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Spoken:
Well, we'd like to do a song now for Patsy and Bridie, the Golden Jubilee.
Take it away, Fergie...
Way down in the county Kerry in a place they call Tralee,
A fine old couple they lived there named Kate and Pat Magee;
They're going to have a hooley on their golden jubilee,
Well, Kate says she to Pat Magee, come listen here to me:
Oh! Put on your ould knee-britches and your coat of emerald green,
Take off that hat, me darlin' Pat, put on your ould cáibín;
For today's our golden wedding, and I want them all to know,
Just how we looked when we were wed fifty years ago.
How well do I remember when first I was your bride,
In the little chapel on yonder hill where we stood side by side;
Your hair was like a raven's wing, now it's turned to grey,
Oh, Patsy dear, come on and hear what I am going to say:
Oh! Put on your ould knee-britches and your coat of emerald green,
Take off that hat, me darlin' Pat, put on your ould cáibín;
For today's our golden wedding, and I want them all to know,
Just how we looked when we were wed fifty years ago.
How well do I remember when we danced in the village green,
You held me in your arms, dear Pat, and called me your cailín;
Of good friends we've had many, and troubles we've had few,
Oh, sweetheart dear, come on and hear what I'm going to tell to you:
Oh! Put on your ould knee-britches and your coat of emerald green,
Take off that hat, me darlin' Pat, put on your ould cáibín;
For today's our golden wedding, and I want them all to know,
Just how we looked when we were wed fifty years ago.
Oh! Put on your ould knee-britches and your coat of emerald green,
Take off that hat, me darlin' Pat, put on your ould cáibín;
For today's our golden wedding, and I want them all to know,
Just how we looked when we were wed fifty years ago.
This variant is from a performance by Ryan's Fancy in March of 1977 from the CBC Television series Ryan's Fancy, during a visit with Bridie and Paddy Judge, the Cape Shore singer and storyteller from Patrick's Cove, in Placentia Bay, NL. It was recorded sitting around their kitchen table.
See more songs by Ryan's Fancy.
From Wikipedia:
Cáibín — caubeen; little hat; a variation of the beret or tam o'shanter, taken from the traditional Irish peasants' headdress. It is very high on the off-side (usually the left), and it sometimes has narrow black tapes in its edge that are tied neatly in the back to secure it; the Canadian version is made with wide tapes.
Cailín — colleen; a generic term for Irish women or girls.
From Wiktionary:
Hooley — a traditional evening of Irish music and dance; an Irish party.
The YouTube video below features a variant recorded by Ray Walsh & Family of Bay-de-Verde, NL (The Passing Of The Years, trk#1, 1996, Third Wave Productions, Gander, NL, recorded at Piper Stock Productions).
Liner note: During the 60s and 70s Ray Walsh performed on CBC Radio and CBC television in the nationally syndicated show All Around The Circle. He is from Bay-de-Verde. He is joined here by his daughter Michelle, son Greg and brother Ron.
