JOHNNY I HARDLY KNEW YE

(Traditional - Irish)

While going the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo

While going the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo

While going the road to sweet Athy,

A stick in me hand and a drop in me eye,

A doleful damsel I heard cry,

Johnny I hardly knew ye.

chorus

With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo

With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo

With your drums and guns and drums and guns,

The enemy nearly slew ye

Oh my darling dear, ye look so queer

Johnny I hardly knew ye.

Where are your eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo

Where are your eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo

Where are your eyes that were so mild,

When my heart you so beguiled

Why did ye run from me and the child

Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye

chorus

Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo

Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo

Where are your legs that used to run,

When you went for to carry a gun

Indeed your dancing days are done

Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye

chorus

chorus

"The Lake"

(Edgar Allan Poe)

In youth's spring, it was my lot

To haunt of the wide earth a spot

The which I could not love the less;

So lovely was the loneliness

Of a wild lake, with black rock bound.

And the tall pines that tower'd around.

But when the night had thrown her pall

Upon that spot — as upon all,

And the mystic wind me by

Memories in melody,

Then ah! Then I would awake

To the terror of the lone lake.

Spancil Hill

Last night as I lay dreaming of pleasant days gone by

My mind being bent on rambling to Ireland I did fly

I stepped on board a vision and I boarded with a wil

At last I came to anchor at the cross at Spancil Hill.

It being on the twenty-third of June the day before the fair

All Ireland's sons and daughters in crowds assembled there

The young the old the brave the bold, their duties to fulfill

There were pleasant conversations at the foot of Spancil Hill.

I went to see my neighbors to see what they might say

The old ones were all dead and gone the young ones turning grey

I met old Tailor Quigley, he's as bold as ever still

He used to mend my britches when I lived at Spancil Hill

I paid a flying visit to me first and only love

She's as young as any lily and as gentle as a dove

She threw her arms around me saying "Johnny I love you still!"

She's Ned the farmer's daughter and the pride of Spancil Hill

I asked her would she marry me as in the days of yore

She said "Johnny, you're only joking, as many's the time before!"

The cock crew in the morning, he crew both loud and shrill

I awoke in California, many miles from Spancil Hill.

Lannigan's Ball

In the town of Athy one Jeremy Lanigan

Battered away 'til he hadn't a pound.

His father he died and made him a man again

Left him a farm and ten acres of ground.

He threw a grand party to friends and relations

Who didn't desert him when it comes to the will,

And if you'll but listen I'll make your eyes glisten

And spin you a tale of Lanigan's Ball

Six whole months I spent in Dublin,

Six whole months doing nothing at all

Six whole months I spent in Dublin,

Learning to dance for Lanigan's ball

I stepped out and he stepped in again

He stepped out and I stepped in again

I stepped out and he stepped in again

Learning to dance to Lanigan's ball

Myself to be sure got free invitation,

For all the nice girls and boys I might ask,

And just in a minute both friends and relations

Were dancing as merry as bees 'round a cask.

There were lashings of punch and wine for the ladies,

Potatoes and cakes; there was bacon and tea,

There were the Nolans, Dolans, O'Gradys

Courting the girls and dancing away

Six whole months I spent in Dublin,

Six whole months doing nothing at all

Six whole months I spent in Dublin,

Learning to dance for Lanigan's ball

I stepped out and he stepped in again

He stepped out and I stepped in again

I stepped out and he stepped in again

Learning to dance to Lanigan's ball

They were doing all kinds of nonsensical polkas

Around the room in a whirligig

But Julia and I, we banished their nonsense

And gave them a taste of a real Irish jig.

Oh, how the girls got all mad at me

Danced 'til we thought that the ceiling would fall.

For I spent three weeks at Brooks' Academy

Learning new steps for Lanigan's Ball.

Six whole months I spent in Dublin,

Six whole months doing nothing at all

Six whole months I spent in Dublin,

Learning to dance for Lanigan's ball

I stepped out and he stepped in again

He stepped out and I stepped in again

I stepped out and he stepped in again

LEARNING TO DANCE TO LANIGAN'S BALL!

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 874