The Reel in the Flickering Light

Colm Gallagher (Colm Music)

I loved this weird song ever since I heard Christy Moore sing it. In this tale the writer has made the Daddy-Longlegs into a wonderfully mischievous and beguiling character. When I introduce it, I sometimes say that it might the kind of song you would write when you've had a bit too much to drink, when you start seeing things coming out of the wall .... but not in a bad way!

As I was walking home one evenin'
I know this takes some believin'
I met a group of creatures
With the strangest lookin' features
A poor old dove and a worm in the weed
And a fine old pigeon, yes indeed
A daddy longlegs jumped up sprightly
As he danced to the reel in the flickering light

Chorus:
Oh round we go, heel to the toe
A daddy longlegs jumped sprightly
And danced to the reel in the flickering light

On his thin and wispy spindles
He was deft and he was nimble
His eyes were scientific
And his dancing was terrific
And the rats and worms they made a din
And the nettles in the corners took it in
"Oh God" says I, "Tonight's the night"
"We'll dance to the reel in the flickering light"

Chorus

Then he looked at me directly
With a gaze that could dissect me
And he asked me in a whisper
"Have you got any sisters?"
"Oh God almighty" says I to him
"What sort of a man d'you think I am"?
I've only one, she's not your type
She wouldn't dance the reel in the flickering light"

Chorus

Says he: "Does she come from another planet?
Does she have a bee in her bonnet?
Does she do her daily duties
You never know we might be suited"
And the rats and the worms began to laugh
And some of them started shufflin' off
We're goin' to have some fun tonight
Getting ready for the reel in the flickering light

Chorus

I could see he had no scruples
When I looked into his pupils
They were purple or magenta
Like a statue during Lent
I said "I'll get her right away"
"Good man" says he "now don't delay"
We're going to have some fun tonight
And he flicked his legs in the flickering light.

Chorus

Then up stepped a red carnation
And they gave her an ovation
She was warm and enchantin'
As she slowly started dancin'
And the bright ole pigeon peeled his eye.
And the nettles and the weeds began to sigh.
Daddy longlegs said "my-oh-my
Are we ready for the reel in the flickering light?"

Chorus:
Oh round we go, heel to the toe
Daddy longlegs said "My-oh-my
Are we ready for the reel in the flickering light?"

She was gentle, she was charmin'
And I heard him call her "darlin'
He was graceful as a whisper
On his delicate legs of silver
And the rats and worms were still as mice
And the poor old pigeon said "That's nice"
A shimmering veil on a lovely bride
As they danced to the reel in the flickering light

Chorus:
Oh round we go, heel to the toe
As shimmering veil on a lovely bride
As they danced to the reel in the flickering light