Barney Brallaghan’s courtship

AKA Charming Judy Callaghan
Barney Brallagan
Barney Brallaghan
Don’t say nay
First Published 1818-1824
Writer/composer Thomas Hudson / J Blewitt Roud RN9592

Music Hall Performers Thomas Hudson, Sam Cowell
Folk performances Modern performances:
Doonan Family Band/ The Mighty Doonans		 

From Bodleian broadside ballad dated c1815
'Twas on a windy night at two o'clock in the morning,
An Irish lad so tight, all wind and weather scorning,
At Judy Callaghan's door, sitting upon her palings,
His love tale he did pour, and this was part of his wailings:

Only say, you'll have Mr Brallaghan.
Don't say nay, my charming Judy Callaghan.

Oh, list to what I say. Charms you've got like Venus.
Own your love you may; there's only the wall between us.
You lay fast asleep, snug in bed and snoring.
Round the house I creep, your hard heart imploring.

I've got nine pigs and a sow, and also a sty to sleep 'em,
A calf and a brindled cow, and got a cabin to keep 'em;
Sunday hose and coat, an old gray ass to ride on,
Saddle and bridle to boot, which you may sit astride on.

I've got a Tom cat, through one eye he's staring.
I've got a Sunday hat, little the worse for wearing.
I've got some gooseberry wine. The trees had got no riper on.
I've got a fiddle fine, which only wants a piper on.

I've got an acre of ground. I've got it set with pratees.
I've got of 'baccy a pound; got some tea for the ladies.
I've got the ring to wed, some whiskey to make us gaily,
A mattress, feather bed, and a handsome new shillelagh.

I've got a cabin fine as ever the sun did shine on.
I've got an old tablecloth, which you shall have to dine on.
I've got three ships at sea, two of them bound for Limerick,
One with coffee and tea, the other with three square gimlets.

You've got a charming eye, and got some spelling and reading.
You've got, and so have I, a taste for genteel breeding.
You're rich and fair and young, as everyone's knowing.
You've got a decent tongue whene'er 'tis set a-going.

For a wife till death I am willing to take ye,
But och! I waste my breath. The devil himself can't wake ye.
'Tis just beginning to rain, so I'll get under cover.
I'll come tomorrow again, and be your constant lover."

“Barney Brallaghan” seems to be one of a number of names used occasionally throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries when a stock comedy Irish character was needed in a theatrical/music hall/vaudeville song or sketch. As far as I can tell this earliest appearance is in this song.

Barney Brallaghan’s Courtship was highly popular in London in the 1820s, with words by Thomas Hudson and music credited to J Blewitt – its popularity was such that in 1830 it was used as a basis of a two act farce at the Surrey Theatre in 1830 (Sunday Times, April 18, 1830). The song was extremely widely published in songbooks and broadsides throughout the 19th century on both sides of the Atlantic.

Thomas Hudson was an important figure in the development of the early Halls. The exact date when wrote this song is unknown, but it was certainly before 1824 when he advertised the sheet music in one of his 13 self published song collections. Hudson published the words to over 200 of his own songs in his collections, while a much smaller selection appeared as sheet music. The tune is credited to J Blewitt but may be borrowed from an earlier theatrical song.

Several songs involving the character seem to exist, including one called Barney Brallaghan which appeared in the early 20th selection century songs compiled by Michael Cassius Dean Flying Cloud and 151 other old-time songs and ballads of outdoor men, sailors, lumberjacks, soldiers, men of the great Lakes, railroad men, miners et cetera. Aside from the name, is not clear that it’s related to this one.

Barney Brallaghan is also the name of a popular slip jig in Irish traditional music, it’s not clear whether the music is derived from this song or another.

The song is originally written in the repertoire of the Family Doonan Band/The Mighty Doonans – its on their album Manna from Hebburn

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