“The Waterford Boys”
Description
The singer pays 5 shillings for a room and dry bread and cheese; he fight rats all night. Tavern-keeper would refund 5s for a cure for rats. "Just invite them to supper" and "charge them five shillings and never the rat will again cross your floor."
Notes
According to GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador site the tune is "The Humours of Whiskey" and the dates for the author are 1832-1872.
The "Waterford Boys" title is sensible considering the first lines
Well boys, for diversion, we're all met together:
I'll tell you how from Waterford hither I came
and the last line of the chorus: "Who can compare with the Waterford boys."
Broadside LOCSinging as203820: H. De Marsan dating per _Studying Nineteenth-Century Popular Song_ by Paul Charosh in American Music, Winter 1997, Vol 15.4, Table 1, available at FindArticles site. - BS
Same tune
- The Flaming O'Flannigans (per broadside LOCSinging as203820)
Broadsides
- LOCSinging, as203820, "Waterford Boys," H. De Marsan (New York), 1864-1878
References
- Greenleaf/Mansfield 72, "The Waterford Boys" (1 text)
- O'Conor, pp. 115-116, "The Waterford Boys" (1 text)
- Roud #3107
- BI, GrMa072