Play recording: Some Say the Devil is Dead
view / hide recording details [+/-]
- Teideal (Title): Some Say the Devil is Dead.
- Uimhir Chatalóige Ollscoil Washington (University of Washington Catalogue Number): 850104.
- Uimhir Chnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann (National Folklore of Ireland Number): none.
- Uimhir Roud (Roud Number): 8904.
- Uimhir Laws (Laws Number): none.
- Uimhir Child (Child Number): none.
- Cnuasach (Collection): Joe Heaney Collection, University of Washington, Seattle.
- Teanga na Croímhíre (Core-Item Language): English.
- Catagóir (Category): song.
- Ainm an té a thug (Name of Informant): Joe Heaney.
- Ainm an té a thóg (Name of Collector): James Cowdery.
- Dáta an taifeadta (Recording Date): between 1979 and 1981.
- Suíomh an taifeadta (Recording Location): Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, United States of America.
- Ocáid an taifeadta (Recording Occasion): private.
- Daoine eile a bhí i láthair (Others present): unavailable.
- Stádas chóipcheart an taifeadta (Recording copyright status): unavailable.
JH: ‘Some say the devil is dead and buried in Killarney.’
Jim: In Killarney? Why?
JH: I don’t know.
Jim: In Killarney!
JH: That used to be people taking the mickey out of somebody.
Some say the devil is dead, the devil is dead, the devil is dead
Some say the devil is dead, and buried in Killarney.
More says he rose again, rose again, rose again
More says he rose again and joined the British Army!
Notes
Joe probably knew the rest of this, but modesty forbade him. Here’s how the whole thing goes, thanks to a posting on the Internet from the Wolfe Tones. Joe’s air is the same as theirs – a fine march tune, if only I knew the name of it:
Chorus:
Some say the devil is dead, the devil is dead, the devil is dead
Some say the devil is dead, and buried in Killarney.
More say he rose again, rose again, rose again
More say he rose again and joined the British Army!
Feed the pigs and milk the cow, milk the cow, milk the cow,
Feed the pigs and milk the cow, so early in the morning.
Tuck your leg up, Paddy, dear, Paddy, dear, I’m over here!
Tuck your leg up, Paddy dear, it’s time to stop your snoring.
Katie, she is tall and thin, tall and thin, tall and thin.
Katie, she is tall and thin. She likes a drop of brandy.
Drinks it in the bed at night, drinks it in the bed at night,
Drinks it in the bed at night – it makes her nice and randy.
My man is six foot tall, six foot tall, six foot tall
My man is six foot tall, he likes his sugar candy
Goes to bed at six o’clock, goes to bed at six o’clock
Goes to bed at six o’clock – he’s lazy, fat and dandy.
My wife, she has a hairy thing, a hairy thing, a hairy thing
My wife, she has a hairy thing, she showed it to me Sunday
She bought it in the furrier shop, bought it in the furrier shop,
Bought it in the furrier shop – It’s going back on Monday.