Lanigan’s Ball Marc Gunn

In the town of Athol one Jeremy Lanigan
Battered away 'til he hadn't a pound
His father died and made him a man again
Left him a farm and ten acres of ground
Myself to be sure got free invitation
For all the boys and girls I might ask
And without being asked both friends and relations
Danced like bees 'round the sweet cask

There were lashings of punch and wine for the ladies
Potatoes and cakes; bacon and tea
Nolans, Dolans, all the O'Gradys
Courting the girls and dancing away
Songs they went 'round as plenty as water
"The harp that once sounded in Tara's old hall,"
"Sweet Nelly Gray" and "The Rat Catcher's Daughter,"
Singing together at Lanigan's Ball

They were doing all kinds of nonsensical polkas
All 'round the room in a whirligig
Julia and I, soon banished their nonsense
And tipped them the twist of a reel and a jig
How the girls they all got mad at me
For they thought the ceiling would fall
I spent six months at Brooks' Academy
Learning to dance for Lanigan's Ball