A Song for A'Singin'

Hey everyone! Well, I've made it through the first real week of the semester. Classes seem like they'll be pretty interesting, and I definitely enjoyed only paying $50 for books for the entire semester. Of course, the $300 or so that I saved is going to be piddled away on food, travel, and the pathetic exchange rate in general; still, it's a welcome change to exit the college bookstore without that dark, sick, I-just-dropped-a-couple-grand on books feeling.

Well, I guess there isn't much new to report; so I'll regale you with another song from my Irish/Celtic repertoire. Now, there are, of course, a great many Irish songs that have to do with drinking. There are also many which have to do with death. However, it seems that any song which combines these two topics will almost invariably be humorous. "Finnegan's Wake" - the traditional Irish song that inspired James Joyce's novel of the same name - is a perfect example (it'll be posted here, eventually; be patient!). Tonight, however, I give you one of my favorites: a rousing little number called "The Night Pat Murphy Died." Download it. Now! Get the version by Great Big Sea off of their album Rant and Roar. The moral of this story (if you're Irish, at least, and planning on having a wake held in your honor) is to be likable and be liked. Otherwise, well, there will be a good time had by all at your wake - except for you, of course. You're dead!

The Night Pat Murphy Died (traditional Newfoundland folk song; I know, I know... that's in Canada! But it was written by Canadians of Irish descent, so it's all good):

Oh the night that Paddy Murphy died, is a night I'll never forget
Some of the boys got loaded drunk, and they ain't got sober yet;
As long as a bottle was passed around every man was feelin' gay
O'Leary came with the bagpipes, some music for to play...

Chorus:
That's how they showed their respect for Paddy Murphy
That's how they showed their honour and their pride;
They said it was a sin and shame and they winked at one another
And every drink in the place was full the night Pat Murphy died

As Mrs. Murphy sat in the corner pouring out her grief
Kelly and his gang came tearing down the street
They went into an empty room and a bottle of whiskey stole
They put the bottle with the corpse to keep that whiskey cold

Chorus

About two o'clock in the morning after emptying the jug
Doyle rolls up the ice box lid to see poor Paddy's mug
We stopped the clock so Mrs. Murphy couldn't tell the time
And at a quarter after two we argued it was nine

Chorus

They stopped the hearse on George Street outside Sundance Saloon
They all went in at half past eight and staggered out at noon
They went up to the graveyard, so holy and sublime
Found out when they got there, they'd left the corpse behind!

Chorus

Oh the night that Paddy Murphy died is a night I'll never forget
Some of the boys got loaded drunk and they ain't been sober yet;
As long as a bottle was passed around every man was feelin' gay
O'Leary came with the bagpipes, some music for to play

Chorus