Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society, Volume 2, Issue 13, Page 12

Irish Folk Song Society

[Periodical]

Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society

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2223LIUk 3imnu, IRurpbv.M daughter Rosaleen and I picked up quite recently the following song from HumphreyJones, a Harlech labourer. It was part of the repertory of his father, Evan Jones,a quarryman, who, after a serious injury received from a fall of slate, which threwhim out of work, turned his Welsh talent for music to account through the generosityof his comrades, who subscribed for a Welsh triple harp for him. Upon thisinstrument he performed, and to it he sang Penillion and songs for many yearsat concerts and in public houses, where he also played for change the fiddle and flute.Unfortunately I was not aware of these musical antecedents of his, whenhe had become the Town Crier and stalked about with great dignity, ringinghis boll of omce and bilingually crying lost property. He met me once beforeI knew what his duties were, and saluted me profoundly. I did likewise, and askedhim whom I had the honour of addressing. The Harlech Town Crer, he replied,with an air of humorous pomposity that showed the true wag. I hear he sangLittle Jimmy Murphy inimitably; and his son did the quaint old air and wordsjustice when he sang them to my daughter, who took them down on the phonographand thence transcribed them.On hearing Humphrey Jones sing it at a Folk Song Lecture I gave at Hallechon Friday, April 18th, our village constable came to me and advised me to communi-cate with ox-Police Constable Price, Of Festiniog, who sang another version of JimmyMurphy, and also a song, What shall we do with the Herring? I did s , andalmost by return of post I got a reply from him sending me another version ofLittle Jimmy Murphy, and the words and tune of The Herring Song, one ofthe few instances of an Irish cumulative folk song that I have encountered.Ex-P.C. Price could not put down the air to The Herring, but my daughterhopes to get it into her phonograph net before long. Meantime, it would be interestingto know if any of our members or readers know the words or air of either of thesetwo ballads. I should add that the Town Crier collected Little Jimmy Murphyfrom an Irish street ballad singer in Liverpool in the year 1840, when he himself wasa lad of 18. He said the ballad had such a success in the Irish quarter of Liverpoolthat the coppers positively rained from the windows upon the singer beneath.ALFRED PERCEVAI., GRAVES,JIMMY MURPHY.J aL J I J.r.j..1 JJ J 1 j JJ 1 i T r ru- -._j J ii JJ ij J r Jr 1 nT rjJiJ3imwpWs walked to Kilkeuny where the great rowhas been making,And poor little Jimmy Murphy was the ladhas been taken.ChorusWere far upon the last now (rowi?)From the east to Down Patrick,Where he dies poor little Jimmy Murphy onthe sweet green mossy bank.Killey-me-ling, killey-me-joan,Whisky-pisky doodle-lee, Rc ny di.doodle-dei-do, ding do-ral-la-Zo.Tn HERRING.Iflurphp.We marched through the town, we marchedthrough the city;Our bands were tied behind us, and the ladiescried pity. -ChorusPoor little Jimmy Murphy was hanged, not forsheep stealing,But courting a pretty girl; her name was KateWheelan.Chorus1111 1 S (flJJ J.siriirrr rfli- flTTh-, I SF

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[Periodical]

1967-01-01T00:00:00

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