Annotation:Father Halpin's Topcoat (1)
X:1 T:Father Halpin's Top Coat [1] M:3/4 L:1/8 Q:"Gaily" B:Roche - 2nd Collection (1913, No. 342) K:G B>c B2D2|B>c B2D2|B>cd2 e2|d2 A4| A>B A2D2|A>B A2D2|A>Bc2e2|d2G4:| |:B>cd g2|f2 A4|A>B c2e2|d2B4| B>cB2A2|B2 c4|A>B c2e2|d2 G4:||
FATHER HALPIN'S TOPCOAT [1]. AKA and see "Shoe the Donkey (2)," "Valse du luthier," "Valse du vieux-Québec (La)." 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)/Shoe the Donkey (2)" (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..."
