Monday, December 14, 2009

PQ's Top 10 Songs of the 2000's: No. 6

Shut up. I like folk-punk.
'Flannigan's Ball' by Dropkick Murphys.
The song is not about the environment, or about how we should love one another.
It's about a party that ends up an all-in brawl.
Guest vocals by Spider from The Pogues.

Lyrics ace.

In the town of Milton one
Brian Flannigan battered away till his money was spent
Then he hit a big one and felt like a man again,
Bought a three decker with two floors for rent

He threw a big party for friends
And relations at a grand old place called Florian Hall
And if you'll just listen I'll make your eyes glisten
To the rows and the ructions of Flannigan's ball.

[Chorus:]
Six long months I spent in quincy,
Six long months doing nothing at all,
Six long months I spent in quincy
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
I stepped out and I stepped in again,
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball.

Free beer on tap and wine for the ladies,
Ziti and sauce for mark porzio
There were faheys and bradys,
Mcauliffes and daleys courtin the girls and dancing away.

Brian tully sang out in his finest form,
The patron's responded and I lead em all
I'd spent 6 months at Forbes Academy
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball

[Chorus]

The boys were hammered the girls were hearty
Dancing around in couples and groups
An accident happened to Dennis Flemming
Put his right leg through miss Finneran's hoops

This gal she fainted and cried bloody murder,
Called for her sons and gathered them all,
Christopher swore he'd go no further
Till he had revenge at Flannigan's ball

[Chorus]

In the midst of the melee
Miss Collins fainted - her cheeks by now were as red as a rose
Some of the boys decreed she was plastered
Had a small drop too much I suppose

Young Scotty Jenkins so big and able
Saw his fair colleen stretched by the wall
Tore the left leg from under the table
And smashed all the dishes at Flannigan's ball

Boy oh boy now this was a rumble myself
Took a lick from mean Ricky Green
But I soon replied to that fine introduction
And gave him a terrible kick in the spleen

Talent the piper nearly got strangled,
They squeezed on his bellows, chanters and all,
The girls in the middle nearly got trampled
And that put an end to Flannigan's ball


12 comments:

squib said...

Is this one of those songs that grows on you?

Perseus said...

No.

RandomGit said...

It's one of those songs you try to avoid making eye contact with.

Any Half Man Half Biscuit in your top 10? Or is that all the folk you have time for.

Perseus said...

Beirut was shortlisted, but didn't make the cut.

There may be another folk number to come.

Pepsi said...

I like folk-punk.

So do I.

Get your Welsh on.

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4famspLBlIQ

I always thought Mick Thomas and his Lonely Goth in a Country Town might appeal to you.

Perseus said...

Thank God you're here Pepsi. What is it with people? It's punk! And folk! AT THE SAME TIME! What's not to like?

I've had a German backpacker staying with me for the past 3 weeks. Last night, when we were cleaning up around the house, she said, "Pick some music to play."

I said, "What are you in the mood for?"

She said, "Anything but that Melting Banana Band. If you ever play them again, I will know it means you want me to leave forever."

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

I quite like punk/folk.

And at least you now know the ideal way of ridding your house of unwelcome guests.

Lewd Bob said...

It's punk! And folk! AT THE SAME TIME! What's not to like?

It's chocolate! And butter chicken! AT THE SAME TIME!

squib said...

Folk music. Horrible

Puss In Boots said...

Hmm. I think this will end with me only knowing/liking one song on your list.

I think if I made a list, it would bore people to sleep. We drove to pick up our new kitten yesterday (side note: I won! His name is Fyodor!), and about halfway through the drive, the boy asked me if I had anything in my mp3 player that was "more lively." I scrolled through all of my artists and had to admit defeat.

Pepsi said...

It's punk! And folk! AT THE SAME TIME! What's not to like?

Exactly.

Unfortunately folk is to most people what blues is to the 2010 lineup of the Byron Blues Festival - Crowded feckin House anyone?

Melba said...

LOVED THIS ONE.

In my mind's eye I was not sitting here in an ordinary suburb, I was jumping up and down in a pack at a pub, sweaty, young, filled with beer and getting more spilled on me. The smell of men around me, and sticky carpet underneath.

LOVED IT.