Lyr Add: (and corrections needed) Hagerty's Ball

Subject: Lyr Add: (and corrections needed) Hagerty's Ball
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Sep 04 - 12:44 AM

I would have posted this song in the thread Lyr Add: Irish songs about balls, wakes, soirees, but there are so many problems, I figured it needed its own thread.

My only source for this song is a broadside that should be in the Guinness book for the number of typos in one song. The typesetter not only didn't mind his p's and q's, he also didn't mind his b's and d's, his I's and l's, his u's and n's, his Italic and Roman font—you name it. I am open to suggestions on how this broadside managed to get published in such a sorry state, but my theory is that it was typeset hastily and surreptitiously by an apprentice when his boss wasn't looking. Maybe the apprentice hoped to make a few bob on his own, peddling a song that the master wouldn't touch with a barge pole because it was a little too risqué.

First here's the uncorrected version, copied and pasted from The Library of Congress American Memory Collection :

HAGERTYS BALL

Its near BLlakale where the lads they are friskey
Live d Dennis Hagerty of h gh renown
But he being to 'ovial oll glaces res rted
Till his mon y was sporte? his cash was run down
But his Uncle being trenched he left him a farm
Mwo cows and three pigs thos was flt or the sa'l
Since I got from a mean man up to a high station
I'll give all my fremds & relations a qali

Myself got a ear and it wont be suspected,
Th t I should ncglect to be there at a nod.
I invited my neibours my freinds and relations
Whe flew from all parts and was the re on the sod
My grandmother c ipled ten-years in the corner
She says I wirl go if on chruehes I crawl
M e zeri Tim Rlaok threw hev up on his back
And we set of quite merry to Hagerty's ball

When we resobd the mansion the dishes wero handsome
With lang? ? ugq tA oes and eager oach face
T ere was baeon ?ll frosted fowl and beef roasted
We sat d wn for to dine eut fo g t to say grace
There was all sorte of da ntees wore made for the Ladies
The tea and the pastry wer there at a call
The old Jad eat so much she was Dear Irke to burst
And take leave of hor Friena at Hagerty's ball

The tables being clear'd the whiskey came poutiug
The singing eomene d with hearts Folt of glec
W il gu?ch WiR aud porter We sho?ed to all quarters;
Songs From 9ll parttes Went gallant nd Free
The boy aud t e Girls Fell kisiug aud oourting
Old men and old maiden? began for toball
Such singing and sp?r?ing such ising and courting
Was never equal as at Hagerty's call

They dance'd on all sides being pleasant £ hearty
But seldim comes pleasure when sarrow draws ne àr
For Miss Kitty Bro?n dance? with Terrence Gown,
And on the wheel, round he slip'd h?r a kiss
Ah? sweetheart Neo Casey been wi/q ai the motion
He up vvit his foot and gave him a fall
Then up jnmpd his faction te have sadfaction
Before they d go home from Hagerty's ball

In less than ten miuutes the ladies all fanted
The old peopie fasnted vvhile heâvy came blovvs
Shure Hagerty cr?pt iu at the back door
And he kept peaping like a mouse in a hole
I stood agitated ceing dull of the mater
When I ask d Jer MbCarty vvhat roase the great squell
Th ronge being coutraryhe drevv his shilalia
And left my head reeling at Hagerty's ball

When I got on my le?s shure I took to my pegs
For I saw lame Tom Mack he ?u the jeor was tost
When the saw ehe?e jewei the acted very cruel
The chairs stoolsand glasses they paid for the roast
The yiper beiaw blind he scrambled up behind
His chruters being broak he made through the hall
Whee the girls recovered th stuck in eachother,
That ends the humours of Hagerty's bali

P. Brereton, 1, Lr, Exchange, St, Dublin.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: (and corrections needed) Hagerty's Ball
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Sep 04 - 12:45 AM

Now here's my attempt to correct the typography. A lot of this is conjectural. Others' conjectures (or insights) are welcome.

HAGERTY'S BALL

It's near Ballakelly, where the lads they are frisky,
Lived Dennis Hagerty of high renown;
But he being too jovial, all glasses resorted,
Till his money was sported; his cash was run down.
But his uncle being trenched, he left him a farm,
Two cows and three pigs that was fit for the sale. [or "fit for to sell"?]
"Since I got from a mean man up to a high station,
I'll give all my friends and relations a ball."

Myself got an ear, and it won't be suspected
That I should neglect to be there at a nod.
I invited my neighbours, my friends and relations,
Who flew from all parts and was there on the sod.
My grandmother, crippled ten years in the corner,
She says, "I will go if on crutches I crawl."
My zeri (?) Tim Black threw her up on his back
And we set off quite merry to Hagerty's ball.

When we reached the mansion, the dishes were handsome,
With laughing potatoes and eager each face.
There was bacon well frosted, fowl and beef roasted.
We sat down for to dine but forgot to say grace.
There was all sorts of dainties were made for the ladies.
The tea and the pastry were there at a call.
The old jade ate so much she was near like to burst
And take leave of her friends at Hagerty's ball.

The tables being cleared, the whiskey came pouring.
The singing commenced with hearts full of glee.
With such wine and porter we showed to all quarters.
Songs from all parties went gallant and free.
The boys and the girls fell [to] kissing and courting.
Old men and old maidens began for to ball.
Such singing and sporting, such kissing and courting
Was never [an] equal as at Hagerty's ball.

They danced on all sides, being pleasant and hearty,
But seldom comes pleasure [but] when sorrow draws near;
For Miss Kitty Brown danced with Terrence Gown,
And on the wheel round, he slipped her a kiss. [What happened to the rhyme?]
Her sweetheart Ned Casey, being wild at the notion,
He up with his foot and gave him a fall.
Then up jumped his faction to have satisfaction
Before they'd go home from Hagerty's ball.

In less than ten minutes, the ladies all fainted.
The old people fainted while heavy came blows.
Sure Hagerty crept in at the back door
And he kept peeping like a mouse in a hole.
I stood agitated, being dull of the matter.
When I asked Jer McCarty what rose the great squall,
The rogue being contrary, he drew his shillelagh
And left my head reeling at Hagerty's ball.

When I got on my legs, sure I took to my pegs,
For I saw lame Tom Mack he out the door was tossed.
When they saw their jewel they acted very cruel.
The chairs, stools and glasses they paid for the roast [or "cost"?].
The piper being blind, he scrambled up behind.
His crutches [or "chanters"?] being broke, he made through the hall.
When the girls recovered, they stuck in each other.
That ends the humours of Hagerty's ball.