“The Turfman from Ardee”

Description

Singer meets a turfman on the road. The turfman says his ass is tired; he'd like to sell his load. The singer says cart and ass look old and abused; the turfman says he has abused the ass, but it has never been without shoes, nor his axle without grease

Notes

"Sex"? "Bawdy"? Well, certainly double-entendre on Margaret Barry's part. She notes that she learned it from an 80-year-old man named Tynan in 1945; he, in turn, had learned it from the McNulty Family of Donegal, who put it on a 78. As we have no date earlier than 1945, though, I'm putting that down as earliest -- but I'd love to find that 78. - PJS

Recordings

  • Margaret Barry & Michael Gorman, "The Turfman from Ardee" (on Barry-Gorman1)
  • David Harper, "The Turfman from Ardee" (on TradIre02)

References

  1. OLochlainn-More 23, "The Turfman from Ardee" (1 text, 1 tune)
  2. Roud #5187
  3. BI, RcTurArd

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1945 (learned by Margaret Barry)
Found in: Ireland