Key signature: Gmajor
Submitted on August 8th 2002 by Mark Cordova.
This tune has been added to 323 tunebooks.
Also known as An Phis Fhiliuch, An Phis Fliuch, An Phis Phliuch, The Boy In The Bush, The Bridegroom's Delight, The Choice Wife, Cunt In The Morning, Feathered Nest, The Good Wife, The Happy Hole, The Moist Minge, O'Farrell's Welcome To Limerick, The Perfect WIfe, Pis Fhliuch, Planxty Pussy, The Ready Woman, The Wet Fanny, The Wet Quim.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: An Phis Fhliuch
M: 9/8
L: 1/8
R: slip jig
K: Gmaj
|:FGA AFA c2A|BAG F/2G/2AF GED|FGA AFA d2A|d/2e/2fe dcA GED:|
|:d^cd ege d2A|d^cd fdf ~g3|{b}a2a ged c2A|BAG F/2G/2AF GED:|
|:FGA AFd AFd|AFd AFD GED|FGA AFA c2A|BAG F/2G/2AF GED:|
|:~D3 ~D3 c3|c2B c2A GED|~D3 ~D3 d2^c|d/2g/2fe dcA GED:|
|:d^cd ege c2A|d^cd fdf ~g3|~a3 ged c2A|BAG F/2G/2AF GED:||
Good tune
I picked this up last year. It was self defense and a truly late arrival to my tune lists. I am happy to have learned it though. I never heard on a recording nor have I heard it performed. It only occasionally popped out at sessions.
The conversations on open string rolls are extrememely helpfull for this tune. Look them up and make the side by side rolls on the D string meaningful.
# Posted on August 8th 2002 by Mark Cordova
Open String Rolls
Why force you to look - http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/718
# Posted on August 8th 2002 by Mark Cordova
Recordings
chieftans 2
Tommy Peoples and Paul Brady - High Part of the Road
# Posted on August 8th 2002 by donnchad
Liam O'Flynn recorded it as well, I don't know what recording it's on, though. Dirk plays a really nice slow rendition of the thing, you can find an mp3 of it on our website, http://www.askmyfather.com -- look under demos.
Of course, we don't usually call it by the gaelic name. We generally use O'Farrell's. Dirk hates the gaelic name.
Will gave me the other names for the tune.
Zina
# Posted on August 8th 2002 by Zina Lee
Oops, I meant http://www.askmyfather.net . I always do that. Sorry.
zls
# Posted on August 8th 2002 by Zina Lee
Calling a spade a spade,or not
it's on 'the well below the valley' and is paired with 'kid on the mountain',like the tommy peoples version.
noel hill plays it on his album 'the irish concertina' but calls it 'the boy in the bush'. i've also heard a cracking version by willy clancy on cassette but don't know the details.
i think it's a great tune and love hearing it on the pipes especially.
i'm sure it's got a fair few names and i think one of them is n't suitable to write down here (unless someone was pulling my leg) but 'the choice wife' is the euphemism used.
it's played in the sessions i go to,i'm happy to say
# Posted on August 8th 2002 by biggus dave
Some spades are blacker than others...
I think I know exactly which name you didn't want to write down, Dave! The Chieftans used it on one of their recordings, according to Dirk (he blushes when he says it), and it's certainly...er...blunt. *grin* It's the only one I didn't put in the alternate names list...
Zina
# Posted on August 9th 2002 by Zina Lee
P.S.
Will first told me the "boy in the bush" title, and I think I snorted on and off for about half an hour. So I'm easily amused. *snort*
zls
# Posted on August 9th 2002 by Zina Lee
For those that don't know, the translation of the title is unrepeatable in a respectable forum such as The Session. Suffice to say, 'The Good Wife' is a VERY polite version.
# Posted on August 9th 2002 by CreadurMawnOrganig
That other title
All this coyness about the *other* title of this tune gives new meaning to the phrase "beating around the bush".
# Posted on August 10th 2002 by Jeremy
*groooooooaaaaannnnn* hehehe
# Posted on August 10th 2002 by Zina Lee
By the way, this slip jig is connected with Clare piper Willie Clancy, it was apparently something of a specialty with him. But I've no idea what tune title he called it by.
David, the literal translation of the tune title isn't so bad, really...it's what it MEANS that's the trouble!
zls
# Posted on August 10th 2002 by Zina Lee
Willy Clancy
It was recorded by Willy Clancy on the 1969 Topic recording "The Breeze from Erin" under the title "The Choice Wife"
# Posted on August 10th 2002 by milesnagopaleen
A little Discussion?
I anticipated a little discussion on the title but you all have certainly exceeded my expectations. I am now wondering if everyone of you meant to post the tune but couldn't get over an internal debate of what to call it. I battled with the issue myself. If I puff out my chest I can say I was true to the tune. In truth - I was probably influenced by a darker side that day. I can still remember asking my friend if she knew the translation. She turned red and said "The Good Wife". If she was going to be that embarrased - she should have never given me the sheet music.
Peggy - If you ever see this - CHEERS Hun.
# Posted on August 12th 2002 by Mark Cordova
Mark, anyway thanks for the sheet music here. It was played at this years fiddle recitals on willie week. I heared it the first time and loved the very exciting and very energetic way it was played... heared it later at a session and asked the one who played it for the name. he gave me a whole bunch of abc´s that turned to be not working .... so thank you again ....
and, to continue the name discussion: he gave me the name "O´Farren´s Welcome to Limerick" and noted, that it is the story about blind piper O´Farren after long travelling comes back to Li merick, where his wife desperately is waiting for him... later at the McAuley I asked Brian to play it slow, so I can record it down and learn it by ear. He did not know it under that given name, but when I hummed a few bars he recognised "phuis fleach" ... he translated this name to me and said it might not be used in a gaeltacht area to often and too loud. So we call it now "The Wet Salmon"
# Posted on July 14th 2003 by crannog
A hint to newish accompanists: This tune has a G key signature, but the tonal centre is D, the fifth degree of the G major scale, making this a D mixolydian tune. DO NOT back it like a G major tune!
Think in terms of modes, it helps to more accurately identify the scale used in the composition of the melody and thus select appropriate the appropriate chords.
OK, I'm off my soapbox.
This tune first appeared in print in Maurice O'Farrell's collection of tunes for the Irish bagpipes, published in 1804.
I LOVE the fourth part of this tune, it's mostly crans and "bent" C naturals-two of the most characteristic sounds of the irish pipes.
# Posted on July 25th 2003 by Hanley
Recordings
Celtic Solstice by Paul Winter and friends.
It's not exactly trad,at least not mostly.Some of the "friends" are Joanie Madden,Jerry O'Sullivan,Karen Casey,Eileen Ivers,and people like that.Paul Winter plays the sax.There are maybe three or four decent tracks out of twelve,I think,although there is too much djembe.In my humble opinion.
# Posted on December 3rd 2003 by seisflutes
The Choice Wife
Richard Thompson recorded a cracking version ,played in DADGAD,on his album,"First Light".
# Posted on March 1st 2003 by dafydd
An Phish Fluck - Chords anyone?
Anyone know where I can find the music and guitar chords for the excellent reel, An Phish Fluck. (OK, my spelling may be a bit off - phonetically it's: 'on-fish-fluk'). I can't find it in the tunes section.
I've also seen it titled 'The Woman in the Big House - as on the 'Moving Hearts' compilation. But, for reasons I won't explain that is nothing close to the actual translation of the Irish title (it's a bit rude).
Thanks for any help,
Dave
# Posted on August 8th 2004 by man_dola2
that is such a great tune
# Posted on October 27th 2004 by BTCpz
A cat's a cat and that's that
"ding dong bell, pussy in the well"
and more (mostly dry, English) pussy folklore at: http://www.sniksnak.com/folklore.html
Can I add that "phis" and "fhliuch" were my first introduction to the Irish language! I had come across the words on the jacket of Planxty's album and tried to decipher them with the help of an old dictionary (with a little detour through a grammar book to find out about the ph- / fh- structure). In truth, the translation came as a bit of a shock at the time!... and amused me much, So it is with renewed pleasure that I read the above discussion today !
but ... hey, c'm'on guys! judging by some of the comments here, a lot of people still seem to find it difficult to call a spade a spade these days ! (or a cat a cat as the French have it) what' s wrong with youse? are you's all American or totally GayByrnised/BBCised, ie: addicted to bland euphemism?
It's arse not ass you lot!
for f... sake, wise up! It's time to shed the sad part of your puritanical /Victorian/catholic heritage !
Brian (in Crannog's 14july03) seems to imply that the gaelic speakers of today might find this title offensive but is it really so? It was the introducton of English that turned the bold Irish into a mostly meek flock: defecation, sex and related taboo subjects were nothingmuch to the rural (pre-famine) Irish (see Tim Robinson's work on topology or Seamas Mac an Iomaire's on the "bod gorm" for instance) A lot of water has passed under the bridge since the banning of Tailor and Ansty
and it's time to acknowledge again the very facts of life (see Courbet's Origin of the World)(yes: enter courbet l'origine at google's image search and blush!)
Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh, best wishes for 2005!
# Posted on January 4th 2005 by birlibirdie
Because this is a family site, mainly, and our only rule ('Be Civil') is a good one. I've never really been accused of shyness too often, though! (And I AM an American. Er, only I just realized that there's two things that Americans are slammed for regularly -- being prudish and being rude. Strange, that.) And I note that you haven't called that particular spade a spade either... ;) Probably smart. OBD might have decided to rouse...
# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Zina Lee
Zeens, he has a point though. Saying wet pussy isn't being uncivil. However, if I actually *call* someone a wet pussy, with no hint of irony in my voice, that *would* be uncivil. As for the "family site" thing - if a kid's streetwise enough to know what it means then it's not going to damage them. I don't think there's any need to go around effin' and blindin' on this site, but in the end, this is just the name of a tune. Maybe the American wavering between being prudish and downright rude is down to a confusion as to the meaning of "uncivil". It's interesting to note at this point that in American films it's ok to show the detail of someone having their head blown off with a shotgun in slow motion, but sex and people's bits and pieces are a no-no, except if it's a porno. This is just accepted now, but think about what that actually means about what it's natural and right for human beings to be doing to each other.
Anyway I thought you were supposed to be Chinese.
# Posted on January 5th 2005 by Dow
BTW a wet one is preferable instead a dry one.
# Posted on January 5th 2005 by gian marco
Kind of ironic this tune has been added to 69 tunebooks.
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Why Bother?
Why is the contraversial title entered twice?
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Phantom Button
Davy Spillane does a version of this on the Atlantic Bridge album but it's called "Tribute to Johnny Doran." Sounds great though.
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by wormdiet
2nd & last parts
Are both really necessary? Do people play them as written out?
# Posted on May 18th 2005 by wormdiet
This is hilarious - can't believe the language in the 'alternate names' list... ha. Brilliant. Gets me every time...like 'touching cloth'
# Posted on May 23rd 2006 by Lizzy
Twin Sister
An Phis Thirim (aka. O'Farrell's Farewell to Limerick): http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/4130
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by slainte
Great 'other meaning'
haha can you imagine this irish guy on telly who is introducing a piper on a music channell...
"and now ladies and gentlemen, Shan O'Shannasey with 'the wet eejit'!"
haha i love it
But on the other hand, it was one of the first slip jigs - let alone tunes - i learnt to play on the pipes thanks to daby spillane, i play it closer to his version though, but when the time calls for it in a session i'll play the 'trad.' version.
One of my all time favourites! THUMBS UP
# Posted on July 11th 2006 by Scrappy the Godo
Whats the deal?
what the hell? they've got c words here and there on the alternate titles but when i write c**t here it changes it to eejit?
eejits!
# Posted on July 11th 2006 by Scrappy the Godo
Maybe a chance of deleting some of those alternate titles??
# Posted on October 30th 2006 by 52Paddy
Aww.. the alternate titles have been deleted..
# Posted on January 12th 2008 by cabers
First bar of the last system (the E part I suppose), second C should be natural, no?
# Posted on April 28th 2008 by fynnjamin
Second C in the 1st bar of E part
Should be a sharp.
# Posted on May 27th 2008 by tin_whistler
O'Farrell's Welcome to Limerick
Published in O'Farrell's National Tutor (1801 or so) with 6 parts.
The 2nd and 5th are close, but thankfully *not* always identical. (See Willie Clancy, Matt Molloy, for instance)
Pretty much the same as usually played in sessions otherwise though!
# Posted on January 29th 2009 by Nico
Second C in the 1st bar of E part
(i.e. bar 21), the second C should actually be natural - I have never heard it played any other way.
|:d^cd ege =c2A|d^cd fdf ~g3|~a2 f ged c2A|BAG F/G/AF GED:||
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by fynnjamin
Oh, that was me earlier saying it should be natural.
It still is, tinwhistler.
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by fynnjamin
Better Piping Version
X: 1
T: An Phis Fhliuch
M: 9/8
L: 1/8
R: slip jig
K: Gmaj
|:A|(3D/E/F/GA AFA c2A|BAG F3 GED|(3D/E/F/GA AFA d2A|dg/f/e dcA GED:|
|:dB/c/d ege d2A|dB/c/d fef g3|a3 ged c2A|BAG F3 GED:|
|:(3D/E/F/GA AFd AFd|AFd AFd GED|(3D/E/F/GA AFA c2A|BAG F3 GED:|
|:D3 D3 c3|c2B c2A GED|D3 D3 d2A|dg/f/e dcA GED:|
|:dB/c/d ege c2A|dB/c/d fef g3|a3 ged c2A|BAG FG/A/F GED:||
# Posted on April 1st 2009 by JACKB
An Phis Fhliuch
Nicely played here by Zoe Conway and Meabh O'Hare.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzi7OhSzysw
# Posted on November 6th 2009 by bogman