Harrigan

AKAHarrigan, that’s me!
First Published1908

Writer/composerGeorge M CohanRoudRN25468

Music Hall PerformersHorace Wheatley, Chummie La Mara
Folk performancesCollected from the singing of:
Kane, Alice ; N. Ireland : Belfast ; nd
HARRIGAN
from Irish Music Hall MCA/MILLS

Who is the man who will spend or will even lend?
Harrigan, that's me!
Who is your friend when you find that you need a friend?
Harrigan, that's me!
For I'm just as proud of my name, you see
As an Emperor, Czar or a King could be
Who is the man helps a man ev'ry time he can?
Harrigan, that's me!

H, A, double-R, I, G, A, N spells Harrigan
Proud of all the Irish blood that's in me
'Divil' a man can say a word agin' me
H, A, double-R, I, G, A, N you see
Is a name that a shame never has been connected with
Harrigan, that's me!


Who is the man never stood for a 'gad-a-bout'?
Harrigan, that's me!
Who is the man that the town's simply mad about?
Harrigan, that's me!
The ladies and babies are fond of me
I'm fond of them, too, in return, you see
Who is the gent that's deserving a monument?
Harrigan, that's me!

A song from the early 20th century with words and music by American entertainer George Michael Cohan, originally performed in a Broadway show called Fifty miles from Boston. It was sung in the Irish and British Halls by “The Genial” Horace Wheatley – the man who made Harrigan popular

The Era – Saturday 26 December 1908

It was also sung in the Halls by the comedian Chummie La Mara.

A recording by Billy Murray (1907)

As performed by James Cagney and Joan Lesley in Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

Sources:

  • Ballad Index
  • Kilgarrif Sing Us
  • Lyrics and Sheet Music: Irish Music Hall MCA/MILLS (USA,no date)
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