Here you go Jim:

Me and me Da
By W.F. Marshall (The Bard of Tyrone)

I'm livin in Drumlister
An I'm getting very oul
I have to wear an Indian bag
To save me from the coul.
The deil a man in this townland
Wos claner raired nor me,
But I'm livin in Drumlister
In clabber to the knee.

Me Da lived up in Carmin,
And kep a sarvint boy.
His second wife was very sharp,
He birried her with joy.
Now she wos thin,her name was Flynn
She come from Cullentra,
And if me shirts a clatty shirt
The man to blames me Da.

Consarnin weemin sure it wos
A constant word of his,
Keep well away from them that???s thin
Their tempers aisy riz.
Well,I knowed two I thought wud do
But still I had me fears,
So I skiffled back and forrit
Between the two,for years.

Wee Margit had no fortune,
But two rosy cheeks wud plaze.
The farm o lan??? was Bridget's,
But she tuk the pock disayse.
And Margit she was very wee,
And Bridget she was stout.
But her face was like a goal door,
With the bowlts pult out.

I'll tell no lie on Margit
She thought the world of me.
I'll tell the truth me heart wud lep
The sight of her to see.
But I wos slow, ye surely know
The raison of it now,
If I left her home from Carmin
Mr Da wud rise a row.

So I swithered back an forrit
Till Margit got a man.
A fella come from Mullaslin
And left me jist the wan.
I mind the day she went away,
I hid wan strucken hour,
An cursed the wasp from Cullentra
That made me Da so sour.

But cryin cures no trouble,
To Bridget I went back,
An faced her for it that night week
Fornenst her own turf stack
I axed her there,and spoke her fair,
The handy wife she'd make me,
I talked about the land that joined
-Begob! She wudn't take me.

So I'm livin in Drumlister
And I'm getting very oul
I creep to Carmin wanst a month
To thry and make me sowl
The deil a man in this townland
Wos claner raired nor me,
And I'm dying in Drumlister
In clabber to the knee.

For anyone interested, David Park & 'The Light of Amsterdam' has been chosen as one of the winners of 'Fiction Uncovered,' a prestigious new award highlighting the work of underappreciated writers. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/b...

It would be good if you could put a byline for the writer on here please.

Great review of a wonderful exhibition.

Lovely piece, Ralph. Your refined taste in music must've begun early I have to say, though. How old were you in '78? seven or eight at most?

It is a wonderful song.

Thanks, everyone: glad you enjoyed it.