Seven Nations - Lannigan's Ball lyrics

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Lannigan's Ball

(Traditional, arranged Neil Anderson/Kirk McLeod) (excerpt in chorus from 'Delirium Tremens' by C. Moore)

Saint Patrick was a Gentleman

He came from descent people

He built a church in Dublin town

And on it he put a steeple

The Wicklow hills are very high

And so is the hill of Howth sir

But there's a hill much higher still

Much higher than them both sir

On top of this high hill

St Patrick preached a sermon

Drove the frogs into the bogs

And he vanished all the vermin

There's not a mile of Eireann's Isle

Where dirty vermin musters

There he put his dear forefoot

And murdered them in clusters

The frogs went hop and the toads went pop

Slapdash into the water

The snakes committed suicide

To save themselves from slaughter

900,000 reptiles blue

He charmed with sweet discourses

Dined on them in Killaloe

On soups and second courses

Blind worms crawling in the grass

Disgusted all the nation

Right down to hell with a holy spell

He changed their situation

Was I but so fortunate

To be back in home in Munster

I'd be bound that from that ground

I never more would once stir

There St Patrick planted turf

Cabbages and praties

Pigs galore, mo grá, mo stóir

Altar boys and ladies

In the town of Athy, one Jeremy Lanigan battered away till he hadn't a shilling

His father died, made him a man again, left him a farm and ten acres of ground

He threw a grand party for friends and relations, hadn't forgot them when it came to the will

If you'll but listen I'll make your eyes glisten at rousing, rusing at Lannigan's Ball

Six long months I spent in Dublin, six long months doing nothing at all,

Six long months I spent in Dublin, learning to dance for Lannigan's ball.

Six long months I spent in Dublin, six long months doing nothing at all,

Six long months I spent in Dublin, learning to dance for Lannigan's ball.

There was lashings of drink wine for the ladies, pipes, tabaccy, brandy and tea

Nolans and Dolans and all the O'Gradys, courting the girls and dancing away

Well the boys were merry and the girls all hearty dancing around in their couples and groups

An accident happened; Terence McCarthy; He put his boot through Miss Finnerty's hoops

You've heard of St. Guinness of France, he never had a pulpit to brag on

You've heard of St. George and his lance, he killed the old heathenous dragon

The saints of the Welshmen and Scots they're a couple of pitiful pipers

They might as well go to pot when compared to the patron of vipers!

St. Patrick was a gentleman

He came from descent people

He built a church in Dublin town

And on it he put a steeple

The Wicklow hills are very high

And so is the hill of Howth sir

But there's a hill much higher still

Much higher than them both sir

On top of this high hill

St Patrick preached a sermon

Drove the frogs into the bogs

And he vanished all the vermin

There's not a mile of Eireann's Isle

Where dirty vermin musters

There he put his dear forefoot

And murdered them in clusters

The frogs went hop and the toads went pop

Slapdash into the water

The snakes committed suicide

To save themselves from slaughter

900,000 reptiles blue

He charmed with sweet discourses

Murdered them in Killaloe

On soups and second courses

Boys oh boys 'tis then there was ructions, I got a belt from Phelim Mc Hugh

I replied to his introduction, kicked up a terrible hullabaloo.

Moloney the piper was near gettin' strangled, pipes, bellows, regulator, changer and all

His Pipe and his pipes they all got entangled and that put an end to Lannigan's ball