Jump to content

Annotation:Pat was a darling boy

Find traditional instrumental music



335 337L X:1 T:Pat was a darling boy M: 9/8 L:1/8 R:Air B:Keith’s Flute Instruction Book (Boston, 1847, p. 33) N:Published by Keith’s Music Publishing House. F:https://www.google.com/books/edition/Keith_s_Flute_Instruction_Book/owtKAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22ledder+breeches%22+%22dan+emmit%22&pg=PA30&printsec=frontcove Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:G B|B2B BAG d2c|B2B BAG FAA|BBB BAG dzB|BAA ABG F<A|| c|Bcd e2d e2d|Bcd eed eg z/c/|Bcd edd !fermata!g2B|dcB BAG FA2| g2z edc BAG|g2z edc dB2|g2z g2z g2!fermata!z|ABc D2F G3| (bab) (b2c') (d'2b)|(bab) (b2c') (d'2b)|[B2b2]z [B2b2]z [B2b2]z|abc' d2f g2||



PAT WAS A DARLING BOY. Irish(?), Air (9/8 time). A comic song was advertised in The Harmonicum as a new song in 1829, sung in London pleasure gardens in 1838, and printed in period songsters such as The Shamrock (Glasgow, 1830, pp. 227-228). John Diprose's The Red, White & Blue Monster Songbook (1860, p. 397) gives that the song was "Written by Teernan, Composed by [Jonathan] Blewitt, and Sung by Mr. Biven." Jonathan Blewitt (19 July 1782 – 4 September 1853) was an English organist, composer of light operas and songs, and a musical director. Other sources give 'T. Cooke' as the author[1]

‘Twas at the sign of the fork
Young Pat first open’d his throttle,v And being a native of Cork,v No wonder he dipp’d in the bottle;
His mother’s own milk they say
Soon made him quite funny and frisky,
For when she put cream in his tea,
By the pow’rs it was nothing but whisky.
O Paddy O’Flannagan,
Neat tippling Paddy,
Whugh, whugh, whugh,
Pat was a darling boy.

Says Father O’Fogerty, Pat,
Now love your enemies ever,
Pray let me exhort you to that;
Says Pat, it’s my constant endeavour,
For whiskey, my deadliest foe,
When down in my gullet I shove it,
I take it to heart you must know,
For nobody better can love it.
O Paddy O’Flannagan, &c.v

It may or may not be 'Irish', but perpetuates that stereotype of the Irishman as a drunkard.


Additional notes



Printed sources : - Keith’s Flute Instruction Book, Boston, 1847; p. 33.






Back to Pat was a darling boy

0.00
(0 votes)



  1. Thomas Cooke (1782-1848) was a celebrated singing teacher. In 1821 he became director of Drury Lane Theatre and a few years later was alternating a singer and as leader of the orchestra. He was Renowned both for his versality and for his sense of humour.
Cookies help us deliver our services. By using The Traditional Tune Archive services, you agree to our use of cookies.