Tandragee

Traditional

I got this song from Bobby O'Donovan who got it from Will Millar. Tandragee is in County Armagh, and at least according to this song, it has the best dancers in Ireland.

Good luck to you all here now barring the cat
That's sits in the corner a-smelling the rat
Ah, quit your philandering boys and behave
And saving your presence I'll chance you will stay
I come from the land where the praties grow big
And the girls neat and handy can dance a fine jig
The boys they will charm, your heart for to see
They're wonderful fellas 'round Tandragee

Chorus:
Here's to the boys that are happy and gay
Singing and dancing and tearing away
Rolicksome, frolicsome, frisky and free
With the rollicking boys around Tandragee

It's the ould jaunting car, the elegant joult
And Derry's the place that is famed for the hoult
Among the green bushes that grow in Tyrone
And the County Fermanagh for muscle and bone
For feasting and blarney and fun at the fair
There's none can compare with Rakes of Kildare
Green Erin, me country, the gem of the sea
But the gem of ould Ireland is Tandragee

Chorus

No doubt you have heard of Killarney, I'm sure
And sweet Inishowen for a drop of the pure
Dublin's the place for the Strawberry Beds
And Donnybrook fair for the crackin' of heads
Did you e'er see an Irishman dancing poltóg
Oh, he faces his partner and turn up his brogue
He shakes at the buckle and bends at the knee
Ach, they're wonderful dancers 'round Tandragee

Chorus

Now, where is the man either Christian or Turk
Could equal the bold Robert Emmet or Burke
Where was the lawyer could speak up like Dan
There's devil another, bad luck to the one!
And where is the singer could sing like Tom Moore?
His melodies charm every care from our door
We'll beat them all yet boys and that you will see
Sure we're rarin' fine fellas 'round Tanderagee

Chorus

Joult: jolt
Poltóg: freely, wildly