Ho! brother Teague, dost hear the decree?
(Lilliburlero, bullen a-la)
That we shall have a new deputy.
(Lilliburlero, bullen a-la)

(Chorus)
Lero, lero, lilliburlero,
Lilliburlero, bullen a-la.
Lero, lero, lilliburlero,
Lilliburlero, bullen a-la.

There was an old prophesy found in a bog,
"We shall be ruled by an ass and a dog."

And now this prophesy is come to pass,
Talbot's the dog and James is the ass.






abc | midi | pdf

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Source: Singing Together, Spring 1967, BBC Publications

Notes:
Taken from Oxford Song Book II, Oxford University Press.

There are many 'Lilliburlero' songs. This one refers to King James II and Tyrconnel ("known as Lying Dick Talbot" according to one website). See various accounts of the Siege of Londonderry, 1689.

Roud: 3038 (Search Roud index at VWML)
Laws:
Child: