Lyr Req: Sullivan's John

Subject: lOOKING FOR SULLIVANS JOHN
From:
Date: 30 Nov 99 - 01:45 PM

Can anyone give me the lyrics to the song Sullivans John as recorded by Sweeney's Men or other version.

Many thanks

Subject: Lyr Add: SULLIVAN'S JOHN
From: Philippa
Date: 30 Nov 99 - 02:02 PM

SULLIVAN'S JOHN

Oh, Sullivan's John, on the road you've gone
Far away from your native home.
You've gone with a tinker's daughter
Far along the road to roam.
Oh, Sullivan's John, now you won't stick it long
Till your belly will soon get slack
As you roam the road with a heavy load
And a toolbox on your back.

There's a hairy ass fair in the County Clare
In a place they call Spancil Hill
Where my brother James got a rap of the hames [harness]
And poor Paddy they tried to kill.
They loaded him up in an ass and cart
All along the road to roam.
Bad luck to the day I went away
To join with the tinker's band.

This is from memory; maybe there's more to add.

Subject: Lyr Add: SULLIVAN'S JOHN
From: Philippa
Date: 30 Nov 99 - 02:46 PM

Add this verse between the other two

I met Katy Coffey with her neat baby
Behind on her back strapped on
She'd an old ash plant all in her hand
For to drive her donkey on,
Enquiring at every farmer's house
Oh where would she get an old pot to mend?
Or where would she get an ass?

as far as I know the song is by Pecker Dunne

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: lOOKING FOR SULLIVANS JOHN
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 30 Nov 99 - 02:49 PM

There's Katey Coffey with her neat baby
Behind on her bach strapped on
And an old ash plant all in her hand
For to drive the donkey on
Enquiring at every farmer's house
As along the road she'd pass
Oh where would she get an old pot to mend
Or where would she swap an ass.

I spent an enjoyable afternoon with Joe "Banjo" Burke a few weeks ago and he sang one additional verse I've never heard before. I have no idea whether Pecker Dunne wrote it or not. I must get it from him sometime.

All the best,
Dan Milner

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: lOOKING FOR SULLIVANS JOHN
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 30 Nov 99 - 02:52 PM

You beat me to it Philippa.

All the best,
Dan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: lOOKING FOR SULLIVANS JOHN
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 30 Nov 99 - 03:36 PM

Pecker Dunne it was, as far as I know.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: lOOKING FOR SULLIVANS JOHN
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 30 Nov 99 - 08:24 PM

It was written by Pecker Dunne alright. Years ago I met a guy who had performed with the Pecker for a few years as... The Pecker Dunne & Son.

All the best,
Dan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: lOOKING FOR SULLIVANS JOHN
From: paddymac
Date: 01 Dec 99 - 03:46 PM

Don't know what might have happened to the ole 'Spaw, but if he had seen the thread I'm sure he would have answered "Down the hall, third door on the right", or somesuch.

Subject: Lyrics Req: Sullivan's John
From: Emmie
Date: 09 Dec 99 - 02:40 PM

I would really like the lyrics for this song. Does anyone know them. I am think ing of the song that was sung by Annie Briggs. Thankyou. Emmie

Subject: Lyr Add: SULLIVAN'S JOHN (Pecker Dunne)
From: Magpie
Date: 09 Dec 99 - 03:32 PM

There was a thread on this one a while back, but I can't find it, so here it is:

O'Sullivan's John to the road you've gone
far away from your native home.
You've gone with the tinker's daughter
for along the roads to roam.
O'Sullivan's John you won't stick it long
'till your belly will soon get slack
up along the old road with a mighty load
and your tool box on you back.

I met Kate Caffey with her neat baby
behind on her back strapped on.
She had an oul' ash plant in her hand
to drive the oul' donkey along.
Enquiring in every farmhouse
as along the road she passed.
Oh where could she get an old pot to mend
and where could she get an ass.

There's a hairy as fair in the county Clare
in a place they call Spancil Hill.
Where my brother James got a rap of a hames
and poor Paddy they tried to kill.
They loaded him up on an ould ass and cart
as along the road to go.
Oh bad luck to the day when he roved away
for to join with the tinker band.


Magpie

Subject: RE: Lyrics Req: Sullivan's John
From: Emmie
Date: 09 Dec 99 - 04:18 PM

fab, wonderful. Thankyou Magpie Emmie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: lOOKING FOR SULLIVANS JOHN
From: GUEST,Ger
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 06:27 AM

I am looking for the abc sheet music for sullivans john.
                                          Many thanks.

Subject: Tune Add: SULLIVAN'S JOHN
From: OldPossum
Date: 30 Aug 04 - 11:55 AM

X:13
T:Sullivan's John
C:trad./words by Pecker Dunne
M:3/4
L:1/4
K:G
d/B/ | G>A G | G2 B/c/ | d2 g | =f2 e/f/ |
w: O_ Sul-li-van's John to the road you've gone far a-
d c A | G2 F | G3-|G z d | g>g g | a2 g |
w: way from your na-tive home_ You've gone with a tin-ker's
=f>e f | d c A | G>A G | A B c | d3-|d z d |
w: daugh__-ter far a-long_ the road_ to roam_ *
g>g g | a2 g | =f>e f | d c A | G>A G |
w: Sul-li-van's John you won't stick it long till your bel-ly will
A B c | d3-|d c A | G>A G | G B c | d2 g |
w: soon_ get slack_ As you roam_ the road with a might-y
=f2 e/f/ | d c A | G2 F | G3-|G z |]
w: load and a tool_ box on your back._

Transcribed by ear from an old Dubliners LP.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sullivan's John
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Aug 04 - 11:58 AM

YES!! Thank you!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sullivan's John
From: MMario
Date: 30 Aug 04 - 12:22 PM

Thank you Possum!