Young William Reilly was by trade,
A weaver bould lived on the Coombe,
For many years so sportingly,
He hopped the treadles of his loom,
He wrought away both night and day,
His work did never cockle¹,
Till he fell in love with Mary Neil,
Who sold rags upon the Poddle².
Oh, young Willie for to gain this maid
Immediately contrived a plan,
Said he "I'll go and court Miss Neil,
For I means to prove meself a man,
A tommy³ I wants very bad,
So to get one off I'll toddle
And I'll buy it from young Mary Neil,
That sells rags upon the Poddle.
Oh, Mary says he, me dearest dear,
Oh, If with me you will combine,
For to join our hands in wedlock bands,
Happy I'd be to style you mine.
Mother will give a stock of clothes,
To keep you from all trouble,
And I'll never let you any more,
Sell auld rags upon the Poddle.
Young Will sez she, don't make so free,
For to marry yet I'm not inclined,
As for to wed a weaver bould,
It never once did cross me mind,
So take this for your answer,
And do me no more trouble,
Nor I will sell you no more rags,
While I sits upon the Poddle.
Young Willie drooped and hung his head
When he got this sad denial,
When up there steps a brewers man,
All ready to defy him.
"Mary" sez he, "come 'long with me,
For I means to wet your throttle,
And I'll never let you anymore,
Sell auld rags upon the Poddle"
Well, she embraced his offer in a crack,
And off they went together,
On a jaunting cart so stately sat,
With a dandy hat and a feather,
They keeps a house in Golden-lane,
Where quarts and glasses rattle,
And she does not care what people say,
'bout old rags upon the Poddle.
Young William Reilly heart full sore,
Went home and did his shuttle throw
But of late he courts a spinning girl
Who turns a wheel in Pimlico
To salute her heart so free from guile,
Willie cracked a flowing bottle
And he thinks no more on Mary Neil,
And auld rags upon the Poddle.
1 - cockle = wrinkled like the shell of a cockle, to shrink up.
2 - Poddle = (An Poitéal), an ancient stream of Dublin.
Although Anglicised as Poddle by the English it was invariably pronounced Pottle by the citizens of Dublin up to the latter half of the 19th century.
3 - tommy = a front and collar doing duty for a full shirt.
credits
from Landless EP,
released March 21, 2014
Trad. arr. Landless
Words adapted and set to a newly composed air by Fergus Russell 16th April 2013.
Original imprint by Nugent's Printers 35 College St. Dublin.
Broadsheet collection Trinity College Library, Dublin.
Recorded and mixed by Alex Borwick and Ben Lehane at Elektra Studios, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, 2nd March 2014.
Landless are Lily Power, Meabh Meir, Ruth Clinton and Sinead Lynch. Formed in 2013 and based in Dublin and Belfast, they sing unaccompanied traditional songs in four-part harmony.
supported by 16 fans who also own “Rags Upon the Poddle”
What an incredible contribution to the tradition this album is. The last track, especially ‘I shall ne’er wean her’, brought me to tears numerous times. Thank you for the healing and inspiration 🙏💜 Xavier Ó Luain
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