Finnegan's Wake - Rose & Thistle

Finnegan's Wake Lyrics

Tim Finnegan lived in Wakelin Street
A gentleman Irish, mighty odd (fine lad, he was! fine lad!)
He had a beautiful brogue so rich and sweet
And to rise in the world he carried a hod (everyone loved Tim!)
Now you'd see he'd sort of a tipplin' way (Tim drank a bit)
With a love for the liquor, poor Tim was born (Tim drank a lot)
And to help him on with his luck each day
He'd a drop of the craythur ev'ry morn
Whack fol' the dah, now, dance to yer partner
Wipe the floor, yer trotters shake!
Wasn't it the truth I told ya?
Lots of fun at Finnegan's wake!
One morning Tim felt rather full
His head grew heavy and it made him shake (it's just a hangover!)
He fell off the ladder and he broke his skull

And they carried him home, his corpse to wake (dead he was)
They wrapped him up in a nice clean sheet
And they laid him out upon the bed
With a bottle of whiskey at his feet
And a barrel of porter at his head!
Whack fol' the dah, now, dance to yer partner
Wipe the floor, yer trotters shake!
Wasn't it the truth I told ya?
Lots of fun at Finnegan's wake!
Tim's friends assembled at the wake
And the widow Finnegan called for lunch (Billy, your tea is ready!)
At first she brought out tea and cakes
Then pipes, tobaccos, and whiskey punch
Then Biddy O'Brien began to cry (oh! Me Tim!)
Such a lovely corpse did you ever see? (Y'look beautiful laying there!)
"Aragh, Tim, avourneen! Why would you die?"
"Arragh, would ye hold yer gob!" says Paddy McGee.
Whack fol' the dah, now, dance to yer partner
Wipe the floor, yer trotters shake!
Wasn't it the truth I told ya?
Lots of fun at Finnegan's wake!
Then Maggie O'Connor took up the job
"Oh, Biddy," she says to her, "You're wrong, I'm sure." (she wants a fight, she does)
Then Biddy fetched her a belt on the gob
And sent her sprawling on the floor (arse over tin cup she went)
Each side in the war did soon engage
'Twas woman to woman and man to man
Shillelagh law was all the rage
And a row and a ruction soon began
Whack fol' the dah, now, dance to yer partner
Wipe the floor, yer trotters shake!
Wasn't it the truth I told ya?
Lots of fun at Finnegan's wake!
Then Mickey Maloney, he raised his head
When a bottle of Jameson flew at him (now they're throwing the liquor!)
It missed, and landed on the bed
The whiskey scatterein' over Tim (splashing the corpse!)
Bedad, he revives, and see how he rises! (he's sittin' up!)
Tim Finnegan risin' in the bed!
Sayin' "Whittlin' your whiskey 'round like blazes,
Thanum an Dhul! Do ye think I'm dead?"
Whack fol' the dah, now, dance to yer partner
Wipe the floor, yer trotters shake!
Wasn't it the truth I told ya?
Lots of fun at Finnegan's wake!
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Lyrics submitted by Jessica Lane.