“The Magpie's Nest”

Description

Singer praises his love, saying if he was a king he would make her queen and set her down in the "magpie's nest" -- a cottage alongside the River Shannon. He says he's never seen anyone more lovely than "the little Irish fairy in the magpie's nest."

Long description

Singer praises his love, saying if he was a king he would make her queen and set her down in the "magpie's nest" -- a cottage alongside the River Shannon. He says he's never seen anyone more lovely than "the little Irish fairy in the magpie's nest." Chorus: "Shiddly-idle-daddle-diddle-dadle-diddle-didle-dum/I would l'ave you down to rest in the magpie's nest"

Notes

This shares the tune and structure with both versions of "The Cuckoo's Nest," the latter of which sometimes incorporate "dowdling" (mouth music) as here. However, "The Cuckoo's Nest" is almost inevitably bawdy or erotic, while "The Magpie's Nest" is invariably clean, so I split them. For completeness, though, better check them out. - PJS

Cross references

• cf. "The Cuckoo's Nest (I)" (tune)
• cf. "The Cuckoo's Nest (II)" (tune)
• cf. "Around the Hills of Clare" (tune)
• cf. "Heather Down the Moor (Among the Heather; Down the Moor)" (lyrics)

Recordings

• Aunt Jane Kelly "The Magpie's Nest" (on FSB1, FSB2CD)

References

1. Kennedy 182, "The Magpie's Nest" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. Roud #2127
3. BI, K182