Look What They've Done

Look what they've done to my song, Ma
Look what they've done to my song
Well it's the only thing I could do half right
And it's turning out all wrong, Ma
Look what they've done to my song

Look what they've done to my brain, Ma
Look what they've done to my brain
Well they picked it like a chicken bone
And I think I'm half insane, Ma
Look what they've done to my song

I wish I could find a good book to live in
Wish I could find a good book
Well, if I could find a real good book
I'd never have to come out and look at
What they've done to my song

La la la...
Look what they've done to my song

But maybe it'll all be all right, Ma
Maybe it'll all be OK
Well, if the people are buying tears
I'll be rich some day, Ma
Look what they've done to my song

Ils ont changé ma chanson, Ma
Ils ont changé ma chanson
C'est la seule chose que je peux faire
Et çe n'est pas bon, Ma
Ils ont changé ma chanson

Look what they've done to my song, Ma
Look what they've done to my song, Ma
Well they tied it up in a plastic bag
And turned it upside down, Ma
Look what they've done to my song

Ils ont changé ma chanson, Ma...
Ils ont changé ma chanson
C'est la seule chose que je peux faire
Et çe n'est pas bon, Ma
Ils ont changé ma chanson

Look what they've done to my song, Ma
Look what they've done to my song
Well it's the only thing I could do all right
And they turned it upside down
Look what they've done to my song

The Leaving of Nancy

In comes the train and the whole platform shakes,
It stops with a shudder, and a screaming of brakes.
The parting has come, and my weary soul aches.
I'm leaving my Nancy, oh

But you stand there so calm, determinedly gay,
You talk of the weather, and events of the day.
And your eyes tell me all, that your tongue doesn't say.
Goodbye my Nancy, oh

And come a little closer,
Put your head upon my shoulder.
And let me hold you one more time,
Before the whistle blows.

My suitcase is lifted, and stowed on the train,
And a thousand regrets, whirl around in my brain.
And the ache in my heart, is a black sea of pain.
I'm leaving my Nancy, oh

And you stand there so camly, so lovely to see.
But the grip of your hand, it's an unspoken plea
You're not fooling yourself, and you're not fooling me.
Goodbye my Nancy, oh

And come a little closer,
Lay your head upon my shoulder.
And let me hold you one more time,
Before the whistle blows.

But our time has run out, and the whistle has blown.
And here I must leave you, standing alone.
We had so little time, and now the time's gone.
Goodbye my Nancy, oh

And as the train, starts gently to roll.
And as I lean out, for to wave and to call.
I see the first tears, trickle and fall.
Goodbye my Nancy, oh

And come a little closer,
Put your head upon my shoulder.
And let me hold you one more time,
Before the whistle blows.

And come a little closer,
Lay your head upon my shoulder.
And let me hold you one more time,
Before the whistle blows.

And let me hold you one more time,
Before the whistle blows.

McShane

Recorded by LittleSmasher, Newbury.



McShane, a song I came to know through Finbar and Eddie Furey.

A stern song of a story with a melody so nostalgic. Also known as "Bold McShane" and "McShane from Kildare", it charts the exploits of a man leaving Kildare in Ireland for England.

MCSHANE

My name is McShane from the plains of Kildare
A farmer I was until the last year
Till I took a notion oh via promotion
Went over to England the harvest to share

Chorus: Room Toora La, Room Toora Laddie,
Room Toora La Mush a room toralay

I parted with Molly so blythe and so jolly
Picked up a stick for a staff in me hand
And to keep meself cheery for fear I'd get weary
I sang Paddywhack as I went on my way.

I landed at Dumbarton on a fine summers evening
Me bundle and staff I held them in me hands
There were some of them laughing and some of them chaffin'
More of them trying to stick Paddy away.

I went into a woman to ask her for lodgings
She said "Me young man, now don't look so dull!
For I will tell you where you will get lodgings
With a woman who lives next door to The Black Bull.

So I went to this woman and asked her for lodgings
She instantly showed me to a bed in the room
And I being so tired and worn out from walking
I threw meself down in me bed in that room.

But a lump of a Tinker lay up in the corner
He swore 'pon his soul sure he'd kill all was there
Says I "Me bold Tinker, give over your braggin',
I'm bold McShane from the plains of Kildare!

But he tried for to hit me a punch in the stomach
I instantly fetched him a one in the throat
And he tumbled heels over his head in the corner
And put all his head in an old rusty pot.

He lay on the floor like a sheep he was bleeding
I swore 'pon my soul sure I'd cut off his life
But I lifted him up and sent down for a noggin
Me and the Tinker we ended the strife.