Annotation:Price of My Pig (The)

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X:1 T:Price of my Pig, The L:1/8 M:6/8 Z:transcribed by Jürgen Gier K:AMin EAA AGA|~B3 GAB|~c3 ~B3|AGE E2D| EAA AGA|~B3 GAB|eBc ~B3|AGE E2D:| |:efe ded|~c3 ~B3|~c3 ~B3|AGE E2D| EAA AGA|B/c/dB GAB|eBc ~B3|AGE E3:|



PRICE OF MY PIG, THE. AKA and see "Sheelina Gra Will You Be Mine." Irish, Double Jig (6/8 time). A Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Darley & McCall): AABB (Cranitch). The song was issued on 19th century broadside sheets [1].

Irish Pig Fair. 1878 print.

In the year twenty nine when the weather was fine
I first made me way to the sweet fair of Trim
For to sell a fine swine it was my design
She was plump fat and fair and complete in each limb
This pig was as mild as a lamb or a child
You could whip her all over the world with a twig
And the truth for to tell, I sold her quite well
Two pounds ten was the price that I got for my pig.

I slapped the cash to me thigh saying "I'll drink by and by"
Down the street I did fly, like a sporting young buck
When a handsome young dame who belonged to the game
She right up to me came to be sure for good luck
She gave me a wink to go in for a drink
Inveigled me up to dance Hennessy's Jig
Twas at the wheel round she slipped her hand down
And then left me quite scarce of the price of my pig!

Like a man in despair when I missed me fair share
I went tearing me hair seeking her up and down
Every corner and lane I did search out in vain
But a sprig of this dame sure could never be found
Meet her well I will or I surely will kill
This I swear by the hair on Lord Norbury's wig
Till the day that I die my revenge I will try
On the dame that did rob me the price of me pig.

On to Navan next day sure I then took me way
For I heard people say that this dame had been seen
But when I got there, having some time to spare
I wetted me care with a drop of poteen
The first to come in, it was Tatterjack Flynn
And we danced a few steps of a nice double jig
Thinking, aye, be-and-by that I'd soon set me eye
On the dame that did rob me the price of me pig.

Oh by Tara by Skreen, by the Bog of Armeen
By John Paddy McGee by the high Hill of Howth
By the Church, by the bell , by the great Book of Kells
Fort to swear anymore, do you know that I'm loath!
If the Lord of Mayo he but heard of me woe
I'm sure he would come in a chaise or a gig
And he'd search the land round till this dame would be found
And be clattered in pound for the price of me pig.

Now that it's so, its homeward I'll go
My shuttle I'll throw and from drink I'll refrain
I'll stick to me loom while my youth is in bloom
And I'll never be caught by a strumpet again
Sincerely I swear and I swear I'm sincere
Not a week will go by or a month or a year
That upon that transaction I'll have satisfaction
All on that bad action that lost me me pig!

The air is substantially that of "Sheelina Gra Will You Be Mine," printed in O'Farrell's Pocket Companion, c. 1805. The similarly-titled "Price of the Pig (The)" is a different tune.

Additional notes

Source for notated version: - Mr. T.L. O'Callaghan, bandmaster of Reformatory (Philipstown, King's Co., Ireland) [Darley & McCall].

Printed sources : - Cranitch (Irish Fiddle Book), 1996; No. 7, p. 127. Cranitch (Irish Session Tunes: Red Book), 2000; 7. Darley & McCall ( The Feis Ceóil Collection of Irish Airs), 1914; No. 40, p. 17.

Recorded sources: -Gourd GM 112, Kim Robertson - "Tender Shepherd" (1992). Matt Cranitch - "Take a Bow."



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