Lyrics: Phil the Fluter's ball

[Karin Bryan]

Does anyone have the lyrics to this (Irish?) folksong: Its a bit silly, but the
chorus goes like this (sort of): (It is sung really fast)

Toot on the flute and fiddle on the griddle
Oh hop in the middle like a heron on the griddle,
Oh hop down hands around and up on to the wall,
Oh wasn't it the gaiety at Phil the fluter's ball.

Thanks Karin

[Scott C DeLancey]

Here it is. A couple of notes: 1) in northern European countries
herrings are often associated with griddles, etc. Herons, very
seldom. 2) It doesn't have to be sung fast at all; I'm sure it
can be, but I've never heard it that way. It's a nice song done
at a very leisurely tempo.

Phil the Fluther's Ball
by Percy French

Have you heard of Phil the Fluther,
of the town of Ballymuck?
The times were going hard with him,
in fact the man was broke
So he just sent out a notice to
his neighbors one and all
As to how he'd like their company
that evening at a ball.
And when writin' out he was careful to suggest to them
That if they found a hat of his convenient to the dure,
The more they put in, whenever he requested them
The better would the music be for battherin' the flute

Cho. With the toot of the flute,
And the twiddle of the fiddle, o
Hopping in the middle, like a herring on the griddle, o
Up! Down, hands around
Crossing to the wall.
Oh, hadn't we the gaiety at Phil the Fluther's ball.

There was Mister Denis Dogherty,
who kept the runnin' 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 a private ass and cart.
And along with them came bouncing Mrs. Cafferty,
Little Micky Mulligan was also to the fore,
Rose, Suzanne, and Margaret O'Rafferty,
The flower of Ardmagullion, and the pride of Perthravore.

First little Micky Mulligan
got up to show them how,
And then the Widow Cafferty
steps out and makes her bow,
I could dance you off your legs, says she,
as sure as you are 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 lady and the gentleman began to do their share,
Faith then Mick, it's you that has agility,
Begorra, Mrs. Caffery, yer leppin' like a hare!

Then Phil the Fluther tipped a wink
to little Crooked Pat
I think it's nearly time says he,
for passing round the hat
So Paddy passed the caubeen round,
and looking mighty cute,
Says, "You've got to pay the piper when
he toothers on the flute!"
Then all joined in with the greatest joviality,
Covering the buckle, and the shuffle, and the cut,
Jigs were danced of the very finest quality,
But the Widow bet the company at "Handling the fut"

(So, does anybody know what "handling the fut" is?)
--
Scott DeLancey dela...@darkwing.uoregon.edu
Department of Linguistics
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403, USA