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 KildareA 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.
