I was thinking about this topic and couldn't find any past threads on it, so hey. My favorites are usually ones that evoke beautiful or surreal imagery, e.g. Cliffs of Moher, Lilting Banshee, Mist on the Mountain, Mountain Road etc. And then there are some comical (disturbing?) ones like I Buried my Wife and Danced on Her Grave. Always gets a rise out of people when they hear it for the first time! Yourselves?
Bernie Stocks, fiddler and one-time Aberdeen resident, once told me of a tune called "My Granny Went To Lourdes And Drowned In The Pool" - try as I might, I've yet to find anyone who knows it.
Northumbrian concertina player Alistair Anderson had a couple of interesting titles for 2 North-East of England tunes - "Gallop and Sh*te", and the somewhat worrying "Geld Him, Lassies, Geld Him".
2 from "Battlefield Band" pipers - Dougie Pincock had "The Road To Kashmagiro", and Mike Katz had "Mother Farqhar's Reel".
"The Night We Had The Goats" must have a story behind it, but I'm not sure I want to hear it.
"Tannahill Weavers" learned a slip-jig from an Irish band called "The Wild Geese", and asked the tune name. They used the reply they got, literally, on one of their album sleeves, where it appears under the title "Phuktiphanno". { It was "The Humours of Whiskey" } I'm sure I'll remember more.
"Old Hag You've Killed Me" (classic)
"Gander Round the Pratie Hole" (I don't know, I just think it sounds funny.)
"Donnybrook Fair" (I think it has a nice ring to it and it rolls easily off the tongue.)
'I Buried My Wife and Danced on Top of Her'.
'I Have a House of My Own With A Chimney On Top'.
And my all time favourite, 'An Phis Fhliuch'. It doesn't get any better than that.
The cat that kittled in Jamie's wig
Jude's Bush (I've never worked out if that one is rude or not)
And round here Crossing the Minch is invariably referred to as Crushing the minge
'Tell her I am' was already mentioned and I like those indefinite ones: 'Ask my father', 'I will if I can' and all those.
'I'd rather be married than left' has a nice ring to it and all the extravagant Bobby Casey ones like 'The hump in the quilt' , The hairy chested frog' and 'The farting badger' .
There's a story about Willie Clancy going to Dublin for an audition at RTE, he recorded his demo and gave all his tunes make-up names like 'An Phis Fliuch' (which has since stuck). He wasn't asked to return for broadcast.
There are the informal mutilations of original names like 'Roscommon International Airport' (the Planes/Plains of Boyle) or 'Mrs Haughey' (the Lady on the Island)
(This is an upgrade of Coppers And Brass to suit the realities of contemporary Irish life. Challenged to show evidence of a sweeping assertion I made that Ireland must now be seething with snakes escaping from pet owners, I very soon found plentiful details of these creatures turning up in Irish houses and gardens; in furniture, yes - in bras, I don't know, but surely it's only a matter of time...)
The Trip To Pakistan has taken on some new connotations in the UK. So too, perhaps, The New Policeman.
Two sorts of new policeman have manifested themselves over here:
(1) High-level political stooges who can't run a force,
(2) Lots of blue-uniformed "Enforcers". I don't know what these are supposed to do. What they actually do is hang out in gaggles in the town centre, laughing loudly at each other's jokes, which is fine by me. But something tells me it would be a grave mistake to arm them...
The Muckin o'Geordies Byre
The Cup of Tea
The Growling Old Man and the Grumbling Old Woman
Meatballs, Whisky and Beer
Dr Morrison's 7 Thistles
A Yowe cam to wir door, yarmin, yarmin
I was going to mention The Night We Had the Goats as well as Bang Your Frog on the Sofa, but someone beat me to it.
Some other great ones are
Come Upstairs with me (hopefully not played in a set with the next one...)
The Clumsy Lover (good tune too)
Drink the Rest and Hide the Bottle (a slip jig I've been meaning to learn for some time now...)
The Oyster Wife's Rant
Whiskey Before Breakfast
ramblingpitchfork- I suppose it depends on when "the praties are dug" . Around here they're usually got out right before the "frost is all over" (everywhere)
I think you asked that question at the session, Chris, and the conclusion was that we has a session full of pessimists.
On another note, Eilidh Shaw's "The Fiddle Cushion."
"Irishman's Heart to the Ladies."
"When sick is it tea you want."
And that warhorse, "The Old Bush." Lots of speculation as to what it means, especially when you play the Silver Spear into the Old Bush and Rolling in the Ryegrass.
Amongst my session mates in CO, "Lads of Laois" became "Lads on a leash."
I did ask at the session Silver spear, and got a majority for the opposite interpretation from when I asked a t a previous session a few years back
Yes, I know about the song, and it backing up one interpretation.
Wouldn't be surprised if the tune pre-dated the song. The title attatched to the tune though, that'd be a different matter, and I'd guess it likely derived from rather than inspired the song.
I guarantee you though that a proportion of sessioneers out there will think the title imples "the thaw has come", maybe they're just wrong. But they're out there. I know 'cos I'm one of them. But then I'm frequently wrong
From a friend of mine in Cork, don't know who wrote it out first:
The Woman of the House went mad last night.
She thought Kitty was gone a Milking until she found her behind the Stack of Barley with Rakish Paddy.
She phoned the New Policeman.
Can't do a thing he said, I'm in the Corner House and when I finish the Cup of Tay I have to call on ttAthair Jack Walsh cos the Cat Ate the Candle on Christmas Eve and the Dogs Among the Bushes are after crapping all over the Garden of Daisies.
The Merry Blacksmith would chase him Down the Back Lanebut he has to Shoe the Donkey.
Well, that was Last Night's Fun, but it could be worse tonight for the Boys of the Town are after challenging the Bucks of Arranmore to a fight; the Drunken Landlady is already sitting on the Stoney Steps with a Mug of Brown Ale in her hand; the Boys of Blue hill have got wind of the fight and are getting fit by Rolling in the Ryegrass; the Sligo Maid has taken Down the Broom to defend herself. The safest place to be tonight is Out on the Ocean.
Favorite Tune Names
Favorite Tune Names
I was thinking about this topic and couldn't find any past threads on it, so hey. My favorites are usually ones that evoke beautiful or surreal imagery, e.g. Cliffs of Moher, Lilting Banshee, Mist on the Mountain, Mountain Road etc. And then there are some comical (disturbing?) ones like I Buried my Wife and Danced on Her Grave. Always gets a rise out of people when they hear it for the first time! Yourselves?
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by Whiddler
Re: Favorite Tune Names
"How do Chickens know the Size of Eggcups?" Great tune, too.
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by feardearg
Re: Favorite Tune Names
"Pay The Reckoning"
"The Cat's Meow"
"Love At The Endings"
"Whistler At The Wake"
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1805
July 7th 2003 by nobu.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6266
October 17th 2006 by Tim@Copenhagen.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/990
September 25th 2002 by RonanOD.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/4236
February 18th 2005 by gian marco.
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by Random_notes
Re: Favorite Tune Names
The Snouts And Ears Of America
(It does exist...)
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by nicholas
Re: Favorite Tune Names
"The leg of a duck" and "Uppstairs in a tent"
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by TradLad
Re: Favorite Tune Names
"The Connaught Heifers"
This one just fell in my lap. The tune not the heifer.
Thanks gian!
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by Random_notes
*
"The Cow That Ate The Blanket"
Couldn't resist.
I'll go quietly.
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by Random_notes
Re: Favorite Tune Names
Bernie Stocks, fiddler and one-time Aberdeen resident, once told me of a tune called "My Granny Went To Lourdes And Drowned In The Pool" - try as I might, I've yet to find anyone who knows it.
Northumbrian concertina player Alistair Anderson had a couple of interesting titles for 2 North-East of England tunes - "Gallop and Sh*te", and the somewhat worrying "Geld Him, Lassies, Geld Him".
2 from "Battlefield Band" pipers - Dougie Pincock had "The Road To Kashmagiro", and Mike Katz had "Mother Farqhar's Reel".
"The Night We Had The Goats" must have a story behind it, but I'm not sure I want to hear it.
"Tannahill Weavers" learned a slip-jig from an Irish band called "The Wild Geese", and asked the tune name. They used the reply they got, literally, on one of their album sleeves, where it appears under the title "Phuktiphanno". { It was "The Humours of Whiskey" } I'm sure I'll remember more.
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by Kenny
Re: Favorite Tune Names
The Whore in the nettles
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by glengarslasher
Re: Favorite Tune Names
The Woman with the Hairy Knees
Sailing into Walpoles Marsh
Pull the knife out and stick it in again (OK Officer, I won't make any trouble)
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by Free Reed
Re: Favorite Tune Names
"Granny Hold the Candle While I Shave the Chicken's Lip, 2" is first on my list
"Punch in the Dark" is another one, I like it's ambiguity...
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by noranoreen
Re: Favorite Tune Names
I like the empty quality of "Tell her I am"
and in contrast the clarity of
"The cat that kitted in Jamie's wig"!
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by TomB-R
Re: Favorite Tune Names
"Old Hag You've Killed Me" (classic)
"Gander Round the Pratie Hole" (I don't know, I just think it sounds funny.)
"Donnybrook Fair" (I think it has a nice ring to it and it rolls easily off the tongue.)
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by Tasia
Re: Favorite Tune Names
'I Buried My Wife and Danced on Top of Her'.
'I Have a House of My Own With A Chimney On Top'.
And my all time favourite, 'An Phis Fhliuch'. It doesn't get any better than that.
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by Robert Ryan
Re: Favorite Tune Names
Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony. That's comedic. As if anyone has ever had time to write even three of those big, braying things.
Anything with "Overture" in the title brings a smile, because I am compelled by nature to make those.
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by NEW Pure Drop® Ear Canal Oil
Re: Favorite Tune Names
gasur that beat his father
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by Walnut Box
Re: Favorite Tune Names
I am surprised no one has yet mentioned Will CPT's masterpiece, "Bang Your Frog on the Sofa."
There is a Flook tune called "Larry, Get out of the Bin."
Gordon Duncan's "Break yer bass drone" (no worries, it is).
"Drag her 'round the road."
"The Rizla" (I think it's funny that Charlie McKerron named it after cigarette rolling paper).
'Rolling in the ryegrass" (probably doesn't mean what I think it means, to be honest)
And my all time favourite, Ed Reavy's "Never was piping so gay." (and it is when I attempt this tune)
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by TheSilverSpear
Re: Favorite Tune Names
The cat that kittled in Jamie's wig
Jude's Bush (I've never worked out if that one is rude or not)
And round here Crossing the Minch is invariably referred to as Crushing the minge
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by skreech
Re: Favorite Tune Names
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2855
Thanks, once again, to gian marco!
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by Random_notes
Re: Favorite Tune Names
I do believe it's "The Gander in the Pratie Hole" which leads to all sorts of fun nonsense with those not in the know.
As in, "Take a Gander (American slang for 'look') in Your WHAT Hole?!?!?"
"No no no, gander, like a male goose, pratie, a potato, so a male goose in a hole in the ground that was left behind by picking a potato."
...which then reminds me of the game 'Whack a Mole". I get all these visions of a gander popping his head out of a hole in the ground.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whack-a-mole
...but of course, it's just a name and a tune, even if the first bars of the A part sound like a bird squawking.
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Favorite Tune Names
i like "Mr Brennan's psychological problems".
though "The Woman with the Hairy Knees" is also a great idea!
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by Henni
Re: Favorite Tune Names
"Touch me if you dare." How could I have forgotten about it, as I was only playing it this afternoon.
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by TheSilverSpear
Re: Favorite Tune Names
'Tell her I am' was already mentioned and I like those indefinite ones: 'Ask my father', 'I will if I can' and all those.
'I'd rather be married than left' has a nice ring to it and all the extravagant Bobby Casey ones like 'The hump in the quilt' , The hairy chested frog' and 'The farting badger' .
There's a story about Willie Clancy going to Dublin for an audition at RTE, he recorded his demo and gave all his tunes make-up names like 'An Phis Fliuch' (which has since stuck). He wasn't asked to return for broadcast.
There are the informal mutilations of original names like 'Roscommon International Airport' (the Planes/Plains of Boyle) or 'Mrs Haughey' (the Lady on the Island)
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by <>-_-_-<>
Re: Favorite Tune Names
The Jolly Banger was another one of Clancy's by the way (sometimes found as Jolly Bangor)
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by <>-_-_-<>
Re: Favorite Tune Names
"Wallop the cat under the table" and "Wallop the spot."
The second one is an awesome tune, by the way.
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by TheSilverSpear
Re: Favorite Tune Names
Copperheads In Bras
(This is an upgrade of Coppers And Brass to suit the realities of contemporary Irish life. Challenged to show evidence of a sweeping assertion I made that Ireland must now be seething with snakes escaping from pet owners, I very soon found plentiful details of these creatures turning up in Irish houses and gardens; in furniture, yes - in bras, I don't know, but surely it's only a matter of time...)
The Trip To Pakistan has taken on some new connotations in the UK. So too, perhaps, The New Policeman.
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by nicholas
Re: Favorite Tune Names
The New Policeman now renamed the new PSNI man
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by deeor
Re: Favorite Tune Names
"Fasten the leggins on 'er"
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by pipewatcher
Re: Favorite Tune Names
Two sorts of new policeman have manifested themselves over here:
(1) High-level political stooges who can't run a force,
(2) Lots of blue-uniformed "Enforcers". I don't know what these are supposed to do. What they actually do is hang out in gaggles in the town centre, laughing loudly at each other's jokes, which is fine by me. But something tells me it would be a grave mistake to arm them...
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by nicholas
Re: Favorite Tune Names
>the sporting pitchfork , the rambling pitchfork ,Hitlers >Downfall, the unfortunate cup of tea ,the cat rambled to the >childs saucepan
Gawd I hate that Sporting B*****d
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: Favorite Tune Names
The Muckin o'Geordies Byre
The Cup of Tea
The Growling Old Man and the Grumbling Old Woman
Meatballs, Whisky and Beer
Dr Morrison's 7 Thistles
A Yowe cam to wir door, yarmin, yarmin
All I can think of for now
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by snowyowl
Re: Favorite Tune Names
How about "The Mouse Behind the Dresser" & "The Cat Rambled to the Childs Saucer"
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by J Morris
Re: Favorite Tune Names
Pay the Girl Her Sixpence
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by Seosamh Ui Sinan
Re: Favorite Tune Names
I was going to mention The Night We Had the Goats as well as Bang Your Frog on the Sofa, but someone beat me to it.
Some other great ones are
Come Upstairs with me (hopefully not played in a set with the next one...)
The Clumsy Lover (good tune too)
Drink the Rest and Hide the Bottle (a slip jig I've been meaning to learn for some time now...)
The Oyster Wife's Rant
Whiskey Before Breakfast
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by ingridrt
Re: Favorite Tune Names
Two tunes in the same set; "the hole in the sock" and "the sock in the hole"
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by bc_box_player
Re: Favorite Tune Names
Go to the devil and shake yourself !
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by Ebor_fiddler
Re: Favorite Tune Names
Come on now b'ys..."Last Night's Fun"??
I like the names "Ah Surely", "The Champaign Jig Goes to Columbia", "Banish Misfortune" and "Roaring Mary" too.
What a great discussion topic
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by dannym
Re: Favorite Tune Names
Maggie's Pancakes, played in a set with Jenny's Chickens
Spootiskerry is fun to say.
Others: The Eel in the Sink
and Zito the Bubbleman
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by fuzzygreen
Re: Favorite Tune Names
i like "the Frost is All Over" 'cos it can carry two opposite meanings.
Ask the guys at your session whether they think it means:
a) the frost has ended
or
b) the frost is everywhere
- chris
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: Favorite Tune Names
You could say the same about Rolling in the Ryegrass. Bringing in the round bales or going for a tumble?
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by <>-_-_-<>
Re: Favorite Tune Names
ramblingpitchfork- I suppose it depends on when "the praties are dug" . Around here they're usually got out right before the "frost is all over" (everywhere)
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by pipewatcher
Re: Favorite Tune Names
"good morning to yer nightcap"
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by pipewatcher
Re: Favorite Tune Names
From the Border Bagpipe repertoire, how about "Cock up your Beaver"......
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by markt123
Re: Favorite Tune Names
I think you asked that question at the session, Chris, and the conclusion was that we has a session full of pessimists.
On another note, Eilidh Shaw's "The Fiddle Cushion."
"Irishman's Heart to the Ladies."
"When sick is it tea you want."
And that warhorse, "The Old Bush." Lots of speculation as to what it means, especially when you play the Silver Spear into the Old Bush and Rolling in the Ryegrass.
Amongst my session mates in CO, "Lads of Laois" became "Lads on a leash."
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by TheSilverSpear
Re: Favorite Tune Names
@ramblingpitchfork
Sorry to disallusion you, but ....
Did you not know that the tune:
"The Frost is All Over"
is also a song?
"What shall be do when the frost is all over? .... etc etc")
.. so therby lies the meaning ...
(I hope that I haven't torpedoed your next session quiz ....
)
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Favorite Tune Names
I did ask at the session Silver spear, and got a majority for the opposite interpretation from when I asked a t a previous session a few years back
Yes, I know about the song, and it backing up one interpretation.
Wouldn't be surprised if the tune pre-dated the song. The title attatched to the tune though, that'd be a different matter, and I'd guess it likely derived from rather than inspired the song.
I guarantee you though that a proportion of sessioneers out there will think the title imples "the thaw has come", maybe they're just wrong. But they're out there. I know 'cos I'm one of them. But then I'm frequently wrong
- chris
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: Favorite Tune Names
There is also the Playboy Jig (the Mag with the Honey)
And the tune celebrating Irish emigration to Mexico (Gringos of Erin)
- Chris
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: Favorite Tune Names
@Ramblingpitch
The first time that I ever heard it, it was done as a song. That's probably why I had never considered the ambiguity that you've highlighted here...
But a "session quiz" seems a grand idea. Maybe something to be done near Christmas (before the frost is all over).
What other questions would you suggest?
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Favorite Tune Names
I'm surprised that no-one so far suggested:
"Another Jig Will Do"
A great title, don't you think?
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Favorite Tune Names
Mix, I never know the answers never mind the questions.
I'm sure if you start a thread you'll get some bettre responses though - chris
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: Favorite Tune Names
Start a thread, ramblingpitch?
Certainly, the threads that I've started get loads of responses - but quite a few of these responses are hostile ....
... So better not! 
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Favorite Tune Names
When I was driving back from the sesh last night a tune came up on my music shuffle called, "What, no watermelon?"
# Posted on March 5th 2009 by TheSilverSpear
Re: Favorite Tune Names
From a friend of mine in Cork, don't know who wrote it out first:
The Woman of the House went mad last night.
She thought Kitty was gone a Milking until she found her behind the Stack of Barley with Rakish Paddy.
She phoned the New Policeman.
Can't do a thing he said, I'm in the Corner House and when I finish the Cup of Tay I have to call on ttAthair Jack Walsh cos the Cat Ate the Candle on Christmas Eve and the Dogs Among the Bushes are after crapping all over the Garden of Daisies.
The Merry Blacksmith would chase him Down the Back Lanebut he has to Shoe the Donkey.
Well, that was Last Night's Fun, but it could be worse tonight for the Boys of the Town are after challenging the Bucks of Arranmore to a fight; the Drunken Landlady is already sitting on the Stoney Steps with a Mug of Brown Ale in her hand; the Boys of Blue hill have got wind of the fight and are getting fit by Rolling in the Ryegrass; the Sligo Maid has taken Down the Broom to defend herself. The safest place to be tonight is Out on the Ocean.
# Posted on March 8th 2009 by awwilko