"Why Paddy's not at work today" two versions
Michael O'Leary
I have a question about the venerable old song "Why Paddy's not at work
today". I have a recording of one version in which Paddy collides with
the barrel only when the barrel is going down and he is going up, but I
heard someone sing this in a concert several years ago in which there is
an extra verse where Paddy and the barrel collide both when he is on the
way up and again when he is on the way down. Can anybody help me with
the words to this extra verse?
Mike O'Leary
mol...@primus.com
Joshua Mittleman
> Can anybody help me with the words to this extra verse?
It's not an extra verse; it's a verse that many people omit because a
couple popular singers have recorded short versions of the song.
You should know that this is not a "venerable old song", at least not if
you intend that phrase to mean that it is a traditional song in the public
domain. "The Bricklayer's Song" was written by Noel Murphy, I believe, in
the 50s or 60s.
The complete lyrics have been posted here many times. Go to Deja News and
search in rec.music.celtic for "Bricklayer".
===========================================================================
Josh Mittleman mit...@panix.com
Douglas Dwyer
In article <6froq2$2...@panix5.panix.com>, Joshua Mittleman
<mit...@panix.com> writes
Paddys'"
Douglas Dwyer
Finbar Boyle
The song is not all that venerable. It was written recently enough, probably
in the 1960s. The first one I heard singing it was Seamus Creagh. It is
based on an anecdote by the humourist Hannan Swaffer, but I can't remember
the name of the guy who made it into a song.
Finbar Boyle Claddagh Records
clad...@crl.ie
http://indigo.ie/~claddagh/
Michael O'Leary wrote in message <35214615...@primus.com>...
>I have a question about the venerable old song "Why Paddy's not at work
>today". I have a recording of one version in which Paddy collides with
>the barrel only when the barrel is going down and he is going up, but I
>heard someone sing this in a concert several years ago in which there is
>an extra verse where Paddy and the barrel collide both when he is on the
>way up and again when he is on the way down. Can anybody help me with
>the words to this extra verse?
>Mike O'Leary
>mol...@primus.com
>
Kevin Sheils
Douglas Dwyer wrote:
> Whats the relationship with Gerard Hoffnungs? monologue and "Why
> Paddys'"
> Douglas Dwyer
Purely as a guess I'd say that they both evolved from the same anecdotal
story, with possibly the version sung by Noel Murphy (and probaby
written by him (?)) inspired by the monologue.
There are similar/related stories and songs e.g. "How Paddy Stole The
Rope" sung by Tim Hart on one of the old pre Steeleye albums with Maddy
Prior.
--
Kevin Sheils
http://www.btinternet.com/~haleend
Nigel & Nancy Sellars
Sing Out! printed this song a few years back. As I recall from the
notes with the song, it was written in the late 1960s or maybe early
1970s by, IIRC, Pat Cook ( or Cookson?) an Englishman living in
Ireland. Where the song originated -- from an anecdote or monologue --
I'm afraid I don't know. The verse with the barrel and Paddy colliding
on the way down is apparently in the original version, which actually
makes the song scan better than those versions lacking that verse. The
verse goes something like:
"Now when the bricks had fallen from the barrel to the floor,
I then outweighed the barrel and I started down once more.
Clinging tightly to the rope, my body wracked with pain,
When halfway down I met that bloody barrel once again."
Nigel Sellars
Michael O'Leary
Douglas Dwyer wrote:
> In article <6froq2$2...@panix5.panix.com>, Joshua Mittleman
> <mit...@panix.com> writes
> >
> >> Can anybody help me with the words to this extra verse?
> >
> >It's not an extra verse; it's a verse that many people omit because a
> >couple popular singers have recorded short versions of the song.
> >
> >You should know that this is not a "venerable old song", at least not if
Did I say "venerable"? I meant "invulnerable".
> >you intend that phrase to mean that it is a traditional song in the public
> >domain. "The Bricklayer's Song" was written by Noel Murphy, I believe, in
> >the 50s or 60s.
I was born in the 50s, and my kids say I'm old.
> >
> >The complete lyrics have been posted here many times. Go to Deja News and
> >search in rec.music.celtic for "Bricklayer".
Thanks.
> >
> >===========================================================================
> >Josh Mittleman mit...@panix.com
A. Marina Fournier
In article <SCnptLAc...@ddwyer.demon.co.uk>, Douglas Dwyer
<ddw...@ddwyer.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>In article <6froq2$2...@panix5.panix.com>, Joshua Mittleman
<mit...@panix.com> writes
> >domain. "The Bricklayer's Song" was written by Noel Murphy, I believe, in
> >the 50s or 60s.
> >search in rec.music.celtic for "Bricklayer".
> Paddys'"
Good question. The info I have about timing is as follows:
Original story by Gerald Hofnung (read live before the Oxford Union
Dec. 1958 (on Critic's Choice or Timeless Hofnung). Hofnung died the next
year at 34. Rendered into song (a shorter version) by Alex Beaton and
other folksingers. Alex Beatonąs recording (łDear Boss˛, on Daft Ditties,
GR106, Glen Finnan Music)
I am willing to go with the notion (not that I have a clue about
veracity thereof) that someone named Noel Murphy wrote the lyrics. I seem
to remember Phil Cunningham singing it when touring with Relativity. I
wonder if I'll get a n answer with any verisimilitude to it should I ask
him--he is known for joking year round.
Marina
C'est la vie, C'est la guerre--ce n'est pas une pomme de terre!
A. Marina Fournier <AriadneM-at-Scruznet (dot) com>
The (Re)Sourceress--a person, not a commodity
--------------------------------------------------------------------
This posting has a invalid email address to discourage bulk emailers
Real persons might use the @ress spelled out above.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
lraven
The verse with the barrel and Paddy colliding
> on the way down is apparently in the original version, which actually
> makes the song scan better than those versions lacking that verse. The
> verse goes something like:
>
> "Now when the bricks had fallen from the barrel to the floor,
> I then outweighed the barrel and I started down once more.
> Clinging tightly to the rope, my body wracked with pain,
> When halfway down I met that bloody barrel once again."
>
> Nigel Sellars
>
A great version of this song performed live by Kevin Burke and Michael
O'Domhnaill, with the above verse included, appears on the video "Kevin
Burke and Michael O'Domhnaill In Concert" 1992, Shanachie (also available
from Stephan Grossman's Guitar Workshop).
Lisa
nospam Willy A Verheulpen
It's also on a Dubliners LP "Live in Carre" 1982 or 83 ...
--------------------------------------------------------------
Willy Verheulpen Institute for Mol. Biology & Biotechnology
Brussels Free University Scientia Vincere Tenebras
Paardenstr 65 B-1640 Sint Genesius Rode Belgium
remove (nospam) in the address to reply ....
Les Smith
In article <352289...@telepath.com>, Nigel & Nancy Sellars <nsel...@telepath.com> wrote:
>Finbar Boyle wrote:
>>
>> The song is not all that venerable. It was written recently enough, probably
>> in the 1960s. The first one I heard singing it was Seamus Creagh. It is
>> based on an anecdote by the humourist Hannan Swaffer, but I can't remember
>> the name of the guy who made it into a song.
>>
>> Finbar Boyle Claddagh Records
>> clad...@crl.ie
>> http://indigo.ie/~claddagh/
>>
>> Michael O'Leary wrote in message <35214615...@primus.com>...
>> >I have a question about the venerable old song "Why Paddy's not at work
>> >today". I have a recording of one version in which Paddy collides with
>> >the barrel only when the barrel is going down and he is going up, but I
>> >heard someone sing this in a concert several years ago in which there is
>> >an extra verse where Paddy and the barrel collide both when he is on the
>> >the words to this extra verse?
>> >mol...@primus.com
>> >
>
>Sing Out! printed this song a few years back. As I recall from the
>notes with the song, it was written in the late 1960s or maybe early
>1970s by, IIRC, Pat Cook ( or Cookson?) an Englishman living in
>Ireland. Where the song originated -- from an anecdote or monologue --
>on the way down is apparently in the original version, which actually
>makes the song scan better than those versions lacking that verse. The
>verse goes something like:
>
> "Now when the bricks had fallen from the barrel to the floor,
> I then outweighed the barrel and I started down once more.
> Clinging tightly to the rope, my body wracked with pain,
> When halfway down I met that bloody barrel once again."
>
>Nigel Sellars
It's based upon a monologue by the British comic
Gerard Hoffnung, who based his monologue, as
far as I know, on a parody of a letter requesting
sick leave, that he saw in the Manchester Guardian.
regards to all
Les Smith
Walter Heukels
Nigel & Nancy Sellars <nsel...@telepath.com> wrote:
> Sing Out! printed this song a few years back. As I recall from the
> notes with the song, it was written in the late 1960s or maybe early
> 1970s by, IIRC, Pat Cook ( or Cookson?) an Englishman living in
> Ireland. Where the song originated -- from an anecdote or monologue --
> I'm afraid I don't know. The verse with the barrel and Paddy colliding
Sean Cannon said at a concert in Amsterdam in 1983 it was was written 8 or 9
years ago by a friend of his. The Dubliners album Milestones lists the
author as Pat Cooksey.
--
--
-- Walter Heukels <wal...@erin.xs4all.nl> -- Vegetable rights and peace! --
nospam Willy A Verheulpen
In article <6g0agi$r...@imol2.vub.ac.be>, willy.verheulpen@(nospam)imol.vub.ac.be (Willy A Verheulpen) wrote:
>In article <01bd5e04$020983a0$0e1b98d0@default>, "lraven" <sp...@me.not> wrote:
>>A great version of this song performed live by Kevin Burke and Michael
>>O'Domhnaill, with the above verse included, appears on the video "Kevin
>>Burke and Michael O'Domhnaill In Concert" 1992, Shanachie (also available
>>from Stephan Grossman's Guitar Workshop).
>
>It's also on a Dubliners LP "Live in Carre" 1982 or 83 ...
Followup ...
BTW Is anyone knowing why it is sung to the same tune as a song which is
on a Dubliners LP recorded in 1966/67 ?? I think the tune is 'The old
alarm clock' if memory serves me right ..
Nigel & Nancy Sellars
>
> Sean Cannon said at a concert in Amsterdam in 1983 it was written 8
> or 9 years ago by a friend of his. The Dubliners album Milestones
> lists the author as Pat Cooksey.
I pulled out my yellowing photocopy of the song fron SO! and sure
enough, the author's name is Pat Cooksey, and the song dates from about
1973-4. It's apparently moved so quickly through the world that some
folks thinks it's traditional. I gather Cooksey has written some other
songs but "The Sick Notes" is the only one I've encountered. Still,
it's a masterpiece.
Nigel Sellars
jef...@bigfoot.com
In article <6g0agi$r...@imol2.vub.ac.be>,
<snip>
> >> verse goes something like:
> >>
> >> "Now when the bricks had fallen from the barrel to the floor,
> >> I then outweighed the barrel and I started down once more.
> >> Clinging tightly to the rope, my body wracked with pain,
> >> When halfway down I met that bloody barrel once again."
> >>
> >O'Domhnaill, with the above verse included, appears on the video "Kevin
> >Burke and Michael O'Domhnaill In Concert" 1992, Shanachie (also available
> >from Stephan Grossman's Guitar Workshop).
>
> It's also on a Dubliners LP "Live in Carre" 1982 or 83 ...
Robbie O'Connell also does a great version of this, it's on "The Clancy
Brother's / Live with Robbie O'Connell". www.cdnow.com has a listing
of this disc and you can listen to part of this song on their real
audio feed - I think it's the longer version of Dear Boss.
Lyrics can be found at http://www.cs.hut.fi/~zaphod/irish/ it's title
here is called 'why_paddys_not_at_work_excuse_note'.
Jeff O'Halloran
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
http://www.dejanews.com/ Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading
Tim Jennings
it's am urban legend, now, as well as a song, and from this post it
sounds as though the song & monologue originated in an urban legend
Tim Jennings
quote
It's based upon a monologue by the British comic
Gerard Hoffnung, who based his monologue, as
far as I know, on a parody of a letter requesting
sick leave, that he saw in the Manchester Guardian.
unquote
Nigel & Nancy Sellars
A. Marina Fournier wrote:
<much clipped>
> I am willing to go with the notion (not that I have a clue about
> veracity thereof) that someone named Noel Murphy wrote the lyrics.
It was written by Pat Cooksey, as other posts have noted (though
undoubtedly it derives from the Hoffnung monologue). Its original title
is "The Sick Note" though it seems now to have acquired at least three
other titles, "Dear Boss" being the newest one to me.
Nigel Sellars
Dr John Barrow
The Bricklayer's Song was issued by RCA on EP # PE5090 (1978)
with writing credits as, "Cooksey, Hoffnung, Murphy". Cooksey
is Pat Cooksey who I think still lives in Coventry, UK.
This seems to be the second issue of the song. According
to the screed on the EP it appeared on an LP of Murph's -
"Caught In The Act" (PL 25151) - from which it was lifted on
to the EP. BTW, also on the EP are "A Few More For The Road",
"Where Do You Go To My Lovely", "I Walk The Line (I Pull
The Twine)", and, "One Eyed Reilly".
Given the published writers are as above, who is Alex Beaton
I wonder? Did RCA get it wrong? Seems unlikely, or what?
Sounds like just another (shorter) version, but I think
Murph is popularly the more strongly connected with "original"
version of the song (along with Pat Cooksey).
The Hoffnung monologue is as said, from a talk at the Oxford
Union. It was often played on radio in the late 1950s and
1960s on progs like Family Favourites, IIRC.
jb
:-)
A. Marina Fournier (AriadneM_at_Sc...@nowhere.com) wrote:
: In article <SCnptLAc...@ddwyer.demon.co.uk>, Douglas Dwyer
: <ddw...@ddwyer.demon.co.uk> wrote:
: >In article <6froq2$2...@panix5.panix.com>, Joshua Mittleman
: <mit...@panix.com> writes
: > >You should know that this is not a "venerable old song", at least not if
: > >you intend that phrase to mean that it is a traditional song in the public
: > >domain. "The Bricklayer's Song" was written by Noel Murphy, I believe, in
: > >the 50s or 60s.
: > >The complete lyrics have been posted here many times. Go to Deja News and
: > >search in rec.music.celtic for "Bricklayer".
: > Whats the relationship with Gerard Hoffnungs? monologue and "Why
: > Paddys'"
: Good question. The info I have about timing is as follows:
: Original story by Gerald Hofnung (read live before the Oxford Union
: Dec. 1958 (on Critic's Choice or Timeless Hofnung). Hofnung died the next
: year at 34. Rendered into song (a shorter version) by Alex Beaton and
: other folksingers. Alex Beatonąs recording (łDear Boss˛, on Daft Ditties,
: GR106, Glen Finnan Music)
: I am willing to go with the notion (not that I have a clue about
: veracity thereof) that someone named Noel Murphy wrote the lyrics. I seem
ijmc...@hotmail.com
In article <35214615...@primus.com>, mol...@primus.com wrote: > > I
have a question about the venerable old song "Why Paddy's not at work >
me of a different kind of version that really irritated me when I heard it:
About a year or so ago, on Prarie Home Companion, Garrison Keillor was doing
the News from Lake Wobegon and he totally ripped this song off! The news was
about some Norwegian neighbor farmer (of course) who was building a brick
silo and had to get extra bricks off the top. Of course he put them in a
barrel to lower them, etc., etc., etc. You know the story - 'cause he
ripped it off from this song! Grrrr...Can't he be sued for that or
something? did anybody else hear this? Still fuming, Iver McLeod
Nigel & Nancy Sellars
Given that this song originated from a monologue based on a letter
published in a newspaper and the letter was allegedly inspired by a
possibly real incident, then who's ripping off whom? The song itself,
technically, is a "rip-off" of Hoffnung's monologue. But since Hoffnung
said he based his monologue on the letter, well, who can say? It's one
of those collective unconscious anecdotes -- like urban legends -- which
I'm sure has even deeper roots than that original letter.
Nigel Sellars
pdraper
ijmc...@hotmail.com wrote in article <6gl9nl$bab$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
> In article <35214615...@primus.com>,
mol...@primus.com wrote:
>
> I
> have a question about the venerable old song "Why Paddy's not at work
>
> today".
snip
This isn't really what you were asking about but you
reminded
> me of a
different kind of version that really irritated me when I heard
it:
> About a year or so ago,
on Prarie Home Companion, Garrison Keillor was
doing
> the News from
Lake Wobegon and he totally ripped this song off! The news
was
> about
some Norwegian neighbor farmer (of course) who was building a brick
> silo
and had to get extra bricks off the top. Of course
he put them in a
> barrel to lower them, etc., etc., etc. You know the story -
'cause he
> ripped it off from this song! Grrrr...Can't he be sued for that
or
> something?
did anybody else hear this?
Still fuming,
Iver McLeod
>
>
Don't get worked up Iver. It was an old story even before Gerard Hoffnung
recorded it about 20 years before anyone set it as a song. I came upon the
same story recently about an electrician climbing a pylon. Garrison Keillor
almost certainly didn't rip off the song, he took a story he'd heard and
"localised" it.
--
Paul Draper
pdr...@baig.co.uk
0171 369 2754
ijmc...@hotmail.com
In article <01bd67ac$c7941b10$7d07a8c2@rover>,
"pdraper" <pdr...@baig.co.uk> wrote:
>
> ijmc...@hotmail.com wrote in article <6gl9nl$bab$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
> > ripped it off from this song! Grrrr...Can't he be sued for that or
> > something?did anybody else hear this?Still fuming,Iver McLeod
> >
> >
>
> Don't get worked up Iver. It was an old story even before Gerard Hoffnung
> recorded it about 20 years before anyone set it as a song. I came upon the
> same story recently about an electrician climbing a pylon. Garrison Keillor
> almost certainly didn't rip off the song, he took a story he'd heard and
> "localised" it.
>
> --
Yeah, it's not really that big a deal. I guess I didn't realize the history
of that tale. Also, Garrison Keillor has made me laugh really hard before
with his own original writing so I was a little disappointed he "borrowed"
another story. But the story *is* funny and there is a long long long
tradition of story tellers telling other people's stories. Else how would we
get to hear them?
I'll shut up now.
Chuck Boody
> In article <01bd67ac$c7941b10$7d07a8c2@rover>,
> "pdraper" <pdr...@baig.co.uk> wrote:
> >
> > ijmc...@hotmail.com wrote in article <6gl9nl$bab$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
>
> > > ripped it off from this song! Grrrr...Can't he be sued for that or
> > > something?did anybody else hear this?Still fuming,Iver McLeod
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Don't get worked up Iver. It was an old story even before Gerard Hoffnung
> > recorded it about 20 years before anyone set it as a song. I came upon the
> > same story recently about an electrician climbing a pylon. Garrison Keillor
> > almost certainly didn't rip off the song, he took a story he'd heard and
> > "localised" it.
> >
> > --
>
> Yeah, it's not really that big a deal. I guess I didn't realize the history
> of that tale. Also, Garrison Keillor has made me laugh really hard before
> with his own original writing so I was a little disappointed he "borrowed"
> another story. But the story *is* funny and there is a long long long
> tradition of story tellers telling other people's stories. Else how would we
> get to hear them?
There's more to this tale. Back in the early days of Prairie Home
Companion a well known folk singer (who shall remain nameless) started to
sing "Paddy" on the program. He got tangled, stopped, and started again.
Then he got tangled, stopped and started over a third time. I'm not sure
how many times he tried before as I recall he gave up. But, this is a live
radio show, and Garrison and the folks back stage were going nuts trying to
figure out what this did to the rest of the show. No wonder he remembers
the tale.
Chuck Boody