Lanigan's Ball
Lanigan's Ball: Dance Through Life's Twists and Turns
Lyrics
In the town of Athy one Jeremy Lanigan
In the town of Athy, a man named Jeremy Lanigan
Battered away till he hadn't a pound
Battered away until he was penniless
His father he died and made him a man again
His father's death made him responsible and mature
Left him a farm and ten acres of ground
He inherited a farm and ten acres of land
He threw a great party for friends and relations
He hosted a grand party for friends and relatives
Who didn't desert him when come to the wall
Those who stood by him during difficult times
And if you'll listen I'll make your eyes glisten
The narrator promises an engaging story about Lanigan's Ball
And spin you a tale of Lanigan's Ball
Describing the festivities and celebration
(Chorus)
Chorus - Recounting six months spent in Dublin
Six whole months I spent in Dublin
Learning to dance at Lanigan's Ball in Dublin
Six whole months doing nothing at all
-Six whole months I spent in Dublin
-Learning to dance to Lanigan's Ball
-I stepped out and he stepped in again
Repetition of steps in a dance, emphasizing the learning process
He stepped out and I stepped in again
-I stepped out and he stepped in again
-Learning to dance to Lanigan's Ball
-Myself to be sure got free invitations
Description of the lively atmosphere with food and dancing
For all the nice colleens and boys I might ask
-And just in a minute both friends and relations
-Were dancing as merry as bees 'round a cask
-There were lashings of punch and wine for the ladies
-Potatoes and cakes there was bacon and tea
-There were the Nolans, the Dolan's, O'Gradys
-A courtin' the girls and dancing away
-(Chorus)
Chorus - Reiterating the time spent in Dublin
There were all kinds of nonsensical polkas
Introduction of nonsensical polkas and the preference for a real Irish jig
Around the room in a whirly-gig
-But Julie and I soon banished their nonsense
-And gave them a taste of a real Irish jig
-Oh how that girl she got mad and we
Specific mention of dancing with Julie and the intensity of the dance
Danced 'till we thought that the ceiling would fall
-For I spent three weeks at Brooks' Academy
-Learning to dance to Lanigan's Ball
Three weeks spent at Brooks' Academy learning to dance at Lanigan's Ball
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