“When Paddy McGinty Plays the Harp”

Description

"When Paddy McGinty plays the harp you've got to get up and dance ... It's wonderful Irish music that is neither flat nor sharp When Paddy McGinty plays the harp"

Notes

Is this even a music hall song? There is a 1940 recording on OKEH 5849 by the McFarland Twins and their Orchestra [sources: Steven Abrams site as The Online Discographical Project; Northwest Internet Technologies copyright owner of World of Grampophones site]; "the McFarland twins, Arthur and George, were handsome blonds who played reeds and had own corny band late '30s, suddenly became more modern c'42 but never hit the big time" [Source: MusicWeb site Encyclopedia of Popular Music re Fred Waring].

Blondahl04 and NFOBlondahl05 have no liner notes confirming that this song was collected in Newfoundland. Barring another report for Newfoundland I do not assume it has been found there. There is no entry for "When Paddy McGinty Plays the Harp" in _Newfoundland Songs and Ballads in Print 1842-1974 A Title and First-Line Index_ by Paul Mercer. - BS

Recordings

• Omar Blondahl, "When Paddy McGinty Plays the Harp" (on NFOBlondahl04)