Old Orange Flute
The Dubliners
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In the County Tyrone, near the town of Dungannon, Where many the ructions meself had a hand in. Bob Williamson lived, a weaver by trade, And all of us thought him a stout Orange blade, On the Twelfth of July as it yearly did come, Bob played with his flute to the sound of a drum. You may talk of your harp, your piano or lute, But none can compare with the Old Orange Flute. Bob, the deceiver, he took us all in; He married a Papist named Bridget McGinn. Turned Papist himself and forsook the old cause That gave us our freedom, religion and laws. Now, boys of the townland made some noise upon it, And Bob had to fly to the province of Connaught. He fled with his wife and his fixings to boot, And along with the latter his Old Orange Flute. At the chapel on Sunday to atone for past deeds, He'd say Pater and Aves and counted his brown beads. 'Til after some time, at the priest's own desire He went with that old flute to play in the choir. He went with that old flute for to play for the Mass, But the instrument shivered and sighed, oh, alas, And try though he would, though it made a great noise, The flute would play only "The Protestant Boys." Bob jumped and he stared and got in a flutter And threw the old flute in the blessed holy water. He thought that this charm would bring some other Sound; When he tried it again, it played "Croppies Lie Down." Now, for all he could whistle and finger and blow, To play Papish music he found it no go. "Kick the Pope" and "The Boyne Water" it freely would Sound, But one Papish squeak in it couldn't be found. At the council of priests that was held the next day They decided to banish the old flute away. They couldn't knock heresy out of it's head, So they bought Bob a new one to play in it's stead. 'Twas fastened and burned at the stake as a heretic. As the flames soared around it, they heard a strange Noise; 'Twas the old flute still whistling "The Protestant Boys." "Toora lu, toora lay, Oh, it's six miles from Bangor to Donnahadee."
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Written by: BARNEY MCKENNA, CIARAN PADRAIG MAIRE BOURKE, JOHN EDMUND SHEAHAN, LUKE KELLY, RONALD JOSEPH DREW
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Folk Music Classification"The Old Orange Flute" is a folk song performed by The Dubliners, an Irish folk band.
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Legendary BandThe Dubliners are one of the most influential Irish bands and have popularized many traditional songs including "The Old Orange Flute".
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Historical ContextThe song paints a vibrant picture of religious conflict in Ireland between Protestants and Catholics, particularly focusing on the Orange Order, a Protestant fraternal institution in Northern Ireland.
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Comic ElementDespite its serious theme, "The Old Orange Flute" is known for its comic element, portraying the flute as a character with personal traits. When it heard Catholic music, according to the song, the flute would refuse to perform.
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Traditional SummonThe song has been sung at traditional celebrations in Dublin and even at some football matches, despite its religious overtones.
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Instrumental InnovationIt's not just about the lyrics; the song also features a catchy melody played on the flute which adds to its charm.
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Version VariationsThe Dubliners have performed and recorded different versions of "The Old Orange Flute", making each one unique in its own right.
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Legendary VoicesThe Dubliners’ Luke Kelly and Ronnie Drew, who are respected and celebrated for their distinctive voices, have performed this song live, creating an unforgettable experience for the audience.
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Album AppearanceThis song appears in the Album “Live at the Albert Hall” recorded by the Dubliners in 1968.
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Cultural ImpactThe song has gone far beyond Ireland's borders, becoming a favorite among Celtic and folk music fans worldwide.
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Citation
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"Old Orange Flute Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/17336514/The+Dubliners/Old+Orange+Flute>.
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