Lanigan's Ball (The Bards) - live performance

This performance captures very successfully the humor of this traditional song using one of the slowest tempos of the many recordings of it. It is on the Another Feast of Irish Folk album released by Polydor in 1980. Thanks to Cathy Price for identifying the album.

I recorded this music (truncated near the start) off of a Boston radio station in the 1980s. It is a live performance by The Bards who made a very popular recording of this song in 1980. The Bards at that time consisted of Diarmuid O'Leary (guitar, vocals), Ann Keaveney (vocals) and Christy Sheridan (mandolin).

The composer of the lyrics and song is unknown. It dates back at least to the 1860s, if not earlier. Below are the complete lyrics as sung by the Bards in this performance with notes in the right margin area. I slowed the playback down greatly (not in the upload) to be sure of the words. This truncated recording starts at the third line. I have uploaded separately the complete track which has some amusing dialogue by Diarmuid O'Leary before and after the song.

LANIGAN'S BALL

In the town of Athy one Jeremy Lanigan [Athy = town in County Kildare southwest of Dublin]
battered away 'til he hadn't a pound.
His father, he died, made him a man again,
left him a farm and ten acres of ground.

He gave a grand party to friends and relations
who didn't forget him when come to the wall.
If you'll but listen I'll make your eyes glisten
at rows and ructions at Lanigan's ball. [ructions = disturbances or quarrels]

Six long months I spent in Dub-i-lin,
six long months doin' nothin' at all.
Six long months I spent in Dub-i-lin
learning to dance for Lanigan's Ball.
I stepped out. I stepped in again.
I stepped out again. I stepped in again.
I stepped out. And I stepped in again,
learnin' to dance for Lanigan's Ball.

The rhythm is good now Julia!

Meself to be sure got free invitations
for all the nice girls and boys I might ask.
Just in a minute both friends and relations
were dancin' as merry as bees 'round a cask.

There was lashin's of punch, wine for the ladies,
potatoes and cakes. There was bacon and tae. [tae = tea]
There were the Norans, the Dorans, O'Grady's
courtin' the girls and dancin' away.

They were doing all kinds of nonsensical polkas
all 'round the room in a whirligig,
'til Julia and I soon banished their nonsense
and tipped them a twist of a real Irish jig.

Oh how that girl she got mad, and we
danced 'til you'd think the ceilings would fall.
For I spent three weeks at Brooks' Academy [the Academy is not in 1850 Dublin directory]
learning the steps for Lanigan's Ball.

Six long months I spent in Dub-i-lin,
six long months doin' nothin' at all.
Six long months I spent in Dub-i-lin
learnin' to dance for Lanigan's Ball.
I stepped out. I stepped in again.
I stepped in again. And I stepped out again.
I stepped out. I stepped in again,
learnin' to dance for Lanigan's Ball.

The boys were as merry, the girls all hearty,
dancin' together in couples and groups
'til an accident happened. Young Terrance McCarthy
put his right leg through Miss Finnerty's hoops.

The creature, she fainted and cried "meelia murder", ["thousand murders" - expression of surprise]
called for her brothers and gathered them all.
Carmody swore that he'd go no further,
he'd have satisfaction at Lanigan's Ball.

In the midst of the row Miss Kerrigan fainted,
her cheeks at the same time as red as the rose.
Some of the boys decreed she was painted.
She took a small drop too much I suppose.

Her sweetheart, Ned Morgan, so powerful and able,
when he saw his fair cailin stretched to the wall, [cailin = girl]
he tore the left leg from under the table
and smashed all the dishes at Lanigan's Ball.

Six long months I spent in Dub-i-lin,
six long months doing nothin' at all.
Six long months I spent in Dub-i-lin
learnin' to dance for Lanigan's Ball.
I stepped out. I stepped in again.
I stepped out again. I stepped in again.
I stepped out. I stepped in again,
learnin' to dance for Lanigan's Ball.

Boys, oh boys, 'twas then there was ructions.
I took a lick from young Phelim McHugh.
But soon I replied to his fine introduction
and kicked him a terrible hullaballoo.

Old Casey, the piper, he nearly got strangled.
They squeezed up his pipes, bellows, chanters and all. [chanter = bagpipe part with finger holes]
The girls in their ribbons, they all got entangled
and that put an end to Lanigan's Ball.

Six long months I spent in Dub-i-lin,
six long months doing nothin' at all.
Six long months I spent in Dub-i-lin
learnin' to dance for Lanigan's Ball.
I stepped out. I stepped in again.
I stepped out again. And I stepped in again.
I stepped out. And I stepped in again,
learnin' to dance for Lanigan's Ball.