Finnegan's Wake
Robbie O'Connell, The Clancy Brothers
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
Tim Finnegan lived in watling street A gentle Irishman, mighty odd He'd a beautiful brogue so rich and sweet To rise in the world, he carried a hod See, he'd sort of a tipplin' way With love for the liquor poor Tim was born To help him on with his work each day He'd a drop of the craythur every morn' Whack fol, de, dah Now, dance to your partner Welt the floor, your trotters shake Wasn't it the truth, they told ye lots of fun At Finnegan's wake One morning Tim got rather full His head felt heavy which made him shake Fell from a ladder and he broke his skull They carried him home, his corpse to wake Rolled him up in a nice clean sheet And laid him out upon the bed A gallon of whiskey at his feet And a bottle of porter at his head Whack fol, de, dah Now, dance to your partner Welt the floor, your trotters shake Wasn't it the truth, they told ye lots of fun At Finnegan's wake His friends assembled at the wake And misses Finnegan called for lunch First she brought in tea and cake Then pipes, tobacco and whiskey punch Biddy O'Brien began to cry Such a nice clean corpse, did you ever see? Tim mavourneen, why did you die? Arrah, hold your gob, said Patty Megee Whack fol, de, dah Now, dance to your partner Welt the floor, your trotters shake Wasn't it the truth, they told ye lots of fun At Finnegan's wake Then Maggie O'Connor took up the job "Arrah", biddy says, she ye're wrong, I'm sure Biddy then gave her a belt on the gob And left her sprawling on the floor There the war did soon engage Woman to woman and man to man Shillelah law was all the rage An a row and a ruction soon began Whack fol, de, dah Now, dance to your partner Welt the floor, your trotters shake Wasn't it the truth, they told ye lots of fun At Finnegan's wake Then Mickey Maloney raised his head When a bottle of whiskey flew at him It missed him falling on the bed The liquor scattered over Tim Tim revives, see how he rises Timothy rising from the bed Then Whirl your whiskey around Like blazes Thanum an Dhul Do ye think I'm dead?
Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!
Written by: FINBARR CORMAC ROBERT CLANCY, EWAN MARTIN JOEL COWLEY, BRIAN JOSEPH DUNPHY, MARTIN THOMAS FUREY, DARREN RICHARD HOLDEN, N UNKNOWN WRITER
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
7 facts about this song
History and Origin of the Song- "Finnegan's Wake" is a traditional Irish ballad that has been passed down through generations. The song is derived from 19th century broadside ballad, 'The Wonderful Colossus'.
- The song is known by numerous titles, including "Tim Finnegan's Wake", and "Finnegan's Wake".
- The song was originally performed by Irish singers and musicians at traditional music gatherings, known as "sessions".
|
Theme and Lyrics of the Song- The song narrates a comic story of Tim Finnegan, who allegedly loved the drink more than his work. Finnegan falls from a ladder and is assumed dead. However, he wakes up during his own wake after whisky is accidentally spilled on him.
- The name of the song, "Finnegan's Wake" is a pun that plays on the dual meaning of the word 'wake' - a watch or vigil held beside the body of someone who has died, and 'awakening from sleep’.
|
Performance by The Clancy Brothers- The Clancy Brothers were the first to bring the song to mainstream popularity. They included the song on their album, "The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem", which was released in 1961.
- This version of the song became popular in both Ireland and America, helping to ignite a worldwide interest in traditional Irish music.
|
Performance by The Dubliners- The Dubliners, a renowned Irish folk band, also performed "Finnegan's Wake". It was included in their album, "In Concert," released in 1965.
- Fans particularly appreciated the band’s lively and cheerful rendition of "Finnegan’s Wake."
|
Performance by Dropkick Murphys- The American Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys performed a version of "Finnegan's Wake".
- The song has been featured in one of their albums, "Do or Die," released in 1998.
- Their version featured electric guitars and dynamic drum work, making it more of a punk rock anthem than a traditional Irish ballad.
|
Influence on Literature- Perhaps the most well-known adaptation of "Finnegan's Wake" is James Joyce's novel of the same name. Joyce borrowed the song's themes and phonetic style for his complex portrayal of the nighttime thoughts of the character Leopold Bloom.
|
Pop Culture References- The plot of the song has been adapted into various mediums, from film to literature. For instance, it is the basis for the plot of the 1933 Marx Brothers' film "Duck Soup".
- The song is also referenced in popular TV shows like "The West Wing" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine".
|
Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Finnegan's Wake Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 20 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/33846064/The+Clancy+Brothers/Finnegan%27s+Wake>.
Discuss the Finnegan's Wake Lyrics with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In