We are happy to offer some special notes on all of the songs on the LIVE CD. Some of the text will be identical to that found on the CD, while there are special comments and further information added--and, of course, lyrics so that you can sing along!. We hope you will enjoy this companion to your CD purchase.
liner notes
One of the most popular music hall offerings of the late 19th century was a comical tale of an Irishman's woes with his mother-in-law, Mick McGuire. We've expanded the song since it was first recorded to add a middle verse and instrumental break. It's a fun Irish jig with a lot of good humor.
Mick McGuire
Oh, me name is Mick McGuire
and I'll quickly tell to you,
About a young girl I admired, called Katie Donahue.
She was fair and fat and forty
and believe me when I say,
That whenever I came in at the door
you could hear her mammy say:
Johnny get up from the fire get up
and give the man a seat!
Can't you see it's Mr. McGuire
and he's courtin' your sister Kate.
Oh, You know very well he owns the farm,
a wee bit out of the town
Arrah, get up out of that you impudent brat,
and let Mr. McGuire sit down!
Diddly-rowdle rowdle rowdle
diddley-rowdle rowdle-row
Diddly-rowdle rowdle rowdle
diddley-rowdle rowdle-row
Oh, You know very well he owns the farm
a wee bit out of the town
Arrah, get up out of that you impudent brat
and let Mr. McGuire sit down.
Now, the first time that I met her
Was at a dance in Targmagee
And I very kindly asked her if she’d
dance a step with me;
Then I asked if I could see her home
if I’d be going her way
And whenever I came in at the door,
you could here her mammy say:
Johnny get up from the fire get up
and give the man a seat!
Can't you see it's Mr. McGuire
and he's courtin' your sister Kate.
Oh, You know very well he owns the farm,
a wee bit out of the town
Arrah, get up out of that you impudent brat,
and let Mr. McGuire sit down!
Diddly-rowdle rowdle rowdle
diddley-rowdle rowdle-row
Diddly-rowdle rowdle rowdle
diddley-rowdle rowdle-row
Oh, You know very well he owns the farm
a wee bit out of the town
Arrah, get up out of that you impudent brat
and let Mr. McGuire sit down.
Ah, but now the we are married,
sure her mother's changed her mind
Just because I spent the legacy
her father left behind.
She hasn't got the decency to bid me time of day,
And whenever I come in at the door,
you'll hear the auld one say:
Johnny come up to the fire, come up,
you're sittin' in a draft!
Can't you see its auld McGuire and
he nearly drives me daft!
Oh, I don't know what gets into him
for he's always on the tear;
Just sit where you are and never you dare
to give auld McGuire the chair!
