Phil the Fluter’s Ball
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1. Have you heard of Phil the Fluter from the
town of Ballymuck ?
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The times were going hard with
him, in fact the man was broke.
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So he just sent out a notice
to his neighbours, one and all,
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as to
how he'd like their company that evening at a ball.
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And when writin'
out he was careful to suggest to them,
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that
if they found a hat of his convenient to the door.
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The more they put in, whenever
he requested them,
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the
better would the music be for batterin' the floor.
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With the toot of the flute, and the twiddle of the fiddle, O,
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hopping in the middle, like a herrin' on the griddle, O.
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Up! down, hands aroun',
crossin' to the wall,
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Oh!, hadn't we the gaiety at Phil the Fluter's ball.
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2. There was Mister Denis Dogherty, who kep' the runnin' dog,
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there
was little crooked Paddy, from the Tiraloughett bog.
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There was
boys from every Barony, and girls from ev'ry
'art',
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and
the beautiful Miss Bradys, in a private ass an' cart.
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And along with them came
bouncing Mrs. Cafferty,
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Little Micky
Mulligan was also to the fore.
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Rose, Suzanne, and Margaret O'Rafferty,
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the
flower of Ardmagullion, and the pride of Pethravore.
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With the toot of the flute, and the twiddle of the fiddle, O,
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hopping in the middle, like a herrin' on the griddle, O.
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Up! down, hands aroun',
crossin' to the wall,
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Oh!, hadn't we the gaiety at Phil the Fluter's ball.
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3. First, little Micky Mulligan got up to show
them how,
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and
then the Widda' Cafferty
steps out and makes her bow.
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I could dance you off your
legs, says her, 'as sure as you are born,
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if ye'll only make the piper play, "The hare was in the
corn."
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So Phil plays up to the best
of his ability,
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the
ladies and the gentlemen begin to do their share.
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'Faith, then Mick, it's you
that has agility :
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Begorra Mrs. Cafferty,
yer leppin' like a hare!'
+ CHORUS
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4. Then Phil the Fluter tipped a wink to
little Crooked Pat,
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'I think it's nearly time,' says he, 'for passin' round
the hat.'
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So Paddy pass'd
the caubeen round, and looking mighty cute,
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says,
'Ye've got to pay the piper when he tooters on the
flute.'
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Then all joined in with the
greatest joviality,
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covering
the buckle, and the shuffle, and the cut.
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Jigs were danced, of the very
finest quality,
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the Widda' bet the company at 'handling the fut.'
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With the toot of the flute, and the twiddle of the fiddle, O,
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hopping in the middle, like a herrin' on the griddle, O.
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Up! down, hands aroun',
crossin' to the wall,
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Oh!, hadn't we the gaiety at Phil the Fluter's ball.
(The Dubliners, capo 2nd)
(Brendan O’Dowda, capo 1st)