Kelligrew's Soiree

Time signature: 6/8 (but can also be done in 3/4 time)
Tempo: ~140 bpm.

Johnny Burke

This web page first gives the accordion notation in 3/4 time (waltz-beat), and then in 6/8 time (jig-beat), The waltz notation is usually played slower than the jig, and may be easier for beginners. Most of the youTube videos below are performed in 6/8 time.

In any event, it is a fun song, and should be played and sung with humour.l

UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Notation & youTube videos needs to be checked, and tempo info added.

Accordion Notation (in 3/4 time, for beginners)

Beats per bar = 3
Beat symbol = Dot ( . )

Either row (high): Buttons 5 - 8*
Either row (low): Buttons 2 - 4*

Verse 1 (of 5)

:5 .6 | :7 .7 | :7 .7 | :7* .7* | :7* .7* | :6 .6* | :6 .7* | .:7 |
:2 .3 | :4 .4 | :4 .4 | :3* .3* | :3* .3* | :3 .2* | :3 .3* | .:4 |
You may talk of Cla-ra No-lan's Ball or an - y - thing you choose, /

:7 .7 | :8* .8* | :8* .8* | :7 .7 | :7 .7 | :7* .7 | :7* .6* | .:5 |
:4 .4 | :4* .4* | :4* .4* | :4 .4 | :4 .4 | :3* .4 | :3* .2* | .:2 |
But it could-n't hold a snuff-box to the spree at Kell - i - grews; /

:5 .6 | :7 .7 | :7 .7 | :7* .7* | :7* .7* | :6 .6* | :6 .7* | .:7 |
:2 .3 | :4 .4 | :4 .4 | :3* .3* | :3* .3* | :3 .2* | :3 .3* | .:4 |
If you want your eye-balls straight-ened just come out next week with me, /

:7 .7 | :8* .8* | :8* .8* | :7 .7 | :7 .7 | :7* .8* | :7 .7* | .:6 |
:4 .4 | :4* .4* | :4* .4* | :4 .4 | :4 .4 | :3* .4* | :4 .3* | .:3 |
And you'll have to wear your glass-es at the Kell - i - grews Soir - ee. /

:5 .6 | .:7 | .:7 | .:7* | .:7* | :6 .6* | :6 .7* | :7 .7 | .:7 |
:2 .3 | .:4 | .:4 | .:3* | .:3* | :3 .2* | :3 .3* | :4 .4 | .:4 |
There was birch rind, tar twine, cher-ry wine and turp - en - tine, /

:8* .8* | :8* .8* | .:7 | .:7 | :7* .7 | :7* .6* | .:5~ | ~.: |
:4* .4* | :4* .4* | .:4 | .:4 | :3* .4 | :3* .2* | .:2~ | ~.: |
Jowls and cav - a - lan - ces, gin- ger beer and tea____, /

.:7 | .:7 | .:7* | .:7* | :6 .6* | :6 .7* | :7 .7 | .:7 |
.:4 | .:4 | .:3* | .:3* | :3 .2* | :3 .3* | :4 .4 | .:4 |
Pig's feet, cat's meat, dump-lings boiled up in a sheet, /

:8* .8* | :8* .8* | :7 .7 | .7 .7 .7 | :7* .8* | :7 .7* | .:6 | .:r |
:4* .4* | :4* .4* | :4 .4 | .4 .4 .4 | :3* .4* | :4 .3* | .:3 | .:r |
Dan-de - lion and crack-ie's teeth at the Kell - i - grews Soir - ee. /

Accordion Notation (in 6/8 time)

Beats per bar = 2 (Primary beat = Bass Note,
Secondary beat = Chord )
Beat symbol = ; or equivalent ( . " )

Either row (high): Buttons 5 - 8*
Either row (low): Buttons 2 - 4*

Verse 1 (of 5)

  .5 "6 | .7 "7 .7 "7 | .7* "7* .7* "7* | .6 "6* .6 "7* | ;7
.2 "3 | .4 "4 .4 "4 | .3* "3* .3* "3* | .3 "2* .3 "3* | ;4
You may talk of Cla-ra Nol-an's Ball or an - y - thing you choose,  /

.7 "7 | .8* "8* .8* "8* | .7 "7 .7 "7 | .7* "6 .7* "6* | ;5 |
.4 "4 | .4* "4* .4* "4* | .4 "4 .4 "4 | .3* "4 .3* "2* | ;2 |
But it could-n't hold a snuff-box to the spree at   Kel - li - grews. /

.5 "6 | .7 "7 .7 "7 | .7* "7* .7* "7* | .6 "6* .6 "7* | ;7
.2 "3 | .4 "4 .4 "4 | .3* "3* .3* "3* | .3 "2* .3 "3* | ;4
If you want your eye-balls straight-ened, just come out next week with me,  /

.7 "7 | .8* "8* .8* "8* | .7 "7 .7 "7 | .7* "8* .7 "7* | ;6
.4 "4 | .4* "4* .4* "4* | .4 "4 .4 "4 | .3* "4* .4 "3* | ;3
And you'll have to wear your glas-ses at the Kel - li - grew's Soir - ee.  /

.5 "6 | ;7 ;7 | ;7* ;7* | .6 "6* .6 "7* | .7 "7 ;7 |
.2 "3 | ;4 ;4 | ;3* ;3* | .3 "2* .3 "3* | .4 "4 ;4 |
There was birch rind, tar twine, cher-ry wine and tur- pen- tine,  /

.8* "8* .8* "8* | ;7 ;7 | .7* "7 .7* "6* | ;5~ ~; |
.4* "4* .4* "4* | ;4 ;4 | .3* "4 .3* "2* | ;2~ ~; |
Jowls and ca - va - lan-ces, gin-ger beer and tea;  /

;7 ;7 | ;7* ;7* | .6 "6* .6 "7* | .7 "7 ;7 |
;4 ;4 | ;3* ;3* | .3 "2* .3 "3* | .4 "4 ;4 |
Pig's feet, cat's meat, dump-lings boiled up in a sheet, /

.8* "8* .8* "8* | .7 "7 "7 "7 "7 | .7* "8* .7 "7* | ;6 ;r | ;r
.4* "4* .4* "4* | .4 "4 "4 "4 "4 | .3* "4* .4 "3* | ;3 ;r | ;r
Dan- de - lion and crac-kie's teeth at the Kel - li - grews  Soir - ee /

Embedded youTube VIDEOS

12 Videos in various keys: A=3 D=2 E=1 F=1 G=5

Key: G

Tempo: ~155 bpm

Group: The Celtic Connection

Posted by: SongsLyricsAdded's channel

Key: G

Group: The Celtic connection

Posted by: Celtic Connection - Topic

Key: A

Tempo: ~140 bpm

Performer: Harry Hibbs

Posted by: UnidiscMusic

Key: A

Tempo: ~145 bpm

Singer: Omar Blondahl

Accordion: Wilf Doyle

Posted by: John Park

Key: D (from time 0 to 2:12)

Tempo: ~140 bpm.

Group: The Shoreliners

Accordion player: Richard ?

Posted by: cockandbullbar's channel

Performed at Kelligrews Soiree 2008

The Kelligrew's Soiree is the first of three songs in this video.

Key: G

Group: 4 Men in a Tub

Posted by: Duncan Wells

Key: A

Performers: Doug Cooper &
Calvin Hackett

Posted by: montane

Recorded Christmas 2009 at Terrenceville.

Key: G

Singer: Jesse Ferguson

Posted by: Jesse Ferguson

Key: E

Group: Davis Family Singers 1988

Posted by: prodpost

A 40th wedding-anniversary celebration.

Key: G

Performer: Talented 8-year-old

Posted by: PianoBananas

Key: G

Tempo: ~150 bpm

Accordionist: Talented 10-year-old

Posted by: My Channel

Great playing and camera work.

Key: D

Singer: ?

Posted by: Waltonmemorial

Background Materials, Information & Links

Lyrics:

You may talk of Clara Nolan's Ball or anything you choose,
But it couldn't hold a snuffbox to the spree at Kelligrews;
If you want your eyeballs straightened just come out next week with me,
You'll have to wear your glasses at the Kelligrews Soiree.

There was birch rind, tar twine, cherry wine and turpentine,
Jowls and cavalances, ginger beer and tea;
Pig's feet, cat's meat, dumplings boiled up in a sheet,
Dandelion and crackie's teeth at the Kelligrews Soiree.

Oh, I borrowed Cluney's beaver as I squared my yards to sail,
And a swallow tail from Hogan that was foxy on the tail;
Billy Cuddahie's old working pants and Patsy Nolan's shoes,
And an old white vest from Fogarty to sport at Kelligrews.

There was Dan Milley, Joe Lilly, Tantan and Mrs. Tilley,
Dancing like a little filly, 'twould raise your heart to see;
Jim Brine, Dan Ryan, Flipper Smith and Caroline,
I tell you, boys, we had a time at the Kelligrews Soiree.

Oh, when I arrived at Betsy Snook's that night at half past eight,
The place was blocked with carriages stood waiting at the gate;
With Cluney's funnel upon my pate, the first words Betsy said,
"Here comes the local preacher with the pulpit on his head".

There was Bill Mews, Dan Hughes, Wilson, Taft and Teddy Roose,
While Bryant, he sat in the blues and looking hard at me;
Jim Fling, Tom King, Johnson, champion of the ring,
And all the boxers I could bring to the Kelligrews Soiree.

"The Saratoga Lancers first," Miss Betsy kindly said,
I danced with Nancy Cronin and her Granny on the Head;
And Hogan danced with Betsy, well you should have seen his shoes,
As he lashed the muskets from the rack that night at Kelligrews.

There was boiled guineas, cold guineas, bullock's heads and piccaninnies,
Everything to catch the pennies you'd break your sides to see;
Boiled duff, cold duff, apple jam was in a cuff,
I tell you, boys, we had enough at the Kelligrews Soiree.

Crooked Flavin struck the fiddler and a hand I then took in,
You should see George Cluney's beaver and it flattened to the rim;
And Hogan's coat was like a vest, the tails were gone you see,
Says I, "The Devil haul ye and your Kelligrews Soiree".

Background Links:

"This is a popular Newfoundland folk song written by Johnny Burke in the 1920's, with lyrics (but not tune) possibly based on an older New York Irish song called The Irish Jubilee, which documents a similar party and lists the guests and bill of fare." ( Source )

Click HERE for additional info about this song (Wikipedia).

Click HERE for biographical info on Johnny Burke (Wikipedia)