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billy in the bowl

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  • 26-06-2011 10:44am
    #1
    Fuinseog
    Registered Users Posts: 5,371 ✭✭✭


    could anyone tell me where I could get the lyrics to this street ballad. I think its 19th century. Shane mcgowan makes reference to it.


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    #2
    delta_bravo
    Registered Users Posts: 4,567 ✭✭✭delta_bravo


    It's the twang man I think.


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    #3
    Fuinseog
    Registered Users Posts: 5,371 ✭✭✭Fuinseog


    delta_bravo wrote: »
    It's the twang man I think.


    thanks for the lead, though the song below which itself is obscure enough only makes reference to Billy in the Bowl.
    now my problem is whether or not billy in the bowl was a ballad or just a melody about the character of the same name?

    The Twang Man
    [print]
    (Trad)

    Come listen to my story
    'Tis about a nice young man
    When the Militia wasn't wantin'
    He dealt in hawkin' twang
    He loved a lovely maiden
    As fair as any midge
    An' she kept a traycle depot
    Wan side of the Carlisle bridge

    Another man came a courtin' her
    And his name was Mickey Baggs
    He was a commercial traveller
    An' he dealt in bones and rags
    Well he took her out to Sandymount
    For to see the waters rowl
    An' he stole the heart of the Twangman's girl
    Playin' "Billy-in-the-bowl"

    Oh, when the twang man heard of this
    He flew into a terrible rage
    And he swore be the contents of his twang cart
    On him he'd have revenge
    So he stood in wait near James's Gate
    Till the poor old Baggs came up
    With his twang knife, sure he took his life
    Of the poor ould gather 'em up

    And it's now yis have heard my story
    And I hope yis'll be good men
    And not go chasing the Twangman's mot
    Or any other oul hen
    For she'll leave you without a brass farthing
    Not even your oul sack of rags
    And that's the end of the story
    Of poor old Mickey Baggs


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