| Author | Topic: Add: The Leprehaun | |
| dmcg | Posted - 18 Jan 05 - 09:20 am | |
In a shady nook one moonlight night, A leprehaun I spied; With scarlet cap and coat of green, A cruiskeen by his side. 'Twas tick tack tick his hammer went, Upon a weeny shoe; And I laughed to think of a purse of gold But the fairy was laughing too! With tip-toe and beating heart, Quite softly I drew nigh; There was mischief in his merry face, A twinkle in his eye. He hammer'd and sang with tiny voice, And drank his mountain dew And I laughed to think he was caught at last; But the fairy was laughing too. As quick as thought I seized the elf; "Your fairy purse," I cried. "The purse", he said, "'tis in her hand That lady at your side." I turned to look: the elf was off! Then what was I to do? O, I laughed to think what a fool I'd been; And the fairy was laughing too! Source: Singing Together, Spring 1974, BBC Publications Notes: Acknowledgement was given in the pamphlet to Boosey and Hawkes. The song was arranged and edited by Herbert Hughes from Irish Country Songs. | ||
| Malcolm Douglas |
Posted - 19 Jan 05 - 01:19 am | |
Roud 5274, on the basis of its having been in the repertoire of Margaret Barry. Are you sure about the Hughes reference? The song appears to have been written by Patrick Weston Joyce, c.1873, though it's also attributed to his brother (Robert Dwyer Joyce, who wrote the words of The Boys of Wexford) on many websites, most of which seem to have copied the information from a single (unidentified) source. P W seems the more likely, but there are so many contradictory statements kicking about that I can't say for sure until I find specifics. | ||
| dmcg | Posted - 19 Jan 05 - 08:29 am | |
The acknowledgement is as given 'arranged and edited' by Hughes, not necessarily written. A search for Hughes and Irish Country Songs gave me this link; so Hughes version is still in print and it looks to me that the acknowledgement is to the arrangement rather than the original song. Edited By dmcg - 19-Jan-2005 08:40:49 AM | ||
| Malcolm Douglas |
Posted - 19 Jan 05 - 05:39 pm | |
I wasn't very clear. Irish Country Songs appeared in four volumes (I only have the first at the moment). Roud lists contents for all four, but no mention of a leprechaun (however spelled; it seems to vary). That might just be an omission; I'm not certain that all titles have been entered. I was a bit puzzled in any case that they would credit an arranger/anthologist but not the writer. Perhaps they couldn't work out which Joyce it was, either. | ||