Phil The Fluters Ball - Brendan O'Dowda video free download


92,151
Duration: 04:26
Uploaded: 2008/11/30

Have you heard of Phil the fluter

From the town of Ballymuck

The times was going hard for him

In fact the man was broke

So he sent an invitation

To his neighbours one and all

As how he'd like their company

That evening at a ball

And when writing out

He was careful to suggest to them

That if they found a hat of his

Convenient to the door

The more they put in

Whenever he requested them

The better would the music be

For battering the floor

With a toot on the flute

And a twiddle on the fiddle-oh

Hopping in the middle

Like a herrin' on the griddle-oh

Up, down, hands around

And crossing to the wall

Sure hadn't we the gaiety

At Phil the Fluter's ball

There was Mister Denis Doherty

Who kept a running dog

There was little crooked Paddy

From the Tiraloughett bog

There was boys from every barony

And girls from every art

And the beautiful Miss Bradys'

In their private ass and cart

Along with them

Came bouncing Mrs Cafferty

Little Mickey Mulligan

Was also to the fore

Rose, Suzanne and Margaret O'Rafferty

The flower of Ard Na Gullion

And the pride of Petravore

With a toot on the flute

And a twiddle on the fiddle-oh

Hopping in the middle

Like a herrin' on the griddle-oh

Up, down, hands around

And crossing to the wall

Sure hadn't we the gaiety

At Phil the Fluter's ball

First little Mickey Mulligan

Got up to show them how

And then the widow Cafferty

Steps out and takes her bow

I'll dance you off your legs, says she

As sure as you were born

If you'll only make the piper play

"The Hare was in the Corn"

So Phil plays up

To the best of his ability

The ladies and the gentlemen

Begin to do their share

Faith, then Mick

It's you that has agility

Begob an' Mrs Cafferty

You're leppin' like a hare

With a toot on the flute

And a twiddle on the fiddle-oh

Hopping in the middle

Like a herrin' on the griddle-oh

Up, down, hands around

And crossing to the wall

Sure hadn't we the gaiety

At Phil the Fluter's ball

Then Phil the fluter tipped a wink

To little crooked Pat

I think it's nearly time, says he

For passing round the hat

So Paddy passed the caipín round

And looking very cute

Said, you have to pay the piper

When he tootles on the flute

Then all joined in

With the greatest joviality

Coverin' the buckle

And the shuffle and the cut

Jigs were danced

Of the very finest quality

But the widow bate the company

At handlin' the foot

With a toot on the flute

And a twiddle on the fiddle-oh

Hopping in the middle

Like a herrin' on the griddle-oh

Up, down, hands around

And crossing to the wall

Sure hadn't we the gaiety

At Phil the Fluter's ball

Comments

10 years ago

acer3573

Star Trek TNG Season 2 bloopers got me here

10 years ago

Brian Palecek

Check out James Joyce's handling of this song in Finnegans Wake, page 6, middle paragraph starting with "Shize."

11 years ago

Mohammed Cohen

My Dad first heard Brendan O'Dowda, IIRC, on Ed Sullivan and went out the next day to find the record...shows ya how long ago that was!!! Still have that record and it's been saved to my external HD!!! Great songs on that album, Slattery's Mounted Fut, Phil the Fluter's Ball...Also have a second album with Abdul Abulbul Amir... CB in FL

11 years ago

sibionic

No, no you won't. Also any objection to this particular song trading in tawdry national stereotypes is just political correctness gone mad.

11 years ago

kevvy1908

Yes, you are correct, I am "ready to pounce", as you phrase it. These videos, loaded by machree01 are wonderful, and the musicians are very talented. As I said before, they should be enjoyed for what they are - you will not find the like of them again.

11 years ago

sibionic

Blimey, you're ready to pounce aren't you?

12 years ago

pbieber1

This is a wonderful video. I was wondering if anyone has the songs Carmody's Mare and Sweet Marie, by Brendan O'Dowda.

12 years ago

kevvy1908

@HomegirlOfJezu With musicians of the calibre of Simon Jeffes in the orchestra, perhaps they did not really need a conductor, so he may be there just for effect. Why not just enjoy a classic video, singer and musicians for what they are - instead of "nit-picking" at them - you will get so much more from from these wonderful songs.

12 years ago

kevvy1908

@menomonieboy You are missing the whole point of this video and the pre-amble to it. If you listen carefully, Brendan states that he is quoting "verbatim" - this means "word for word." So he using the colloquial words and expressions that would have been in common use at that time in Ireland, complete with Irish accent. Instead of criticising him, why don't you acknowledge Brendan's excellent voice and clever interpretation of these wonderful songs, and then you might enjoy them more?

13 years ago

carlaturc

Bellissima versione!!

14 years ago

7conas7

wonderful

14 years ago

HomegirlOfJezu

Fantastic version! Not sure why the conductor is there however - no-one is watching him and he seems a little behind anyway!

15 years ago

finnhere2

The Priests also made me search this song in YouTube, their performance is hilarious but as you said, O'Dowda was born to sing this. Too bad the band is a bit stiff here...

15 years ago

sirjarhead

Try the High Kings version, awsome too

15 years ago

sirjarhead

moron its a great song you have no taste

15 years ago

kevvy1908

Thanks for your considered, sympathetic and cultured remark. Are you sure you were not misdirected here from an alien website?

15 years ago

Pete Howard

Ronnie Drew's version is the best.

15 years ago

misty winter

Only heard this piece recently, sung by 'The Priests' and accompanied by Sir James Galway, love it to pieces, however, ODowda was just born to sing it. Keep it up Machree O1, excellent!!!!

15 years ago

mise me fein

It's mid-night, I'am sitting here having a beer and feeling a bit down in the dumps. I have just watched a few video clips of Brendan, it brought back so many memories of my folks that they cheered me up no-end. Many thanks to the people who posted the clips.

15 years ago

ladywharton

I love this song. I love this man's accent. Growing up in the coal regions of PA, as a child I perceived a different sound in the older people's voices. As I grew older I realized that they still had the Irish lilt.

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