Annotation:Father Halpin's Topcoat (1)
Tune properties and standard notation
FATHER HALPIN'S TOPCOAT [1]. Irish, Varsovienne (3/4 time, "Gaily"). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. Although included by Roche in a section of "Marches etc.", the tune is the vehicle for a varsovienne dance. "Father Halpin's Top Coat" is also an alternate title to the melody called "Varsovienne (1) (The)" or "Shoe the Donkey (1) (see "Father Halpin's Topcoat (2)." The title comes from a nonsense ditty sung to it:
Father Halpin, Father Halpin's,
Father Halpin's Top Coat;
Father Halpin, Father Halpin's,
Father Halpin's Top Coat.
Sometimes it was "Father Murphy's, Father Murphy's..."
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: Roche (Collection of Traditional Irish Music), vol. 2, 1913; No. 342, p. 60.
Recorded sources: