Furlong, Durack
The unfortunate thing with the banjo
It's a curse when it's close to your ear
And it's worse when the said item's owner
Is after a gallon of beer
but forget all that fuss about tuning
And the fingering close to the fret
If it's polkas you want then you're in for a jaunt
The ould banjo's the best you can get!
A good one to start is Old "Egan's"
The Kerry one everyone knows
It's just fABA and fABA - you're flying
Quare handy and that's how she goes!
Now "John Ryan's" is a tearaway polka
It'll get people up on the floor
There'll be batter and clatter and plenty of chatter
And after they'll beg you for more!
There's "Hayden's" which you can play backwards
Or forwards when you have a mind
"Dan Mac's" and The "Gabhairín" will follow
And "Cuz Teahan's" close up behind.
And how many are called "Ballydesmond"?
That depends on how many you've heard
There's a #1 and a #2 that we know through and through
And a Begley one - or have I erred?
Now here comes the "Britches of Stitches"
And "Eithne's one", Boy that is good!
Then "Maggie" will stay until morning
With Liam chasing her in the Wood!
We seldom play "Farewell To Whiskey"
Nor even the "Dark Girl In Blue"
We might chance the ould "Clog" on a special occasion
Then throw in "The Other Clog" too.
I love "Jimmy Doyle's" - that's my favourite
"Tooreendarby" to follow, no doubt!
And "Downey's" will do to keep tapping your shoe
It's an excellent tune to go out.
"Rockchapel" from Cork and "Lord Seaforth"
And "The Dripsey" -not often to hear
But the Petravore Set is for certain our pet
which we'll play even when there's no beer!
That'll do for tonight my good people
It's late and it's time to move on
It's goodnight now to Denis and Julia
And remember the ones who are gone
We'll have "Many Wild Nights" if God spares us
With "The King Of The Fairies" in tow
Put the Banjo to bed, there's no more to be said
I'll just leave ye and get up and go!
