Help me remember an Irish drinking song.

September 21, 2006 10:19 AM

Trying to remember an Irish drinking song (are there any other types?)

A long time ago a friend lent me a tape of Irish drinking songs, and one of them I particularly like. The song was about 3 friends who head to the pub for a night of drinking, and one of them orders food. Lots and lots of it, he has a big appetite. When the bill comes he can't pay and a fist fight ensues. I think one the lyrics referred to the bill being as long as the bartender's arm.

The song was very alliterative I think, and it ended with the following lyric (not sure of the spelling):

...on the spree that day.
(referring to what a good time they had)

Anyone know what I am talking about?

posted by Vindaloo to media & arts (8 comments total)

This?
posted by Addlepated at 11:03 AM on September 21, 2006

Wow, thanks Addlepated, that's the song all right!
posted by Vindaloo at 11:51 AM on September 21, 2006

OK, I found out the song is called Johnny McEldoo and has been performed by Tommy Makem and also by the Clancy Brothers but I can't find an mp3 version of the song anywhere, not even for purchase (I tried a few sites that said they had it and the preview worked, but each time it came to actually downloading the song they said they didn't have it).

Sigh. Well at least I've got something to work on.
posted by Vindaloo at 12:20 PM on September 21, 2006

It's on this commpilation record , currently out of print, but selling used on Amaxon
posted by bryghtrose at 2:13 PM on September 21, 2006

vindaloo: email me at cdpoconnor at gmail dot com and I can send you an mp3 of the clancy brothers version.
posted by knapah at 5:31 PM on September 21, 2006

You could Google for the lyrics you know and find out instantly.

You could Google for the lyrics you know + mp3 (you don't even have to know the title); the fourth link on that page gets you here, which gets you the mp3.

Amazing what Google can do with half a chance.
posted by booksandlibretti at 8:41 PM on September 21, 2006

Well, booksandlibretti, your Google-Fu is stronger than mine because I did search in google, although I used the name of the artist(s) + mp3 and/or the name of the song +mp3 and all I got was paysites that didn't actually have the song for download (though they claimed they did).

It's all good though, because knapah helped me out.
posted by Vindaloo at 12:03 AM on September 22, 2006

I just mean you could easily have found it before you posted at all -- you didn't need to know the artist or title to find it.

The good news is that now I've heard another Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem song, and it's not like a disaster or anything; you just could've tried Googling before you posted.
posted by booksandlibretti at 6:13 AM on September 22, 2006