Collection of Irish Song Lyrics
Lanigan's Ball
In the town of Athy one Jeremy Lanigan
battered away till he hadn't a pound
his father he died and made him a man again
left a farm with ten acres of ground
he gave a grand party for friends a relations
who did not forget him when come to the will
and if you'll but listen I'll make you're eyes glisten
of rows and ructions at Lanigan's Ball
CHORUS
six long months I spent in Dub-i-lin
six long months doing nothin' at all
six long months I spent in Dub-i-lin
learning to dance for Lanigan's Ball
I stepped out I stepped in again
I stepped out I stepped in again
I stepped out I stepped in again
learning to dance for Lanigan's Ball
Myself to be sure got free invitaions
for all the nice boys and girls I did ask
in less than 10 minutes the friends and relations
were dancing as merry as bee 'round a cask
There was lashing of punch and wine for the ladies
potatoes and cakes there was bacon a tay
there were the O'Shaughnessys, Murphys, Walshes, O'Gradys
courtin' the girls and dancing away
they were doing all kinds of nonsensical polkas
all 'round the room in a whirly gig
but Julia and I soon banished their nonsense
and tipped them a twist of a real Irish jig
Oh how that girl got mad on me
and danced till you'd think the ceilings would fall
for I spent three weeks at Brook's academy
learning to dance for Lanigan's Ball CHORUS
The boys were all merry the girls were all hearty
dancing away in couples and groups
till an accident happened young Terrance McCarthy
put his right leg through Miss Finerty's hoops
The creature she fainted and cried 'melia murder'
cried for her brothers and gathered them all
Carmody swore that he'd go no further
till he'd have satisfaction at Lanigan's Ball
In the midst of the row Miss Kerrigan fainted
her cheeks at the same time as red as a rose
some of the boys decreed she was painted
she took a wee drop too much I suppose
Her sweetheart Ned Morgan all powerful and able
when he saw his fair colleen stretched out by the wall
he tore the left leg from under the table
and smashed all the dishes at Lanigan's Ball CHORUS
Boy oh Boys tis then there was ructions
myself got a kick from big Phelam McHugh
but soon I replied to this kind introduction
and kicked up a terrible hullaballoo
old Casey the piper was near being strangled
they squeezed up his pipes bellows chanters and all
the girls in their ribbons they all got entangled
and that put an end to Lanigan's Ball CHORUS
