Gather 'round ATOT! I shall tell you the tale of Flannigan's BALL

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MrMatt

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In the town of Milton one
Brian Flannigan battered away till his money was spent
Then he hit a big one and felt like a man again,
Bought a three decker with two floors for rent

He threw a big party for friends
And relations at a grand old place called Florian Hall
And if you'll just listen I'll make your eyes glisten
To the rows and the ructions of Flannigan's ball.


Six long months I spent in quincy,
Six long months doing nothing at all,
Six long months I spent in quincy
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
I stepped out and I stepped in again,
I stepped out and I stepped in again,
I stepped out and I stepped in again
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball.

Free beer on tap and wine for the ladies,
Ziti and sauce for mark porzio
There were faheys and bradys,
Mcauliffes and daleys courtin the girls and dancing away.

Brian tully sang out in his finest form,
The patron's responded and I lead em all
I'd spent 6 months at Forbes Academy
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball



The boys were hammered the girls were hearty
Dancing around in couples and groups
An accident happened you Dennis Flemming
Put his right leg through miss Finneran's hoops

This gal she fainted and cried bloody murder,
Called for her sons and gathered them all,
Christopher swore he'd go no further
Till he had revenge at Flannigan's ball

In the midst of the melee
Miss Collins fainted her cheeks by now were as red as a rose
Some of the boys declared she was plastered
Had a small drop to much I suppose

Young Scotty Jenkins so big and able
Saw his fair colleen stretched by the wall
Tore the left leg from under the table
And smashed all the dishes at Flannigan's ball

Boy oh boy now this was a rumble myself
Took a lick from mean Ricky Green
But I soon replied to that fine introduction
And gave him a terrible kick in the spleen

Talent the piper nearly got strangled,
They squeezed on his bellows, chanters and all,
The girls in the middle nearly got trampled
And that put an end to Flannigan's ball



My fair collleeeen was stretched by the wall!! What the FUCK did they expect me to do???????
 

paulney

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Sep 24, 2003
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Never heard of this, just listened to it on youtube.
Nice!

What did they mean by 'Put his right leg through miss Finneran's hoops'? I got the rest.
 
Oct 27, 2007
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Originally posted by: paulney
Never heard of this, just listened to it on youtube.
Nice!

What did they mean by 'Put his right leg through miss Finneran's hoops'? I got the rest.

You know I never could figure this out.
 

MrMatt

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Mar 3, 2009
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Originally posted by: paulney
Never heard of this, just listened to it on youtube.
Nice!

What did they mean by 'Put his right leg through miss Finneran's hoops'? I got the rest.

It's an OOOOLD song, well story really. Lannigan's ball was really the origin of it. It's about this guy who's father dies and he gets this huge inheritance. He then plans a lavish party with the money and learns this dance, takign 6 months to learn it. The party turns into a huge brawl. Women wore hoop skirts at the time the story originated.

In Irish culture, and often in American culture as well (due to the large emigration of Irish peoples in the late 1800s and early 1900s) "Lannigan's Ball" is often used as a metaphor to describe a situation that has gone horribly awry.

The lyrics are in fact about a party funded on the inheritance of a young man's recently passed father. There is a suggestion in the lyrics that the party is thrown specifically for the young man to show off his new dancing skills which he spent months learning in Dublin. There is reference to drinking, and an accident occurring wherein some party members are offended, at which point a large "ruckus" ensues, and even a musician and his instrument are injured.
 
Dec 10, 2005
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Originally posted by: Xanis
I :heart: Dropkick Murphys.

Me too. I just wish they wouldn't play at the Congress Theatre every time they come to Chicago since that plays blows chunks. Nice because it's a big venue, but has the shittiest sound system ever.
 

xanis

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Sep 11, 2005
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Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Originally posted by: Xanis
I :heart: Dropkick Murphys.

Me too. I just wish they wouldn't play at the Congress Theatre every time they come to Chicago since that plays blows chunks. Nice because it's a big venue, but has the shittiest sound system ever.

Hey, at least they come to your city more than once. :p I can only remember them being in Philly once in the past few years... I think it was the show where they played with Flogging Molly. I wanted to go so bad... but it sold out. :(
 
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