Lanigan's Ball
Encyclopedia
"Lanigan's Ball" is a popular traditional or folk
Irish
song which has been played throughout the world since at least the 1860's and possibly much longer. Typically performed in a minor key
, it generally is played in an upbeat style reminiscent of the party atmosphere in which the story that the lyrics portray unfolds.
In Alfred Perceval Graves
book, Songs of Irish Wit and Humour, published in 1884, Lanigans Ball is attributed to anon. In Folk Songs of the Catskills, edited by Norman Cazden, Herbert Haufrecht and Norman Studer, there is a reference to John Diprose's songster of 1865 attributing Lanigan's Ball to D. K. Gavan with music by John Candy. It also mentions that the tune was previously known as Hurry the Jug.
, Co. Kildare
, Ireland
. Jeremy decides to have the party for friends and relations who supported and helped him out when he didn't have any resources: "friends and relations Who didn't forget him when come to the wall".
The lyrics of the song describe the people who attended the party and the food and drink that was available. In the chorus of the song, the narrator describes his time spent at "Brooks Academy" in Dublin learning to dance in preparation for the ball:
and
Later on in the evening, in one version "Miss Kerrigan" fainted and her "sweetheart Ned Morgan" got upset and started a fight. In another popular version, "young Terence McCarthy, He put his right leg through Miss Finerty's hoops" and that started the fight. The narrator says that he "got a lick from big Phelim McHugh". This fight, described in the song as "ructions", "put an end to Lanigan's Ball".
Folk music of Ireland
The folk music of Ireland is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres in Ireland.-History:...
Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
song which has been played throughout the world since at least the 1860's and possibly much longer. Typically performed in a minor key
Minor scale
A minor scale in Western music theory includes any scale that contains, in its tonic triad, at least three essential scale degrees: 1) the tonic , 2) a minor-third, or an interval of a minor third above the tonic, and 3) a perfect-fifth, or an interval of a perfect fifth above the tonic, altogether...
, it generally is played in an upbeat style reminiscent of the party atmosphere in which the story that the lyrics portray unfolds.
In Alfred Perceval Graves
Alfred Perceval Graves
Alfred Perceval Graves , was an Anglo-Irish poet, songwriter, and school inspector . His first marriage to Jane Cooper, eldest daughter of James Cooper of Cooper Hill, Co. Limerick, resulted in five children: the journalist Philip Graves, Mary, Richard, Alfred, and Susan...
book, Songs of Irish Wit and Humour, published in 1884, Lanigans Ball is attributed to anon. In Folk Songs of the Catskills, edited by Norman Cazden, Herbert Haufrecht and Norman Studer, there is a reference to John Diprose's songster of 1865 attributing Lanigan's Ball to D. K. Gavan with music by John Candy. It also mentions that the tune was previously known as Hurry the Jug.
Meaning
The lyrics are about a party thrown by a hard working young man, Jeremy Lanigan, who has inherited a "farm and ten acres of ground" on the death of his father. The events occur in AthyAthy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
, Co. Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Jeremy decides to have the party for friends and relations who supported and helped him out when he didn't have any resources: "friends and relations Who didn't forget him when come to the wall".
The lyrics of the song describe the people who attended the party and the food and drink that was available. In the chorus of the song, the narrator describes his time spent at "Brooks Academy" in Dublin learning to dance in preparation for the ball:
- Three long weeks I spent up in Dublin,
- Three long weeks to learn nothing at all,
- Three long weeks I spent up in Dublin,
- Learning new steps for Lanigan's Ball.
and
- She stepped out and I stepped in again,
- I stepped out and she stepped in again,
- She stepped out and I stepped in again,
- Learning new steps for Lanigan's Ball.
Later on in the evening, in one version "Miss Kerrigan" fainted and her "sweetheart Ned Morgan" got upset and started a fight. In another popular version, "young Terence McCarthy, He put his right leg through Miss Finerty's hoops" and that started the fight. The narrator says that he "got a lick from big Phelim McHugh". This fight, described in the song as "ructions", "put an end to Lanigan's Ball".
Lyrics
As with many traditional songs, the lyrics vary depending on the performer. This version is from here
- In the town of Athy one Jeremy Lanigan
- Battered away till he hadn't a pound
- And his father he died and made him a man again,
- Left him a farm and ten acres of ground
- He gave a grand party to friends and relations
- Who did not forget him when come to the wall
- If you'd only listen, I'll make your eyes glisten
- At the rows and ructions of Lanigans Ball
- Myself to be sure got free invitations
- For all the nice girls and boys I might ask
- In less than a minute both friends and relations
- We're dancing as merry as bees round a cask
- Lashing of punch and wine for the ladies
- Potatoes, cakes, there was bacon and tea
- There were the Nolans, Dolans, O'Gradys
- Courting the girls and dancing away
- 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 Lanigans ball
- They were doing all kinds of nonsensical polkas
- Round the room in a whirly gig
- But Julia and I soon banished their nonsense
- And tipped them a twist of a real Irish jig
- Oh how the girl she really got mad and we
- Danced that you'd think that the ceiling would fall
- For I spent three weeks at Brooks Academy
- Learning to dance for Lanigans 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 Lanigans ball
- And I stepped out - and I stepped in again
- Learning to dance for Lanigans ball
- The boys were as merry, the girls all hearty
- Dancing around in couples and groups
- Till an accident happened, young Terence McCarthy
- He put his right leg through Miss Finerty's hoops
- The creature she fainted and cried "Meelia Murther"
- And called for her brothers and gathered them all
- Carmody swore that he'd go no further,
- Till he had satisfaction at Lanigans 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 Lanigans ball
- Boys, oh boys, tis there was ructions
- Myself got a kick from big Phelim McHugh
- And I soon replied to his kind introduction
- And kicked him a terrible hullabaloo
- Casey the piper was nearly being strangled
- They squeezed up his pipes, bellows, chanters and all
- And the girls in their ribbons they all got entangled
- And that put an end to Lanigans 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 Lanigans ball
- And I stepped out - and I stepped in again
- Learning to dance for Lanigans ball
Recordings and Cover Versions
This song has been covered by many artists. The Bards had a huge hit with it in Ireland in 1980. Christy MooreChristy MooreChristopher Andrew "Christy" Moore is a popular Irish folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is well known as one of the founding members of Planxty and Moving Hearts...
recorded it on his LP The Time Has Come in 1983, re-released on CD in 2007.
A version of this song was recorded by the American celtic punkCeltic punkCeltic punk is punk rock mixed with traditional Celtic music. The genre was founded in the 1980s by The Pogues, a band of punk musicians in London who celebrated their Irish heritage. Celtic punk bands often play covers of traditional Irish folk and political songs, as well as original compositions...
band Dropkick MurphysDropkick MurphysDropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
on their sixth studio album, The Meanest of TimesThe Meanest of TimesThe Meanest of Times is the sixth album by the Dropkick Murphys. It was released on September 18, 2007 by their new vanity label, Born & Bred Records, a division of Cooking Vinyl Records...
. The title was changed to "(F)lannigan's Ball", and the lyrics have been significantly altered, although the subject matter of the song remains the same. Jump, Little ChildrenJump, Little ChildrenJump, Little Children, later known as Jump, was a band formed in 1991 in the city of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Known for their unique sound, energetic live performances, and willingness to interact with fans, the band built a strong following over their fourteen years together...
performs another popular version of this song with most of the lyrics retained. The Celtic fusionCeltic FusionCeltic fusion is an umbrella term for modern music which incorporates influences considered "Celtic," or Celtic music which incorporates modern music. It is a syncretic musical tradition which borrows freely from the perceived "Celtic" musical traditions of all the Celtic nations, as well as from...
band Enter the HaggisEnter the HaggisEnter the Haggis is a Canadian Indie/Celtic/Folk Rock world-fusion band based in Toronto, Canada. Commonly called ETH, the band has been playing and recording since 1996. Their latest studio album, "Whitelake" is the band's ninth album....
also recorded this song on their album Aerials with its traditional lyrics. New York rock band the Jim C Experience did a version of the song entitled "Glennigan's Ball". The German band Fiddler’s Green recorded it in 1995 for the Album "King Shepherd". LeperKhanzLeperKhanzThe LeperKhanz are an experimental troupe of musicians that mix ancient sea shantys, Irish fiddle, reggae, classical, hip-hop, disco and rock. They originally formed in 2003....
recorded a version of the song on the album "Tiocfaidh Ar La".
External links
- thesession.org Links to sheet music