jolly gay fellows
( We are everywhere. )
Joyce, I believe I heard the participants burst into the following
version of this well-known song. Heretofore, in the USA, I had heard
only the phrase ``.. jolly good ..'' used. Is this, with ``jolly
gay'', the typical Irish version of the song, was it once, or was I
just misled by my inattentativeness and the Irish dialect?
For they are jolly gay fellows.
For they are jolly gay fellows.
For they are jolly gay fellows,
unless they tell a lie.
For they are jolly gay fellows.
For they are jolly gay fellows.
For they are jolly gay fellows,
which nobody can deny.
uq...@vax5.cit.cornell.edu
r...@AGATE.BERKELEY.EDU (( We are everywhere. )) writes:
> Listening with one ear to a presentation of ``The Dead'' by James
> Joyce, I believe I heard the participants burst into the following
> version of this well-known song. Heretofore, in the USA, I had heard
> only the phrase ``.. jolly good ..'' used. Is this, with ``jolly
> gay'', the typical Irish version of the song, was it once, or was I
> just misled by my inattentativeness and the Irish dialect?
>
the corners:
...Gabriel glanced down at his aunts and, seeing the large smile
on Aunt Julia's face and the tears which had risen to Aunt Kate's
eyes, hastened to his close. He raised his glass of port gallantly,
while every member of the company fingered a glass expectantly, and
said loudly:
"Let us toast them all three together. Let us drink to their
health, wealth, long life, happiness and prosperity and may they
long continue to hold the proud and self-won position which they
hold in their profession and the position of honour and affection
which they hold in our hearts."
All the guests stood up, glass in hand, and turning towards the
three seated ladies, sang in unison, with Mr. Browne as leader:
For they are jolly gay fellows,
For they are jolly gay fellows,
For they are jolly gay fellows,
Aunt Kate was making frank use of her handkerchief and even Aunt
Julia seemed moved. Freddy Malins beat time with his pudding-fork
and the singer turned towards one another, as if in melodious
conference, while they sang with emphasis:
Unless he tells a lie,
Unless he tells a lie,
Then, turning once more towards their hostesses, they sang:
For they are jolly gay fellows,
For they are jolly gay fellows,
For they are jolly gay fellows,
The acclamation which followed was taken up beyond the door of
the supper-room by many of the other guests and renewed time after
time, Freddy Malins acting as officer with his fork on high. ...
-- James Joyce, "The Dead" (~1914)
In _The Folksinger's Wordbook_ (Oak Publications, 1973), the song
has become:
For he's a jolly good fellow,... (3x)
Which nobody can deny.
We won't go home until morning,... (3x)
Till daylight doth appear!
The bear went over the mountain,... (3x)
To see what he could see!
And all that he could see was...
The other side of the mountain,... (3x)
Was all that he could see!
...And there you are.
-- Maren.