welcome flautist!
with st. pat's coming, i thought i'd post one of my favourite irish songs to welcome you, called "phil the fluter's ball". (sung very quickly to a jaunty irish jig. read it rhythmically, as fast as possible)
Phil The Fluter's Ball
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(David Heneker, Percy French)
Have you heard of Phil the fluter from the town of Ballymuck
The times was going hard for him in fact the man was broke
So he sent an invitation to his neighbours one and all
As how he'd like their company that evening at a ball
And when writing out he was careful to suggest to them
That if they found a hat of his convenient to the door
The more they put in whenever he requested them
The better would the music be for battering the floor
With a toot on the flute and a twiddle on the fiddle-oh
Hopping in the middle like a herrin' on the griddle-oh
Up, down, hands around and crossing to the wall
Sure hadn't we the gaiety at Phil the Fluter's ball
There was Mister Denis Doherty who kept a running dog
There was little crooked Paddy from the Tiraloughett bog
There was boys from every barony and girls from every art
And the beautiful Miss Bradys' in their private *** and cart
Along with them came bouncing Mrs Cafferty
Little Mickey Mulligan was also to the fore
Rose, Suzanne and Margaret O'Rafferty
The flower of Ard Na Gullion and the pride of Petravore
With a toot on the flute and a twiddle on the fiddle-oh
Hopping in the middle like a herrin' on the griddle-oh
Up, down, hands around and crossing to the wall
Sure hadn't we the gaiety at Phil the Fluter's ball
First little Mickey Mulligan got up to show them how
And then the widow Cafferty steps out and takes her bow
I'll dance you off your legs, says she as sure as you were born
If you'll only make the piper play "The Hare was in the Corn"
So Phil plays up to the best of his ability
The ladies and the gentlemen begin to do their share
Faith, then Mick
it's you that has agility
Begob an' Mrs Cafferty you're leppin' like a hare
With a toot on the flute and a twiddle on the fiddle-oh
Hopping in the middle like a herrin' on the griddle-oh
Up, down, hands around and crossing to the wall
Sure hadn't we the gaiety at Phil the Fluter's ball
Then Phil the fluter tipped a wink to little crooked Pat
I think it's nearly time, says he for passing round the hat
So Paddy passed the caipín round and looking very cute
Said, you have to pay the piper when he tootles on the flute
Then all joined in with the greatest joviality
Coverin' the buckle and the shuffle and the cut
Jigs were danced of the very finest quality
But the widow bate the company at handlin' the foot
With a toot on the flute and a twiddle on the fiddle-oh
Hopping in the middle like a herrin' on the griddle-oh
Up, down, hands around and crossing to the wall
Sure hadn't we the gaiety at Phil the Fluter's ball
