Annotation:For the Sake of Old Decency
Tune properties and standard notation
FOR THE SAKE OF OLD DECENCY (De Ghrá na Sean-Mheasúlachta). AKA and see "Farewell to Old Decency." Irish, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. The first part is the same as "Maid of Feakle (the)," although the 'B' parts differ. "Old decency" is a phrase used in Ireland to mean times past when manners and respected prevailed, as in "the man was a throwback to old decency." The Irish collector P.W. Joyce, discussing the phrase 'Relics of old decency,' says that "when a man goes down in the world he often preserves some memorials of his former rank - a ring, silver buckles in his shoes, &c. - ' the relics of old decency.'" A similarly titled tune is "Moving in Decency," and although it is musically quite different, the names do sometimes get garbled together.
Source for notated version: flute, whistle and concertina player Michael Tubridy of the Chieftains (Ireland) [Breathnach].
Printed sources: Breathnach (CRÉ III), 1985; No. 192, p. 86.
Recorded sources: Claddagh CC27, Michael Tubridy - "The Eagle's Whistle" (1978). Island ILPS 9501, "The Chieftains Live" (1977).
See also listing at:
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info []