by Alfred Perceval Graves (1846 - 1931)
The smith's song
Language: English
"Ding dong, didilium! the big sledge is swinging, Ding dong, didilium! the little hammer's ringing, Ding dong, didilium! set the bellows snoring: Ding dong, didilium! the red fire is roaring." "Hush, boys, and hark, boys, I hear a pair eloping, Hush, boys, and hark, boys, they'll go free, I'm hoping, Ding dong, didilium! I hear a shoe clinking, Ding dong, didilium ! there's need of nails, I'm thinking." "For Heaven's sake, a shoe, smith!" "Your honor, here 'tis ready; Woa [sic], mare, and so, mare, and steady, girl, steady! Ding dong, didilium! off goes the carriage, Ding dong, didilium! good luck be with the marriage." "Hush, boys, and hark, boys, I hear the kettle-drumming, 'Drimin dhu, drimin dhu,' King James's horse are coming; Up, on the thatch, where my pretty pikes are hidden, And have them all handy and bright when you're bidden." "For Heaven's sake, the pikes, smith!" "They're here for your picking, Long pikes and strong pikes, and pikes for Dutchmen-sticking! Ding dong, didilium ! cursing in their cruppers, Here jog the Mynherrs, 'tis time for our suppers."
Authorship:
- by Alfred Perceval Graves (1846 - 1931), "The smith's song", appears in Irish Songs and Ballads, in Songs and Ballads [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2013-03-11
Line count: 20
Word count: 180