Sample Lyrics
Three Songs Performed by Harrigan and Hart
1. "The Mulligan Guard"
Music by David Braham
Lyrics by Edward Harrigan
Harrigan and Hart performed this song as part of their variety act, spoofing the rag tag "militia" units that New York politicians sponsored in the 1870's. Members gathered to drink free beer, after which they performed drunken drills in the streets. Harrigan and Hart performed the number while stumbling about in ill-fitting uniforms. Audiences loved it, and they reprised the song in several of their musical comedies involving the politically ambitious saloon owner Dan Mulligan.
This is the lyric as it appears in the original sheet music, published by Wm. A. Pond & Co. (NY) in 1873. The spellings reflect Irish-American dialect, such as "divil" for "devil," "nate" for "neat," and "min" for "men." The entire song is in 4/4 march time.
Verse 1
We crave your condescension,
We'll tell you what we know
Of marching in the Mulligan Guard
From Sligo ward below.
Our Captain's name was Hussey,
A Tipperary man,
He carried his sword like a Russian duke,
Whenever he took command.
Chorus
We shoulder'd guns, and march'd, and march'd a-way,
From Baxter Street, we march'd to Avenue A,
With drums and fife, how sweetly they did play,
As we march'd, march'd, march'd in the Mulligan Guard
Verse 2
When the band play'd Garry Owen,
Or the Connamara Pet;
With a rub a dub, dub, we'd march
In the mud, to the military step.
With green above the red, boys,
To show where we come from,
Our guns we'd lift with the right shoulder shift,
As we'd march to the bate of the drum.
(Repeat Chorus)
Verse 3
When we got home at night, boys,
The divil a bite we'd ate,
We'd all set up and drink a sup
Of whiskey strong and nate.
Thin we'd all march home together,
As slippery as lard,
The solid min would all fall in,
And march with the Mulligan Guard.
2. "The Babies on Our Block"
Music by David Braham
Lyrics by Edward Harrigan
This song was introduced in The Mulligan Guard Ball (1879). It remained a sentimental favorite with fans for years to come. This is the lyric as it appears in the original sheet music, published by Wm. A. Pond & Co. (NY) in 1879. The entire song is in 4/4 time.
Verse 1
If you want for information
Or in need of merriment.
Come over with me socially
To Murphy's tenement.
He owns a row of houses
In the first ward near the dock,
Where Ireland's represented
By the babies on our block.
There's the Phalens and the Whalens
From the sweet Dunochadee,
They are sitting on the railings
With their children on their knee.
All gossiping and talking
With their neighbors in a flock
Singing "Little Sally Waters"
With the babies on our block.
'Oh little Sally Waters
Sitting in the sun
A-crying and weeping for a young man;
Oh rise, Sally, rise,
Wipe your eye out with your frock":
That's sung by the babies
A-living on our block.
Verse 2
Of a warm day in the summer
When the breeze blows off the sea,
A hundred thousand children
Lay on the Battery;
They come from Murphy's building,
Oh, their noise would stop a clock!
Oh, there's no perambulatory
With the babies on our block.
There's the Clearys and the Learys
From the sweet Blackwater side,
They are laying on the Batt'ry
And they're gazing at the tide;
All royal blood and noble,
All of Dan O'Connell's stock,
Singing "Gravel, Greeny Gravel"
With the babies on our block.
"Oh, Gravel, Greeny Gravel,
How green the grasses grow,
For all the pretty fair young
Maidens that I see";
Oh, "Green Gravel Green,"
Wipe your eye out with your frock":
That's sung by the babies
A-living on our block.
Verse 3
It's good morning to you, landlord,
Come now, how are you today?
When Patrick Murphy, Esquire,
Comes down the alleyway
With is shiny silken beaver,
He's as solid as a rock,
The envy of the neighbor boys
A-living on our block.
There's the Brannons and the Gannons
Far Down and Connaught men,
Quite easy with the shovel
And so handy with the pen;
All neighborly and friendly,
With relations by the flock,
Singing "Little Sally Waters"
With the babies on our block.
'Oh little Sally Waters
Sitting in the sun
A-crying and weeping for a young man;
Oh rise, Sally, rise,
Wipe your eye out with your frock":
That's sung by the babies
A-living on our block.
3. "John Riley's Always Dry"
Music by David Braham
Lyrics by Edward Harrigan
Harrigan loved to have fun with ethnic stereotypes, as you can see in this song written for Mulligan's Silver Wedding (1881). This is the lyric as it appears in the original sheet music. The verses are In common 4/4 time, while the Chorus is in 3/4 time.
Verse 1
I have an old companion,
John Riley from Tralee;
In fair or cloudy weather.
John Riley's seen with me.
His heart is like a mountain,
His honor ye can't buy,
But elbow bending is his fault,
John Riley's always dry.
Chorus
Bass's ale by the pail
He would order Rosanna to go out and buy;
Dublin Stout he would shout,
Keep drinking and never say die;
Whiskey prime, gin and wine,
He would hand down a bottle and merrily cry:
"Mv Rose Ann, fill the can,
For honest John Riley's dry.
Verse 2
It's ev'ry morning early
John Riley's out of bed,
Sure never a feather bolster
Lies under Riley's head:
It's when the arm is rising,
So eager and so sly.
He slips out for his bitters, boys,
John Riley's always dry.
(Repeat Chorus)
Verse 3
His father often told him,
When John was but a youth,
That ev 'ry' mortal Riley
All died from whiskey drouth;
Of course it is a failing.
The poor man can't deny,
'Tis but a freak of nature, boys,
John Riley's always dry.
(Repeat Chorus)
Verse 4
What puzzles all the doctors
John Riley's ever met
Is fresh or salty water
Can't make John Riley wet.
Sure he must have the liquor,
Rum, brandy gin or rye.
And should he miss the bottle, boys.
John Riley'd surely die.
(Repeat Chorus)