From: donal@brewich.hou.tx.us (Donal)
Newsgroups: rec.music.folk
Subject: Re: Arthur McBride
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 92 19:18:07 CST
Organization: The Brewers' Witch BBS, +1 713 272 7350, Brewich.Hou.TX.US

Ugo Piomelli wrote:
>These are the lyrics and chords for "Arthur McBride" a traditional Irish 
>ballad about a pacifist who renounces non-violence.  My guess is
>that it dates back to the Napoleonic wars. This is Paul Brady's version
>(Planxty does a shorter one, with a slightly different chord progression)
>
>I haven't been able to understand all the lyrics, although I have
>listened very carefully both to Paul Brady's version and to Bob
>Dylan's. I believe Dylan plays it in A (capo 2nd fret), and it's

[his post of the lyrics deleted]

Here are the words and chords as written in "Folksongs & Ballads Popular in 
Ireland, Volume 3" published by Ossian Publications. It is written in F, 
but I prefer to capo it up 1 fret to E. I will display the chords in the 
format used by Sing Out Publications. BTW, thought you might be interested 
in the notes the publisher makes on this song.

"This 18/19th cent. song was collected by Patrick Joyce in Limerick in the 
1840's. Also in Donegal by Petrie, while several versions are found in 
Scotland, Suffolk, and Devon. The tunes in most cases differ slightly."

Arthur McBride
qrtr note=168   key=F

I had a first cousin called Arthur McBride,
he and I took a stroll down by the seaside,
a-seeking good fortune and what might betide
t'was just as the day was a-dawning.
Then after resting we both took a tramp.
We met Seargent Harper and Corporal Cramp,
besides the wee drummer who beat up the camp,
with his rowdy-dow-dow in the morning.

F - - -/Bb F C7 -/1st/- Bb(Gm) Bb C7/F - Bb F/Bb F Bb(Gm) C7/1st/- C7 F -/

He says 'My young fellows if you will enlist
A guinea you quickly shall have in your fist
Besides a Crown for to kick up the dust
And drink the King's health in the morning!'
Had we been such fools as to take the advance
the wee bitter morning we had run to chance
for you'd think it no scruple to send us to France
Where we would be killed in the morning.

He says 'My young fellows, if I hear but one word
I instantly now will out with my sword
and into your bodies as strength will afford
So now, me gay devils take warning'
but Arthur and I we took in the odds
we gave them no chance to lunge out with their swords
Our whacking shilleleaghs came ove their heads 
and paid them right smart in the morning.

As for the wee drummer, we rifled his pouch
and we made a football of his rowdy-dow-dow
and into the ocean to rock and to row
and bade him a tedious returning
As for the old rapier that hung by his side
we flung it as far as we could in the tide
'To the devil I bid you' says Arthur McBride
to temper your stell in the morning.

-----
I apologize for any typos, but I had oral surgery this morning and I am 
still on major drugs... :)


--------------------
Donal, SysAdmin of The Brewers' Witch BBS -- +1 713 272 7350
(Internet) donal@brewich.hou.tx.us  (Work) bill%pssi@brewich.hou.tx.us
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(SCA) Ld. Donal Dubh, IC of Dun Bruddair, B of the Stargate, K of Ansteorra
Newsgroups: rec.music.folk