Annotation:Swaggering Jig (1) (The)

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X:1 T:Swaggering Jig [1], The M:9/8 L:1/8 R:Slip Jig S:James Goodman (1828─1896) music manuscript collection, S:vol. 3, p. 167. Mid-19th century, County Cork F:http://goodman.itma.ie/volume-three#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=170&z=-5155.8953%2C0%2C18487.7906%2C6432 F:at Trinity College Dublin / Irish Traditional Music Archive goodman.itma.ie Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:G g|fed Bdd Add|fed Bdd e2g|fed Bdd Add| ede fdB A2:||:g|fga aba afd|fga agf e2g| fga aba afd|ede fdB A2:|]

SWAGGERING JIG [1], THE (“An port bagarac” or “Port na buaiceála”). AKA and see "Girls Take Care How You Marry," “Give Us a Drink of Water (2),” “In debt in the public house,” "Just at the Height of Her Bloom," “McDonnell's Rant” (O’Farrell), "Munster Rake (The)," "Noggin of Cream (The)," "Oh! The Marriage;," “Pol ruadh,” “Old Woman's Consort/Seanduine Coileáilte (An)” (Breathnach - CRÉ II, 98), "Silly Old Man (The)," “Taim in Arrears,” "Táim in Arréir dTigh an Óil," "Tiggit along the Room," “The Virgin Queen,” "Welcome the Piper.” Irish, Slip Jig (9/8 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (most versions): AABB (Kennedy). There are several jigs with the title “Swaggering Jig.” Words have been set to the tune, these from the band Dervish:

I went to the fair of Bellaghy,
I bought a wee swag of a pig,
I gathered it up in my arms,
And danced the swaggering jig.
And it's high to the top of the heather,
And high to the but of the sprig,
And high to the bonnie wee lassie
Who danced the swaggering jig.

As I went to the fair of Bellaghy,
I bought a wee slip of a pig,
And being down by the poor house,
I whistled the swaggering jig.
And it's high to the cups and the saucers,
And high to the butter and bread,
And high to the bonnie wee lassie
Who danced the swaggering jig.

I being down by the poor house,
I whistled so loud and so shrill,
I made all the fairies to tremble
That lived around Corcoran's hill.
And it's high to the top of the heather
And high to the but of the sprig,
And high to the bonnie wee lassie
Who danced the swaggering jig.

See also the closely related 9/8 time English stage song and Scottish country dance "Jockey Has Gotten a Wife."

Additional notes

Sources for notated versions: - “From Mrs. Close” [Stanford/Petrie]; Bothy Band [Sullivan].

Printed sources : - Kennedy (Fiddler’s Tune-Book: Slip Jigs and Waltzes), 1999; No. 81, p. 19. O'Neill (O’Neill’s Irish Music), 1915; No. 220, p. 117. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; p. 79. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 1118, p. 211. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 413, p. 82. Roche (Collection of Traditional Irish Music, vol. 2), 1912; No. 269, p. 28. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 961, p. 245. Sullivan (Session Tunes, vol. 3); No. 10, p. 5. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, Book Two), 1999; p. 41. Vallely (Learn to Play the Fiddle with Armagh Pipers Club), 197?; No. 29, p. 29.

Recorded sources: - Green Linnet Records SIF 1058, Matt Molloy & Sean Keane - "Contentment is Wealth" (1985). Kells Music 9502, Dervish – “Harmony Hill.”

See also listing at:
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [1]