbit, I heard she was a rabbit,
So, the night may no be wasted after all
As we dance aroond the floor, I whispered, 'Darlin', where d'ye bide?'
And my heart sank, when she answered, 'Broomhouse Square.'
Well, I said, 'It's nae lumber, but a pen-pal that you need,
Or a mortgage for to pay your taxi fare."
Well, waited for the taxi for an hour or maybe two,
For ye see, this lemon hadnae ta'en the hint
I was absolutely bo'kin, it was rainin', I was soakin'
By the time I paid the taxi, I was skint
Well, I struggled in the close and I tried everythin' I ken
I even asked her oot wi' me again
Ah but, what can a fella do, wi' a expert in Kung Fu
And tae cap all, I had tae walk back hame
Chorus