Song Lyrics
JOHNNY RA
Chorus:
Toot ska wa you men to blaw I ken you've ripped a thing or twa
Sure as death now Johnny Ra I wished your Granny saw ya
I'm Johnny Ra on my canna sole I was brought up in the country
Now don't you maybe no ken my wheel for I'm all the way to Fentry
Although I'm boozy yet I'm fly among the lassie I do cry
But they all shout as they go by I wished your Granny saw ya
Toot ska wa you men to blaw I ken you've ripped a thing or twa
Sure as death now Johnny Ra I wished your Granny saw ya
I'd my eye on a lass for a gay long time she was the caretaker's daughter
At last I thought I'd make her mine and a wedding ring I bought her
Says I my lass just be sincere, name the day and be my dear
But she laughed as she whispered in my ear I wished your Granny saw ya
Toot ska wa you men to blaw I ken you've ripped a thing or twa
Sure as death now Johnny Ra I wished your Granny saw ya
One night as I walked down Argyle street, a lady said oh please, sir
Will you hold my little baby sweet, for I fear the crowd might squeeze her
I took the bairn and I said I would, I'd like to do the ladies good
But she disappeared in tae the crowd, saying, I wished your granny saw you
Toot ska wa you men to blaw I ken you've ripped a thing or twa
Sure as death now Johnny Ra I wished your Granny saw ya
The people gathered round about, they smiled at my condition
Then up came two big policemen stout and they took me to the station
To laugh at me they all began, they said that I was a lucky man
For to have a bairn brought to my hand, and I wished your granny saw you
Toot ska wa you men to blaw I ken you've ripped a thing or twa
Sure as death now Johnny Ra I wished your Granny saw ya
Before the bailiff the next day I mad my simple statement
Of how the lady ran away and she left me with the infant
And then the bailiff he did say, You and the child must go away
Never trust what the ladies say, and I wished your granny saw you
Toot ska wa you men to blaw I ken you've ripped a thing or twa
Sure as death now Johnny Ra I wished your Granny saw ya
JOHNSON'S MOTOR CAR
'Twas down by Brannigan's corner, one morning I did stray
I met a fellow rebel and to me he did say
"We've orders from the Captain to assemble at Drumbar
But how are we to get there, without a motor car
Oh, Barney dear, be of good cheer, I'll tell what to do
The Specials they are plentiful, but IRA are few
We'll wire to Stranorlar, before we get that far
We'll give the boys a jolly good ride in Johnson's Motor Car
When Dr. Johnson got the wire he soon put on his shoes
Says he, "This is an urgent case. There is no time to lose."
He wore a fancy Castor hat and on his breast a star
You could hear the din all through Glenfin, of Johnson's Motor Car
But when he got to the railway bridge the rebels he saw there
He knew the game was up for him, for at him they did stare
Says he, "I have a permit to travel near or far."
To hell with your English permit, we want your Motor Car
What will my loyal brethren say when ere they hear the news
My car it has been commandeered by the rebels at Dunloos
"We'll give you a receipt for it, all signed by Captain Marr"
And, when Ireland gets her freedom, you'll get your Motor Car
They put the car in motion and filled it to the brim
With guns and bayonets shining, which made old Johnson grim
And Barney hoisted the Sinn Fein flag and it fluttered like a star
And we gave three cheers for the IRA and Johnson's Motor Car
When the Black and Tans got word of this solemn oath they swore
That they would have reprisals before the day was o'er
They searched o'er hill and valley; they search both near and far
But the IRA was far away in Johnson's Motor Car
[1965:] Composed by William Gillespie of Sessiaghoneil, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal, a man who is still alive (1965). Two weeks ago he assured me that Dr. Johnston of Stranorlar had the biggest and best motor-car in the area during the War of Independence. And so this very practical joke was played on him. This is one of the few incidents when the ruthlessness of the campaign in the North was tempered with a little levity. The tune is one used widely by local poets for their home-spun products. (Paddy Tunney, notes Dominic Behan, 'Easter Week and After')
JOIN THE BRITISH ARMY
When I was young I had a twist for punching babies with me fist
Then I thought I would enlist, and join the British Army
Chorus:
Too-ra-loo-ra loo-ra-loo I was lookin' at monkeys up in the zoo
Sez I, "If I had a face like you, I'd join the British Army."
When I was young I used to be as fine a lad as ever you'd see
And the Prince of Wales, he says to me, "Join the British Army"
Chorus
Sergeant Daly's gone away, his wife got into the family way
The only thing that she could say is, "Blame the British Army"
Chorus
Corporal Kelly's a terrible lout, give him a couple of jars of stout
He'll beat the enemy with his mouth and save the British Army
Chorus
Kilted soldiers wear no drawers, Mary won't you lend them yours
The poor should always help the poor, God help the British Army
Chorus
We'll beat the enemy without fuss and leave their bones out in dust
I know for they quite near beat us, the gallant British Army
Chorus
So if you're young and in your prime, fond of every kind of crime
I promise you a jolly good time, inside the British Army
Final Chorus:
Too-ra-loo-ra loo-ra-loo I made me mind up what to do
I'll work me ticket home to you and f--- the British Army
THE JOLLY BEGGAR
It's of a jolly beggar man came trippin' o'er the plain
He came unto a farmer's door, a lodging for to gain
The farmer's daughter she came in and viewed him cheek and chin
She says, "He is a handsome man, I pray to take him in."
Chorus:
We'll go no more a rovin', a rovin' in the night
We'll go no more a rovin', let the moon shine so bright
We'll go no more a rovin'
He would not lie within the barn nor yet within the byre
But he would in the corner lie down by the kitchen fire
Oh then the beggar's bed was made of good clean sheets and hay
And down beside the kitchen fire the jolly beggar lay
Chorus
The farmer's daughter she got up to bolt the kitchen door
There she saw the beggar standing naked on the floor
He took the daughter in his arms and to the bed he ran
"Kind sir," she says, "be easy now, you'll waken our good man."
Chorus
She lay as still as any mouse as if she had been dead
The beggar he jumped in with her and he stole maiden-head
"Now you are no beggar, you are some gentleman"
"For you have stolen my maiden-head and I am quite undone."
Chorus
"I am no Lord, I am no squire. Of beggars I be one,"
"And beggars they be robbers, all so you are quite undone."
She took the bed in both her hands and threw it at the wall
Saying, "Go you with the beggar man my maiden-head and all
Chorus
Chorus
JOXER GOES TO STUTTGART
(Christy Moore)
It was in the year of eighty-eight in the lovely month of June
When the gadflies were swarmin', dogs howlin' at the moon
With rosary beads and sandwiches for Stuttgart we began
Joxer packed his German phrase-book and jump leads for the van
Well, some of the lads had never been away from home before
'Twas the first time Whacker set his foot outside of Inchicore
Before we left for Europe we knew we'd need a plan
So we all agreed that Joxer was the man to drive the van
In Germany the Autobahn 'twas like the long mile road
There was every kind or car and van all carryin' the full load
Ford Transits and Hiace's and a ould Bedford from Tralee
With engine over heatin' from long haulin' duty-free
There were fans from Ballyfermont, Ballybough and Ballymun
On the journey of the lifetime and the crack was ninety-one
Joxer met a German's daughter on the banks of the river Rhine
And he told her she'd be welcome in Ballyfermont anytime
As soon as we got to Stuttgart we put the wagons in a ring
Sean og got out the banjo, Peter played the mandolin
There was fans there from everywhere attracted by the sound
At the first Fleagh Ceoil in Europe, Joxer passed the flagon round
But the session it ended when we finished all the stout
The air mattresses inflated and the sleepin' bags rolled
As one by one we fell asleep poor Joxer had a dream
He dreamt himself and Jack Charlton sat down to pick the team
Joxer dreamt they agreed on Packy Bonner straight away
And Morn, Whelan and McGrath were certainly to play
But tempers they began to rise, patience wearing thin
Jack wanted Cascarino, but Joxer wanted Quinn
Then the dream turned into a nightmare, Joxer stuck the head in Jack
Who wanted to bring Johnny Giles and Eamon Dunphy back
When the cock crew in the morning, it crew both loud and shrill
Joxer woke up in his sleepin' bag many miles from Arbour Hill
The next morning none of the experts gave us the slightest chance
They said the English team would lead us on a merry dance
With Union Jacks all them English fans for victory were set
Until Ray Houghton got the ball and stuck it in the net
What happened next was history, brought tears to many eyes
That day will be the highlight in many people's lives
Well Joxer climbed right over the top and the next time he was seen
Was arm and arm with Jack Charlton, singin' revenge for Skibbereen
Now Whacker's back in Inchicore, he's livin' with his Mam
And Jack Charlton has been proclaimed an honorary Irish man
Do you remember the German's daughter on the banks of the river Rhine
Well didn't he show up in Ballyfermont last week and . . .
JOYCE COUNTRY CEILI BAND
(D. Carton/L. Moran/P. Doherty)
We're the Joyce Country Ceili Band
Playing away and we're doing grand
If we're singing a song won't you give us a hand
Cos we're the Joyce Country Ceili Band
Friday night, off we go
Tune the fiddle, strain the bow
Take it handy for the first few sets
Sure there's hardly anyone listening yet
Thomas and Mary out on the floor
Well they never lost it, that's for sure
In his sparkling shoes and his daz-white shirt
She's got a brand new perm and a pleated shirt
We do do's and functions, weddings and wakes
Meats and salads, buns and cakes
Well if you need a few tunes just give us a call
For the house, the pub or the parish hall
There's a princess on the floor all night
She can fairly throw them shapes all right
How'ya Madge, are you on your own
How'erya fixed a seat back home
JUG OF PUNCH
One pleasant evening in the month of June
As I was sitting with my glass and spoon
A small sat on an ivy bunch
And the song he sang was the jug of punch
Chorus:
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo Too-ra-loo-ra-lay
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo Too-ra-loo-ra-lay
A small sat on an ivy bunch
And the song he sang was the jug of punch
What more diversion can a man desire
Than to set him down be a snug turf fire
Upon his knee a pretty wench
Aye and on the table a Jug of punch
Chorus
Let the doctors come with all their art
They will make no impression aye upon my heart
Even the cripple forgets his hunch
When he's safe outside of a jug of punch
Chorus
And if I get drunk, well the money's me own
And them don't like me, the can leave me alone
I'll tune me fiddle and I'll rosin me bow
Aye, and I'll be welcome where ever I go
Chorus
And when I'm dead aye and in my grave
No costly tombstone will I have
Just lay me down in my native peat
With a jug of punch and my head and feet
Chorus