American Old Time Song Lyrics: 36 The Temperance Brigade

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 36

Home Songster main V01 V02 V03 V04 V05 V06 V07 V08 V09 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27 V28 V29 V30 V31 V32 V33 V34 V35 V36 V37 V38 V39 V40 V41 V42 V43 V44 V45 V46 V47 V48 V49 V50 V51 V52 V53 V54 V55 V56 V57 V58 V59 V60 V61 Support Search



Share page  Visit Us On FB


THE TEMPERANCE BRIGADE.
Copyright, 1891, by Francis, Day & Hunter.
Words by T. Conley. Music by Felix McGlennon.

In Ireland, sure, they started once a temperance brigade,
All for the country's good, the leader said;
With their banners and their music they all marched about the town,
Forty men, with Michael Crogan at their head.
Making speeches asking landlords to close up their saloons;
No doubt it would have gone on very well.
All the people went and joined them from Kinsella's whiskey inn,
Then they tried to paralyze McGee's hotel.

Refrain.
And the band was loudly playing; sure, it was a splendid sight;
Ould Crogan he was raving to the boys with all his might;
Ay, and at the first beginning every one attention paid;
They drank nothing else but water in the Temperance Brigade.

First Crogan started speaking to McGee; says he, "My man,
Shut up your house and throw away your beer;
Make a coffee palace of it and sell only lemonade."
All the Temperance Brigade then called, Hear! hear!
Then McGee got on a barrel, all the boozers gathered round,
For they knew that he was rolling in his wealth;
Then of beer he drew nine gallons And he cried to all the crowd:
Here, boys, I ask ye come And drink my health.

Refrain.
But the band still kept on playing-oh! it was a splendid sight;
Ould Crogan he was raving to the boys with all his might;
But McGee, with his nine gallons, did the trick, I am afraid;
All the boys were getting thirsty in the Temperance Brigade.

Then the boys they all "hurrooed!" and cried, "Three cheers for Pat McGee!
For he's the boy that gives the beer away;
And down with all teetotalers, we don't want any here."
Poor Crogan looked at them in bland dismay;
Said he, "I will reclaim them;" so he shouted to the crowd,
"Give over drinking; sure, ye make me shrink."
Said McGee, I'll paralyze him; with a gallon in his hand
He invited them once more to have a drink.

Refrain.
But the band still kept on playing-oh! it was a splendid sight;
Ould Crogan he was raving to the boys with all his might;
But the band was nearly gasping, and a desperate charge they mode;
All the boys were drinking whiskey in the Temperance Brigade.

Ould Crogan said: "That's done It; I must bid ye all good day;"
But Pat McGee cried out for him to stopĀ­"I don't bear any malice," said McGee, "just step inside,
Come on with me and have a little drop."
Then old Crogan took on whiskey, and it got into his head,
Says he, "D---all teetotalers," quite loud;
As McGee got three more gallons, with a smile upon his face,
And took it to the ever thirsty crowd.

Refrain.
Then the band gave over playing, and they drank with all their might;
Ould Crogan on a shutter, sure, was carried home that night;
And the thought of water drinking slick away did quickly fade;
All the boys got paralytic in the Temperance Brigade.
Download music lyrics PDF file For Printing with (no ads)
Download music lyrics in RTF file For editing / printing with Word and other editing software.
Download music lyrics as PNG Graphic file For inclusion in DTP etc.