Saturday, March 17, 2007

The Leprechauns Did It!

Erin go bragh!

Yes, it's that time of year again, when you can put food coloring in your beer (if you're older than I am) and where all divides of race and creed are put aside, and everyone claims to be Irish. (As the full-blooded Irish lady who volunteers at the library when I work says, "If you have even a drop you're all right.)

In honor of the day, I donned my brilliant POG MO THOIN shirt, saw part of a local Celtic band's show, and wrote a short play about leprechauns for a magazine which never responded to my e-mail. Sigh. Well, I think I shall post the lyrics to one of my favorite Irish songs. Young men take note.

In a neat little town they call Belfast
Apprenticed to trade I was bound
And many an hour's sweet happiness
I spent in that neat little town.
Till bad misfortune came o'er me
That caused me to stray from the land
Far away from my friends and relations
To follow the black velvet band.

(Chorus)
Her eyes they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band.


Well, I was out strolling one evening
Not meaning to go very far
When I met with a pretty young damsel
Who was selling her trade in the bar.
When I watched, she took from a customer
And slipped it right into my hand
Then the Watch came and put me in prison
Bad luck to the black velvet band.

(Chorus)

Next morning before judge and jury
For a trial I had to appear
And the judge, he said, "You young fellows...
The case against you is quite clear
And seven long years is your sentence
You're going to Van Dieman's Land
Far away from your friends and relations
To follow the black velvet band."

(Chorus)

So come all you jolly young fellows
I'd have you take warning by me
Whenever you're out on the liquor, me lads,
Beware of the pretty colleen.
She'll fill you with whiskey and porter
Until you're not able to stand
And the very next thing that you'll know, me lads,
You're landed in Van Dieman's Land.

-"Black Velvet Band," Irish Traditional

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

hi there.

Ethan said...

Hullo. Assuming you're who I think you are, I shall e-mail you soon.

Anonymous said...

and i thank you for it.

Rachel D said...

Heh, sounds like you had a more exciting St. Patrick's Day than I did. I'm 1/4 Irish, so we should've probably done something... oh well.

Also. It's fun to wear an orange shirt, and then when your siblings pinch you, you tell them that you're wearing green underwear so it counts. I tricked so many of them that way... :p

Ethan said...

Heh. It wasn't THAT exciting. I don't usually do stuff on St. Patrick's Day, just sit at home and wish I was, but I had been in the house too long anyway.

Hehe. Wow. Though, I wouldn't wear orange on St. Patrick's Day, unless you're purposely trying to start something. :P

the celebrated author said...

Yeah, that's what Nat does.

I'm an eight Irish! And i put food coloring in my root beer.

Also, i studied up on My great-great-grandpa (born in Belfast, btw), the Irish one, and St. Patrick.