From: JBrandt@AAA.UOregon.EDU (Jay Brandt (Jason))
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: Lannigan's Ball
Followup-To: alt.callahans
Date: 24 Nov 1992 05:51:58 GMT
Organization: University of Oregon, Architecture
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: aaa.uoregon.edu

Jack Crow had requested a song called _ Lannigan's Ball _ from Jason, if
Jason could find the music. Jason's been searching through files on his
Cyberdeck all afternoon, sorting and comparing lyrics and tunes. It took a
bit of work, and he had to blend two different versions to get the one he
was familiar with, but at last Jason is satisfied that he has the song. His
Cyberdeck humms and several pages of sheet music smoothly eject from the
slot in one edge. He hands one set to Jack Crow, another to Mary, and keeps
one for himself. 

"Jack, if you'll take the lead on guitar, and Mary, if you'll join us on
the bodhran, I guess I'm crazy enough to give a go at the vocals. But first
a bit of preparations. Have to dress the part." He goes back to his deck
and enters a few swift commands, and his standard clothing is replaced by a
full dress kilt. He looks around and says to a few who snickered. "Aye,
it's not a skirt. It's a Kilt. Do ye know why they call it that laddie
buck? 'Cause them that calls it a skirt's like to be kilt by the man
wearing it!" Then he goes to the bar and orders three shots of Gods
Blessing from Mike. "Bushmills black label for meself, Mike, and whatever
Jack and Mary want. Singin's or playing's thirsty work, and a bit of bards
comfort is always in order to warm up the pipes." They get their drinks,
and settle in at a table in the center of the room. Jason savors the pure
Irish Whisky as Jack and Mary look over the music. Soon they indicate they
are ready to begin.

Jason stands, clears his throat, and says, "OK folks, here's Lannigan's
Ball. The music is an Irish Jig in 6/8 time. It starts slow and gets faster
as ye go."

He presses another key on his Cyberdeck, and the display scrolls the lyrics
for him, like a teleprompter. He sings the main lyrics in a rich Baritone,
and the chorus in a true Irish Tenor.

------------------------------------------------------------

In the town - of Athy, one Jer-e-my Lan-ni-gan,
battered a-way till he had-n't a pound. His
fat-her he died - and made him a man a-gain,
Left him a farm and ten a-cres of ground.

He gave a grand party to friends and re-la-tions,
Who did not for-get him when sent to the wall.
If you'd only lis-ten I'll make your eyes glis-ten, at
rows and ruc-tions at Lan-ni-gan's ball.

Six long months - I spent down in Du-blin.
Six long months do-ing no-thing at all.
Six long months-I spent down in Du-blin.
Learn-ing to dance-for Lan-ni-gan's ball.

I stepped out, I stepped in again,
I stepped out again, I stepped in again,
I stepped out and I stepped in again.
Learning to dance for Lannigan's ball


Myself, to be sure, I got free invitation
for all the nice girls an' the boys I might ask,
In less than a minute both friends and relations
were dancing as merry as bees round a cask.

Miss O'Harra, the nice little miliner,
Tipp'd me a wink to give her a call,
And soon we arrived with Timothy Galligan,
Just in time for Lannigan's ball

Six long months - I spent down in Dublin.
Six long months doing nothing at all.
Six long months - I spent down in Dublin.
Learning to dance - for Lannigan's ball.

I stepped out, I stepped in again,
I stepped in again, I stepped out again,
I stepped out and I stepped in again.
Learning to dance for Lannigan's ball


They were doing all kinds of nonsensical polkas
All round the room in a neat whirligig;
But Julia and I soon banished their nonsense
And tipp'd them a twist of a real Irish jig.

Och Mavorone, 'twas she that was glad o' me,
danced till you'd think the ould ceiling would fall.
For I spent a whole fortnight at Burke's Academy,
learnin' the steps for Lannigan's ball.

Six long months - I spent down in Dublin.
Six long months doing nothing at all.
Six long months - I spent down in Dublin.
Learning to dance - for Lannigan's ball.

I stepped out, I stepped in again,
I stepped out again, I stepped in again,
I stepped out and I stepped in again.
Learning to dance for Lannigan's ball


The boys were all merry, the girls were all hearty,
a dancing away in couples and groups,
till an accident happened, young Terrence McCarthy,
he put his right foot on Miss Flaherty's hoops.

The creature she fainted and cried 'Meelia murther'
she called for her brothers and gathered them all
Carmody he swore that he go no further,
he'd have satisfaction at Lannigan's ball.

Six long months - I spent down in Dublin.
Six long months doing nothing at all.
Six long months - I spent down in Dublin.
Learning to dance - for Lannigan's ball.

I stepped out, I stepped in again,
I stepped out again, I stepped in again,
I stepped out and I stepped in again.
Learning to dance for Lannigan'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 ladies delclared she was painted.
She took a small drop too much, I suppose.

Her sweetheart Ned Morgan, so strong and so able
when he saw his fair colleen streached out by the wall
he tore the left leg from under the table
and smashed all the dishes at Lannigan's ball.

Six long months - I spent down in Dublin.
Six long months doing nothing at all.
Six long months - I spent down in Dublin.
Learning to dance - for Lannigan's ball.

I stepped out, I stepped in again,
I stepped out again, I stepped in again,
I stepped out and I stepped in again.
Learning to dance for Lannigan's ball


Boys, oh boys 'tis then there was ructions
Meself got a kick from big Philem McHugh.
But soon I replied to his kind introduction
and kicked up a terrible hullabaloo.

Ould Casey the piper was near being strangled
they squeesed up his pipes, bellows chanters and all.
The girls in their ribbons they all got entangled,
and that put an end to Lannigan's ball.

Six long months - I spent down in Dublin.
Six long months doing nothing at all.
Six long months - I spent down in Dublin.
Learning to dance - for Lannigan's ball!

---------------------------------------------------------

"Whew! That was fun. OK, Who's next!" Jason finishes his Bushmills and
orders another. "Thank god for VR. I always get tongue-tied when I try that
one in RL. Oh, by the way, Jack, Mary, and anyone else, if you'd like the
actual sheet music and can receive a FAX, let me know your FAX number and
I'll try to FAX it to you. Otherwise, you can look for the song in
collections of Irish folk music or ballads."

Jason
Newsgroups: alt.callahans