Kilcock
by Patrick Leo Maguire
Recorded by Noel Purcell
I'm a mariner bold and me name is Jack Doran,
I'm broken and bothered, laid up in dry dock.
No more I'll go rovin' where white waves are rollin'
I'm anchored for good in the Town of Kilcock.
I remember the days when I sailed the salt billow
me weather eye open for tempest or rock,
but now I'm at rast in that snug little nest
the haven of plenty, the Town of Kilcock
Chorus:
Kilcock, Kilcock, where the girls are the prettiest
a darlin' wee town when you know your way round
The drink is the best and the boys are the wittiest,
where in the world could its equal be found.
Me last voyage was the worst, 'twas the middle of winter
Like Columbus we headed South West and be West
In a tempest that threatened our timbers to splinter
and me at the tiller in only me vest
She rocked and she rolled, and soon from the hold,
there came a quare noise and a heart rendin' shock!
Then a firkin of Stout started rollin' about
and it Labelled 'With Care' to the town of Kilcock
Now as Lucan was reached the boys finished the firkin,
With me at the tiller half dead with the Drought (Droot),
And soon the whole crew under hatches were shirkin'
while the lightning played tricks 'round the Spire of Maynooth
She shuddered and sank on a shoal off the bank,
the mate with a hatchet was running amok, shoutin'
'Curse that lee shore, I've been here before,
but we'll cut through the jungle and make for Kilcock!
Chorus
To tell you the rest of me sorrowful story
would make the salt tears run in streams down your cheek.
Sure we covered ourselves both with mud and with glory
as we trekked through the jungle for nearly a week
We fought wit' wild tribesmen and beasts of the forest
and me in me trousers, me vest and one sock.
But we hacked through the bush and gave one solid rush
and there we were safe in the Town of Kilcock!
Chorus
The lyrics were kindly provided by Patrick Purcell, son of the Irish actor, the late Noel Purcell. The songwriter Leo
Maguire famously wrote ‘The Whistling Gypsy’ and ‘The Dublin Saunter’ (written for Noel Purcell). It may be that this
song was also written for Noel Purcell.
Among the stage, movie and TV appearances Noel Purcell did in the 30s to the 80s, he recorded this ballad of the
'horrible' journey by barge from Dublin to the 33km distant town of Kilcock on the Royal Canal. It was recorded on the
Glenside label in Dublin and released first as a 78rpm record and later as a 45rpm. My thanks go to Owen O’Flaherty
for pointing me in the direction of this recording from the collection of Gavin Corbett.
Kilcock
by Patrick Leo Maguire
Recorded by Noel Purcell
I'm a mariner bold and me name is Jack Doran,
I'm broken and bothered, laid up in dry dock.
No more I'll go rovin' where white waves are rollin'
I'm anchored for good in the Town of Kilcock.
I remember the days when I sailed the salt billow
me weather eye open for tempest or rock,
but now I'm at rast in that snug little nest
the haven of plenty, the Town of Kilcock
Chorus:
Kilcock, Kilcock, where the girls are the prettiest
a darlin' wee town when you know your way round
The drink is the best and the boys are the wittiest,
where in the world could its equal be found.
Me last voyage was the worst, 'twas the middle of winter
Like Columbus we headed South West and be West
In a tempest that threatened our timbers to splinter
and me at the tiller in only me vest
She rocked and she rolled, and soon from the hold,
there came a quare noise and a heart rendin' shock!
Then a firkin of Stout started rollin' about
and it Labelled 'With Care' to the town of Kilcock
Now as Lucan was reached the boys finished the firkin,
With me at the tiller half dead with the Drought (Droot),
And soon the whole crew under hatches were shirkin'
while the lightning played tricks 'round the Spire of Maynooth
She shuddered and sank on a shoal off the bank,
the mate with a hatchet was running amok, shoutin'
'Curse that lee shore, I've been here before,
but we'll cut through the jungle and make for Kilcock!
Chorus
To tell you the rest of me sorrowful story
would make the salt tears run in streams down your cheek.
Sure we covered ourselves both with mud and with glory
as we trekked through the jungle for nearly a week
We fought wit' wild tribesmen and beasts of the forest
and me in me trousers, me vest and one sock.
But we hacked through the bush and gave one solid rush
and there we were safe in the Town of Kilcock!
Chorus
The lyrics were kindly provided by Patrick Purcell, son of the Irish
actor, the late Noel Purcell. The songwriter Leo Maguire famously
wrote ‘The Whistling Gypsy’ and ‘The Dublin Saunter’ (written for
Noel Purcell). It may be that this song was also written for Noel
Purcell.
Among the stage, movie and TV appearances Noel Purcell did in the
30s to the 80s, he recorded this ballad of the 'horrible' journey by
barge from Dublin to the 33km distant town of Kilcock on the Royal
Canal. It was recorded on the Glenside label in Dublin and released
first as a 78rpm record and later as a 45rpm. My thanks go to Owen
O’Flaherty for pointing me in the direction of this recording from the
collection of Gavin Corbett.