NELL FLAHERTY’S DRAKE LYRICS AND GUITAR CHORDS
3/4 (Traditional)
The lyrics and chords fit the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem on their album ‚Irish Revolutionary Songs. The sheet music and tin whistle notes are included. Return to the Clancy Brothers Songs . There's a rake of them included on the site.
The lyrics and chords fit the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem on their album ‚Irish Revolutionary Songs. The sheet music and tin whistle notes are included. Return to the Clancy Brothers Songs . There's a rake of them included on the site.
"Nell Flaherty's Drake" is a traditional Irish folk song that is often interpreted as a political satire and lament, dating back to the early 19th century. The song is filled with humor, irony, and metaphor, making it a colorful piece of Irish musical history.
Song Meaning and Themes
Notable Lyrics (Sample)One of the song’s most famous stanzas (translated to modern English):
"May his spade never dig, may his sow never pig,
May each hair in his wig be well thrashed with the flail;
May his door never latch, may his roof have no thatch,
May his turkeys not hatch, may the rats eat his meal."
These curses, while humorous, convey the anger and sorrow over the loss of the drake (symbolizing Emmet) and highlight the creative expressions of frustration often found in Irish folk songs.
Historical Context
Legacy and InterpretationToday, "Nell Flaherty’s Drake" is recognized as both a historical artifact and a piece of Irish cultural heritage. It is often performed at folk music events, where its mix of humor and political undertones continues to resonate with audiences.
Song Meaning and Themes
- Allegorical Satire:
On the surface, the song tells the story of a woman named Nell Flaherty, who is grieving over the loss of her beloved drake (a male duck). However, the "drake" is widely believed to symbolize Robert Emmet, an Irish nationalist leader who was executed in 1803 for leading a failed rebellion against British rule. - Anger and Revenge:
The song is notable for its humorous yet over-the-top curses that Nell wishes upon the person responsible for the death of her drake. These curses are colorful and extravagant, reflecting both the comedic nature of traditional Irish satire and the deep resentment felt toward British authorities for Emmet’s execution. - Symbolism of the Drake:
In Irish folklore, animals often serve as metaphors for larger political or social issues. The drake in this case is symbolic of Irish freedom and national pride, and its death represents the suppression of Irish independence movements. - Defiance Against Oppression:
Despite the humorous tone, the song’s underlying message is one of resistance and resilience. It is both a lament for the loss of a leader and a statement of defiance, ensuring that Emmet’s memory lives on through song and storytelling.
Notable Lyrics (Sample)One of the song’s most famous stanzas (translated to modern English):
"May his spade never dig, may his sow never pig,
May each hair in his wig be well thrashed with the flail;
May his door never latch, may his roof have no thatch,
May his turkeys not hatch, may the rats eat his meal."
These curses, while humorous, convey the anger and sorrow over the loss of the drake (symbolizing Emmet) and highlight the creative expressions of frustration often found in Irish folk songs.
Historical Context
- Robert Emmet’s Rebellion (1803): Emmet led a short-lived uprising for Irish independence and was executed after his capture. His death made him a martyr for the Irish nationalist cause, and many songs and poems were written to commemorate him.
- Censorship and Metaphor: Songs like "Nell Flaherty’s Drake" allowed people to express political dissent through coded language and metaphor, avoiding direct criticism of the British government.
Legacy and InterpretationToday, "Nell Flaherty’s Drake" is recognized as both a historical artifact and a piece of Irish cultural heritage. It is often performed at folk music events, where its mix of humor and political undertones continues to resonate with audiences.
NELL FLAHERTY'S DRAKE
During the 1803 Irish adventure, Robert Emmet had used various aliases as he travelled Leinster organising the rising. He most often went under the name of Ellis. While in hiding at Mrs. Palmer's house in Harold's Cross, he had used Hewitt. An- other of the Unitedman's supposed code names, Drake, was to be adopted by the peasantry after Emmet's execution.
Using Nell Flaherty as a soubriquet for Ireland, this song gave the people a way to curse the agents of Robert Emmet's death with- out the targets being the wiser. Unlike the rollicking rebel songs of more hopeful times, this one has a withering edge of bitter- ness. On the other hand, the inventiveness of the wryly stinging
lyrics suggest that military defeat did not mean defeat of the spirit. There are literally scores of variations; six of the most popular verses are included here.
During the 1803 Irish adventure, Robert Emmet had used various aliases as he travelled Leinster organising the rising. He most often went under the name of Ellis. While in hiding at Mrs. Palmer's house in Harold's Cross, he had used Hewitt. An- other of the Unitedman's supposed code names, Drake, was to be adopted by the peasantry after Emmet's execution.
Using Nell Flaherty as a soubriquet for Ireland, this song gave the people a way to curse the agents of Robert Emmet's death with- out the targets being the wiser. Unlike the rollicking rebel songs of more hopeful times, this one has a withering edge of bitter- ness. On the other hand, the inventiveness of the wryly stinging
lyrics suggest that military defeat did not mean defeat of the spirit. There are literally scores of variations; six of the most popular verses are included here.
Oh my name it is Nell and the truth for to tell
I come from Cootehill which I'll never deny
I had a fine drake and I'd die for his sake
That me grandmother left me and she goin' to die
The dear little fellow his legs they were yellow
He could fly like a swallow or swim like a hake
Till some dirty savage to grease his white cabbage
Most wantonly murdered me beautiful drake
Now his neck it was green almost fit to be seen
He was fit for a queen of the highest degree
His body was white, and it would you delight
He was plump, fat, and heavy and brisk as a bee
He was wholesome and sound, he would weigh twenty pound
And the universe round I would roam for his sake
Bad luck to the robber be he drunk or sober
That murdered Nell Flaherty's beautiful drake
May his spade never dig, may his sow never pig
May each hair in his wig be well trashed with the flail
My his door never latch, may his roof have no thatch
May his turkeys not hatch, may the rats eat his meal
May every old fairy from Cork to Dun Laoghaire
Dip him snug and airy in river or lake
That the eel and the trout they may dine on the snout
Of the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty's drake
May his pig never grunt, may his cat never hunt
May a ghost ever haunt him the dead of the night
May his hens never lay, may his horse never neigh
May his coat fly away like an old paper kite
That the flies and the fleas may the wretch ever tease
May the piercin' March breeze make him shiver and shake
May a lump of the stick raise the bumps fast and quick
On the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty's drake
Well the only good news that I have to infuse
Is that old Paddy Hughes and young Anthony Blake
Also Johnny Dwyer and Corney Maguire
They each have a grandson of my darlin' drake
May treasure had dozens of nephews and cousins
And one I must get or me heart it will break
For to set me mind easy or else I'll run crazy
So ends the whole song of Nell Flaherty's drake
Coothill is a town in Co. Cavan, Dun Laoghaire is a town in Dublin.
I come from Cootehill which I'll never deny
I had a fine drake and I'd die for his sake
That me grandmother left me and she goin' to die
The dear little fellow his legs they were yellow
He could fly like a swallow or swim like a hake
Till some dirty savage to grease his white cabbage
Most wantonly murdered me beautiful drake
Now his neck it was green almost fit to be seen
He was fit for a queen of the highest degree
His body was white, and it would you delight
He was plump, fat, and heavy and brisk as a bee
He was wholesome and sound, he would weigh twenty pound
And the universe round I would roam for his sake
Bad luck to the robber be he drunk or sober
That murdered Nell Flaherty's beautiful drake
May his spade never dig, may his sow never pig
May each hair in his wig be well trashed with the flail
My his door never latch, may his roof have no thatch
May his turkeys not hatch, may the rats eat his meal
May every old fairy from Cork to Dun Laoghaire
Dip him snug and airy in river or lake
That the eel and the trout they may dine on the snout
Of the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty's drake
May his pig never grunt, may his cat never hunt
May a ghost ever haunt him the dead of the night
May his hens never lay, may his horse never neigh
May his coat fly away like an old paper kite
That the flies and the fleas may the wretch ever tease
May the piercin' March breeze make him shiver and shake
May a lump of the stick raise the bumps fast and quick
On the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty's drake
Well the only good news that I have to infuse
Is that old Paddy Hughes and young Anthony Blake
Also Johnny Dwyer and Corney Maguire
They each have a grandson of my darlin' drake
May treasure had dozens of nephews and cousins
And one I must get or me heart it will break
For to set me mind easy or else I'll run crazy
So ends the whole song of Nell Flaherty's drake
Coothill is a town in Co. Cavan, Dun Laoghaire is a town in Dublin.
Guitar Chords Intro: G7-F-G-C
Oh my (C)name it is Nell and the truth for to tell
I (F)come from Coote(C)hill which I'll (Am)never de(G)ny
I (C)had a fine drake and I'd die for his sake
That me (F)grandmother (C)left me and (G)she goin' to (C)die
The (C)dear little fellow his (F)legs they were (C)yellow
He could (F)fly like a (C)swallow or (Am)swim like a (G)hake
Till (C)some dirty savage to grease his white cabbage
Most (F)wantonly (C)murdered me (G)beautiful (C)drake
Now his (C)neck it was green almost fit to be seen
He was (F)fit for a (C)queen of the (Am)highest de(G)gree
His (C)body was white, and it would you delight
He was (F)plump, fat, and (C)heavy and (G)brisk as a (C)bee
He was (C)wholesome and sound, he would (F)weigh twenty (C)pound
And the (F)universe (C)round I would (Am)roam for his (G)sake
Bad (C)luck to the robber be he drunk or sober
That (F)murdered Nell (C)Flaherty's (G)beautiful (C)drake
May his (C)spade never dig, may his sow never pig
May each (F)hair in his (C)wig be well (Am)trashed with the (G)flail
My his (C)door never latch, may his roof have no thatch
May his (F)turkeys not (C)hatch, may the (G)rats eat his (C)meal
May (C)every old fairy from (F)Cork to Dun (C)Laoghaire
Dip (F)him snug and (C)airy in (Am)river or (G)lake
That the (C)eel and the trout they may dine on the snout
Of the (F)monster that (C)murdered Nell (G)Flaherty's (C)drake
May his (C)pig never grunt, may his cat never hunt
May a (F)ghost ever (C)haunt him the (Am)dead of the (G)night
May his (C)hens never lay, may his horse never neigh
May his (F)coat fly a(C)way like an (G)old paper (C)kite
That the (C)flies and the fleas may the (F)wretch ever (C)tease
May the (F)piercin' March (C)breeze make him (Am)shiver and (G)shake
May a (C)lump of the stick raise the bumps fast and quick
On the (F)monster that (C)murdered Nell (G)Flaherty's (C)drake
Well the (C)only good news that I have to infuse
Is that (F)old Paddy (C)Hughes and young (Am)Anthony (G)Blake
Al(C)so Johnny Dwyer and Corney Maguire
They (F)each have a (C)grandson of (G)my darlin' (C)drake
May (C)treasure had dozens of (F)nephews and (C)cousins
And (F)one I must (C)get or me (Am)heart it will (G)break
For to (C)set me mind easy or else I'll run crazy
So (F)ends the whole (C)song of Nell (G)Flaherty's (C)drake
Oh my (C)name it is Nell and the truth for to tell
I (F)come from Coote(C)hill which I'll (Am)never de(G)ny
I (C)had a fine drake and I'd die for his sake
That me (F)grandmother (C)left me and (G)she goin' to (C)die
The (C)dear little fellow his (F)legs they were (C)yellow
He could (F)fly like a (C)swallow or (Am)swim like a (G)hake
Till (C)some dirty savage to grease his white cabbage
Most (F)wantonly (C)murdered me (G)beautiful (C)drake
Now his (C)neck it was green almost fit to be seen
He was (F)fit for a (C)queen of the (Am)highest de(G)gree
His (C)body was white, and it would you delight
He was (F)plump, fat, and (C)heavy and (G)brisk as a (C)bee
He was (C)wholesome and sound, he would (F)weigh twenty (C)pound
And the (F)universe (C)round I would (Am)roam for his (G)sake
Bad (C)luck to the robber be he drunk or sober
That (F)murdered Nell (C)Flaherty's (G)beautiful (C)drake
May his (C)spade never dig, may his sow never pig
May each (F)hair in his (C)wig be well (Am)trashed with the (G)flail
My his (C)door never latch, may his roof have no thatch
May his (F)turkeys not (C)hatch, may the (G)rats eat his (C)meal
May (C)every old fairy from (F)Cork to Dun (C)Laoghaire
Dip (F)him snug and (C)airy in (Am)river or (G)lake
That the (C)eel and the trout they may dine on the snout
Of the (F)monster that (C)murdered Nell (G)Flaherty's (C)drake
May his (C)pig never grunt, may his cat never hunt
May a (F)ghost ever (C)haunt him the (Am)dead of the (G)night
May his (C)hens never lay, may his horse never neigh
May his (F)coat fly a(C)way like an (G)old paper (C)kite
That the (C)flies and the fleas may the (F)wretch ever (C)tease
May the (F)piercin' March (C)breeze make him (Am)shiver and (G)shake
May a (C)lump of the stick raise the bumps fast and quick
On the (F)monster that (C)murdered Nell (G)Flaherty's (C)drake
Well the (C)only good news that I have to infuse
Is that (F)old Paddy (C)Hughes and young (Am)Anthony (G)Blake
Al(C)so Johnny Dwyer and Corney Maguire
They (F)each have a (C)grandson of (G)my darlin' (C)drake
May (C)treasure had dozens of (F)nephews and (C)cousins
And (F)one I must (C)get or me (Am)heart it will (G)break
For to (C)set me mind easy or else I'll run crazy
So (F)ends the whole (C)song of Nell (G)Flaherty's (C)drake
