Lanigan’s Ball Songtext
von Christy Moore

In the town of Athy, one Jeremy Lanigan
Battered away till he hadn′t a shillin'
His father died and made him a man again
Left him a farm and ten acres of ground
And myself, to be sure, got free invitations
For the boys and girls I might ask
Without being asked, the friends and relations
Danced like bees around a sweet cask

There was lashin′s of punch, and wine for the ladies
Potatoes and cakes, and bacon and tay
The Nolans, Dolans, all the O'Gradys
Courtin' the girls and dancing away
Songs went round as plenty as water
The harp that once sounded through Tara′s old hall
Sweet Nellie Grey and The Rat Catcher′s Daughter
Singin' together at Lanigan′s ball


They were doin' all kinds of nonsensical polkas
All round the room in a whirla-ga-gig
Julie and I soon banished their nonsense
Out on the floor for a reel and a jig
How the girls they all got mad at me
For they thought the ceilin′ would fall
I spent six months in Brook's Academy
Learnin′ to dance for Lanigan's ball

Six long months I spent in Dublin
Six long months doin' nothing at all
Six long months I spent in Dublin
Learnin′ to dance for Lanigan′s ball
She stepped out, I stepped in again
I stepped out, she stepped in again
She stepped out, I stepped in again
Learnin' to dance for Lanigan′s ball

The boys were merry, the girls all hearty
Dancing around in couples and groups
An accident happened - Terence McCarthy
He put his boot through Miss Finnerty's hoops
Went out in a faint, she cried holy murder
Sent for her brothers and gathered them all
Carmody swore he′d go no further
Till he got revenge at Lanigan's ball


Boys, oh boys, ′tis then there was runctions
I got a kick from Phelim McHugh
I soon replied to his inter-dunction
Kicked up a terrible hullabaloo
Casey the piper was near bein' strangled
They leapt on his pipes, bellows, chanters and all
Girls and boys all got entangled
And that put an end to Lanigan's ball

Six long months I spent in Dublin
Six long months doin′ nothing at all
Six long months I spent in Dublin
Learnin′ to dance for Lanigan's ball
She stepped out, I stepped in again
I stepped out, she stepped in again
She stepped out, I stepped in again
Learnin′ to dance for Lanigan's ball