American Old Time Song Lyrics: 29 The Duffeys

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 29

THE DUFFEYS.
Copyright, 1890, by Willis Woodward & Co.
Words and Music by Loren Bragdon.

I will tell you of the Duffeys, of their fam'ly great and small:
They came over from old Ireland ten years ago last fall;
There was Mister and Mrs. Duffey, and their children by the score,
And they brought with them Mary Ann McCann, old Duffy's mother-in-law;
There was Mike, there was Dan, there was Susan Ann McGill,
And don't forget the billy-goat that lives upon the hill;
he came from a good old family, from the aristocracy.
And old Duffey keeps this billy-goat for respectability.

Chorus.
Now listen to this little tale, of the Duffeys I will sing;
There was Mike, there was Dan, there was Susan Ann McGill;
And don't forget the billy-goat that lives upon the hill;
He came from a good old family, from the Irish 'tocracy,
And old Duffey keeps this billy-goat for respectability.

When old Duffey first came over he practiced on the hod.
And he said that rather than work like that he'd be planted under the sod;
So he thought he'd start a restaurant on the European plan.
And he took in partnership with him his mother-in-law McCann;
he took Mike, he took Dan, he took Susan Ann McGill,
As waiters in the restaurant that stood upon the hill;
When he'd got in all his family, he says I think they'll do.
And he even took the billy-goat to make an Irish stew.-Chorus.

Now old Duffey made a fortune in the twinkling of an eye.
And he built himself a great big house that almost touched the sky;
He had rooms from top to bottom, furnished in the latest style;
he bought Mary Ann a piano that cost a great big pile;
Mister Mike, Mister Dan, even Susan Ann McGill,
Were all elected Aldermen by the big folks on the hill;
And old Duffy was elected Mayor wid McCann, who was so smart;
And they had for a coat-of-arms the goat upon their Sunday cart.-Chorus.