Title: American Old Time Song Lyrics
Subject: Traditional & Folk Music
Author: www.traditionalmusic.co.uk
Keywords: Old time music, American, oldtimey, bluegrass

I Say, Mike - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
I SAY, MIKE! Copyright, 1889, by F. Harding. Words and Music by Barney Fagan. 
I'm living in a neighborhood, and such a neighborhood, To see the sights on Saturday night would do your heart good; Foreigners of every nation down there you will meet. On a Sunday when they're out in force, believe me it's a treat. The Yank who likes his pork and beans, the Chinaman his rice, The Dutchman and his sauerkraut, with an odor mighty nice; The bold and fearless Irishman, who nothing can disparage, When he can fill himself chocked full of corned beef and cabbage. 
Chorus. I say, Mike! What? Hold your breath! don't you hear the noise? What's that? There's a ruction down among the boys; Listen! Yes! To Dolan's bell they've tied McCarthy's cat, And now they're looking for the chinaman that ate the rat. 
They howl all day in "double B flat, at night they reach "high C," They work the growler all day long, for full they're bound to be; Talk about their ancestors, their betters won't allow. But tell about their doings with a where, when and how. The row begins when the Irishman the Chinaman he pounds. The Dutchman and the nagur slug like mischief for four rounds: The Yankee with a cunning smile, he acts like a referee, The cop on the corner looks the other way, says: That's no place for me. 
Chorus. I say, Mike! What? Hold your breath! did you hear the news? What's that? Biddy Ghrogan stole Pat Feeney's shoes; Listen! Yes! O'Donovan sarv'd Daly such a trick. For kissing Julia Brady stove his head in with a brick. 
A week ago last Thursday, just two weeks next Thursday night. Nearly everybody in the neighborhood got "tight;" To raffle off a blooded horse they borrowed Casey's dice. Then shook all night till broad daylight, and kept the horse on ice. McFinneean shook "forty-two, " and quickly sold his chance, O'Brien he shook "forty-three, " they shouted, yelled and danced; McGinty in his Sunday suit came rushing through the door, He grabbed the dice like a gambler bold, and shook out "forty-four." Spoken.-Then he said: 
Chorus. I say. Mike! What? Come here, quick! I'll tell you what you'll do! What's that? Take the horse and carry him home with you; Listen! Yes! Go And a rope and hitch him in the shed, When Mike went looking for the horse, he found him stiff, stone dead. 
McGinty then got furious, and this is what he done: He jumped upon a herring box, and then commenced the fun; He called his gang and shouted loud: "My kingdom for a horse, Produce one quick, I ask you, don't compel me to use force. I can stand a joke as well as any man you ever met. But I never have mistook a dead horse for a live one yet." The lights went out and every one began to kick and "cuff, McGinty hollered: "Im no hog, I know when I have enough." 
Chorus. I say Mike! What? Oh. my head! what have they done to me? What's that? They've closed both eyes up and I cannot see; Listen! Yes! What do you think? they tried to take my life, Then threw me in an ambulance and sent me to my wife.