Phil The Fluter's Ball - The Dubliners

Have you heard of Phil the Fluter?

From the town of Ballymuck

The times was going hard for him

In fact the man was broke

So he sent an invitation

To his neighbors one and all

As how he’d like their company

That evening at a ball

And when writing out

He was careful to suggest to them

That if they found a hat of his

Convenient to the door

The more they put in

Whenever he requested them

The better would the music be

For battering the floor

With a toot on the flute

And a twiddle on the fiddle-oh

Hopping in the middle

Like a herrin' on the griddle-oh

Up, down, hand around

And crossing to the wall

Sure hadn’t we the gaiety

At Phil the Fluter’s ball

There was Mister Denis Doherty

Who kept a running dog

There was little cripple Paddy

From the Tiraloughett bog

There was boys from ev’ry barony

And girls from ev’ry art

And the beautiful Miss Bradys'

In their private ass and cart

Along with them, came bouncing Mrs. Cafferty

Little Mickey Mulligan

Was also to the fore

Rose, Suzanne and Margaret O’Rafferty

The flower of Ard Na Gullion

And the pride of Petravore

With a toot on the flute

And a twiddle on the fiddle-oh

Hopping in the middle

Like a herrin' on the griddle-oh

Up, down, hand around

And crossing to the wall

Sure hadn’t we the gaiety

At Phil the Fluter’s ball

First Little Mickey Mulligan

Got up to show them how

And then the widow Cafferty

Step out and takes her bow

«I'll dance you of your legs», says she

As sure as you were born

If only you’ll make the piper play

«The Hare was in the corn»

So Phil plays up

To the best of his ability

The ladies and the gentleman

Begin to do their share

Faith, then Mick

It’s you that has agility

Begop an Mrs. Cafferty

You’re leppin like a hare

With a toot on the flute

And a twiddle on the fiddle-oh

Hopping in the middle

Like a herrin' on the griddle-oh

Up, down, hand around

And crossing to the wall

Sure hadn’t we the gaiety

At Phil the Fluter’s ball

Then Phil the Fluter tipped a wink

To little crooked Pat

I think it’s nearly time, says he

For passing round the hat

So Paddy passed the caipín round

And looking very cute

Said, you have to pay the piper

When he tootles on the flute

Then all joined in

With the greatest joviality

Coverin' the buckle

And the shuffle and the cut

Jigs where danced

Of the very finest quality

But the widow bate the company

At handlin' the foot

With a toot on the flute

And a twiddle on the fiddle-oh

Hopping in the middle

Like a herrin' on the griddle-oh

Up, down, hand around

And crossing to the wall

Sure hadn’t we the gaiety

At Phil the Fluter’s ball