The Rattlin' Bog

polka

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on March 12th 2002 by hillfolk.

This tune has been added to 188 tunebooks.

Also known as Bog Cotton, The Bog Down In The Valley O', Bog Down In The Valley-o, The Clap Dance, Leabaidh, Old Bog Hole, The Old Bog Hole, Rattlin' Bog, Rattling Bog, The Rattling Bog, The Siege Of Ennis.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

4 by Bohola
A Date With The Gallowglass Ceili Band by The Gallowglass Ceili Band
By Heck by David Munnelly
Celtic Ceili by Various Artists
Dancing Through Ireland by Various Artists
Der Tod War Da by Heiter Bis Folkig
Echoes Of Erin by The Tulla Ceili Band
Foinn Seisiun 3 by Ennis/Dublin Session Group
Golden Bough by Golden Bough
Good Boy M.A. by Michael Anthony MacLean
Keltish by Keltish
King Of The Button Box by Jimmy Shand
Lifescapes Celtic Fiddle by Various Artists
Molly's Revenge Four by Molly's Revenge
Old Time Scottish Fiddle Music From Cape Breton Island by Joe MacLean
Popular Céilí Dances Vol 1 by Sean Quinn Band
Rince: Complete Irish Dancing Set - First Steps And Beyond by Various Artists
Shake Your Shamrocks by Various Artists
The Bluebell Polka by Jimmy Shand
The Fiddle, The Voice by Nancy Conescu And Gerry Harrington
The Houston Sessions by The Alans
The Princess Royal: Dance Music From South Armagh by The Nine McCusker Brothers And Hugh Savage
What Is Friday by Comrade

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

The Rattlin Bog

My first attempt of posting a tune.
I noticed that the L: is 1/8 on this song.
You may want to edit it over to 1/16. That is what it is written in.

Laura

# Posted on March 12th 2002 by hillfolk

ABC notation

Hi Laura,

I've re-written the ABC notation so that it now matches the "polka" designation. No need for anybody to edit the "L:" field.

# Posted on March 12th 2002 by Jeremy

Missing a measure?

I don't know the tune, but it seems like there is a measure missing in the B section.

Cheers,
-danno

# Posted on March 18th 2002 by dannochaffer

Words to go with the tune

A band from Newfoundland called The Irish Descendents did a song on one of their albums by this name... and with this tune. There were about a dozen verses and the song keeps on speeding up with each additional verse... great for when you're sitting around a camp fire or having a few drinks! Anyway, the words go something like:

Chorus:
Ho Ho the rattlin' bog, the bog down in the valley-o
Ho Ho the rattlin' bog, the bog down in the valley-o.

Verse 1:
And in that bog there was a hole, a rare hole a rattlin' hole.
The hole in the bog, the bog down in the valley-o

Chorus:

Verse 2:
And in that hole there was a tree, a rare tree a rattlin' tree.
The tree's in the hole, the hole's in the bog, the bog down in the valley-o..

Chorus:

And it goes on and on and on...

Best,
Wes

# Posted on October 26th 2003 by Whamlyn

We thought this was a Scottish tune, but The Fiddler's Companion has it as Irish, so presumably it's an Irish tune and a Scottish song. It is played for North-West Morris.

We play it in G with a pronounced beat (but pretty fast) in sets of polkas eg. Rakes of Mallow/Bricks and Mortar/Rattling Bog.

# Posted on May 27th 2005 by LowProfile

"The Rattlin' Bog" ~ two ways with it in G

K: G Major
B2 B>A | GE E2 | DG G/F/G/A/ | BA Ad |
B/c/B/A/ B>A | GE EG/E/ | Dd dB | AG G2 ||
BG AG | BG G>A | Bd- dB | BA AG/A/ |
BG AG | BG AG | B/c/d dB | AG G2 ||

K: G Major
|: G>A |
B2 B>A | GE ED | EA AB/A/ | GE ED |
B>c BA | GE ED | EA AB/A/ | G2 :|
|: GA |
BA AG | BA AG | A2 AB/A/ | GE ED |
c/B/A AG | BA AG | A2 AB/A/ | G2 :|

# Posted on July 11th 2006 by ceolachan

Full / more lyrics at:

http://www.petemcdonald.com/print/rattlinbog.htm

# Posted on September 30th 2006 by birlibirdie

The Rattling Bog

We used to call it 'The bog down in Dubally O' (the valley O) but for years I've called the tune 'Bog Cotton' That's is the name shown on many scottish country dance band records where the tune is included. I've also come across it under Bog Cotton in a book of tunes suitable for the dance 'The Seige of Ennis'

# Posted on June 5th 2007 by Free Reed

This is the tune also known as the "Siege of Ennis" in some quarters. Years ago it was often played after "Port Lairge" making for a nice a pair of polkas

# Posted on January 30th 2008 by Bannerman

Reel version

Slainte submitted a Highland Setting of ‘The Primrose Lassies’ a while back:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/789/comments
This version is v close to The Rattlin’ Bog, I find! (It’s fairly obvious in the 1st part, less so in the 2d part if you only look at the dots: but the rhythm + feel of it is close indeed)
The whole is closer to this polka than any other setting of The Primrose Lasses I’ve had a look at.

X: 1
T: The Primrose Lassies
S: Harry Bradley
M: 4/4
L:1/8
R: highland
K: D Major
f2f>e d2d>B|A>Bd>e f<BB>e|f2f>e d2d>B|1 A>da>g f<dd>e:|2 A>da>g f<dd>B||
A>df>d a>df>d|A>df>d e<BB2|A>df>d a>df>d|f/g/a e>g f<dd>B|
A>df>d a>df>d|A>df>d e<BB>e|f2f>e d2d>B|A>da>g f<dd>e|]

# Posted on June 16th 2010 by birlibirdie