The Dubliners — Phil the Fluters Ball

Have you heard of Phil the Fluter? From the town of Ballymuck The times was going hard for him In fact the man was broke So he sent an invitation To his neighbors one and all As how he'd like their company That evening at a ball And when writing out He was careful to suggest to them That if they found a hat of his Convenient to the door The more they put in Whenever he requested them The better would the music be For battering the floor With a toot on the flute And a twiddle on the fiddle-oh Hopping in the middle Like a herrin' on the griddle-oh Up, down, hand around And crossing to the wall Sure hadn't we the gaiety At Phil the Fluter's ball There was Mister Denis Doherty Who kept a running dog There was little cripple Paddy From the Tiraloughett bog There was boys from ev'ry barony And girls from ev'ry art And the beautiful Miss Bradys' In their private ass and cart Along with them, came bouncing Mrs. Cafferty Little Mickey Mulligan Was also to the fore Rose, Suzanne and Margaret O'Rafferty The flower of Ard Na Gullion And the pride of Petravore With a toot on the flute And a twiddle on the fiddle-oh Hopping in the middle Like a herrin' on the griddle-oh Up, down, hand around And crossing to the wall Sure hadn't we the gaiety At Phil the Fluter's ball First Little Mickey Mulligan Got up to show them how And then the widow Cafferty Step out and takes her bow "I'll dance you of your legs", says she As sure as you were born If only you'll make the piper play "The Hare was in the corn" So Phil plays up To the best of his ability The ladies and the gentleman Begin to do their share Faith, then Mick It's you that has agility Begop an Mrs. Cafferty You're leppin like a hare With a toot on the flute And a twiddle on the fiddle-oh Hopping in the middle Like a herrin' on the griddle-oh Up, down, hand around And crossing to the wall Sure hadn't we the gaiety At Phil the Fluter's ball Then Phil the Fluter tipped a wink To little crooked Pat I think it's nearly time, says he For passing round the hat So Paddy passed the caipín round And looking very cute Said, you have to pay the piper When he tootles on the flute Then all joined in With the greatest joviality Coverin' the buckle And the shuffle and the cut Jigs where danced Of the very finest quality But the widow bate the company At handlin' the foot With a toot on the flute And a twiddle on the fiddle-oh Hopping in the middle Like a herrin' on the griddle-oh Up, down, hand around And crossing to the wall Sure hadn't we the gaiety At Phil the Fluter's ball