Annotation:While I My Banjo Play
X:1 T:While I My Banjo Play C:W.H. Montgomery M:2/4 L:1/8 R:Air S:Philip Carolan music manuscript collection N:Philip Carolan (c. 1839-1910, Crossmolina, County Mayo), a musically literate N:farmer and fiddler who compiled his ms. probably during 1863-1873. S:Angela Buckley, thesis, “A Critical Edition of the Irish Music Manuscripts of S:Philip Carolan c. 1839-1910, vol. 2”, Waterford Institute of Technology, S:2007, p. 87. Carolan ms. 1, No. 269. K:G d|dd/d/ dd|ed dB|d(c/B/) ce|d2 zd|dd/d/ dd| ed dB|d(c/B/) ce|d2 zd|d^c dd|d^c dd|d^c dd| d^c dd|ed ^cB|BA GF|AG FE|1 D3:|2 D4|| dd/d/ dd|ed d2|d(c/B/) ce|d3d|dd/d/ dd |ed dd| g(B/c/) dF|1G4:|2 G3||:d|GB GB|d3e| Be df|g3g|fee e|eG Bd|dc BA|G3:|
WHILE I MY BANJO PLAY. American, Minstrel Air (2/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABBCC. "While I My Banjo Play" was written by W.H. Montgomery and sung by the Christy Minstrels.
What are the joys of white man here,
What are his pleasures say?
He great, he proud, he haughty, fine,
While I my banjo play.
He sleep all day, he wake at night,
He full of care, his heart no light;
He great deal want, he little get,
He sorry so he fret.
Chorus: ''What are the joys of white man here,
What are his pleasures say?
He great, he proud, he haughty, fine,
While I my banjo play.
While I my banjo play.
While I my banjo play.
While I my banjo, I my banjo.
