Tomás Muiris Jones - Bumper Squire Jones



Good Claret & Bumper Squire Jones

Carolan and Baron Arthur Dawson happened to be enjoying together with others the hospitality of Squire Jones at Moneyglass House in Co. Antrim and Carolan and Dawson slept in adjoining rooms. Carolan was asked to compose a song in honor of their host and upon retiring to his apartment, took his harp with him where he composed the melody called Bumper Squire Jones.

Dawson, in the room next door, overheard Carolan and having a fine musical ear himself, Dawson not only memorized the melody, but composed lyrics to it as well. The next morning at breakfast, Carolan played the tune and Baron Dawson denied that Carolan had written the melody and to the astonishment of all accused him of audacious piracy, both musical and poetical, and to prove the fact, sang the melody to his own words amidst the joyous shouts of his hearers. Carolan was enraged, and swore it was not plagiarism. An explanation finally took place which ended in a jovial day and pardon for the offense. ... Donal O'Sullivan.

by Turlough O'Caloran

'Sé an compliment ceóil
Don óigfhear breágh tréan
Thar uaísle na h-Éireann
In éin-rígh Thír Eoghain.

 by Arthur Dawson

Ye good fellows all,
Who love to be told where there's claret good store,
Attend to the call
Of one who's ne'er frighted,
But greatly delighted
With six bottles more

Ní mór linn sin dó
Co chroidhe mór na féile;
Ní gabhann sé chroidhche
Gan daoine bheith 'g ól

 Be sure you don't pass
The good house Moneyglass,
Which the jolly red god so peculiarly owns;
'Twill well suit your humour,
For pray what would you more
Than mirth with good claret and Bumper Squire Jones?

'Sé Guaire é le féile,
Le uaisle, le réidhe,
'S gurab é deirfir Éireann,
Nach léir leó ach spóirt.

 Ye lovers who pine
For lasses that oft prove as cruel as fair,
Who wimper and wine
For lilies and roses,
With eyes, lips, and noses,
Or tip of an ear:

Níl buidéal, níl bumper
Níl gloine nó tumbler
Nach n-ólfainn gan chontabhairt
Ar chúntais Squire Jones

 Come hither I'll show ye
How Phyllis and Chloe
No more shall occasion such sighs and such groans;
For what mortal so stupid
As not to quit Cupid
When called by good claret and Bumper Squire Jones?

Musical Notations
It is evident that the English is not a translation of Carolan's lyrics, "yet it cannot be disputed that Carolan's tune and Dawson's words together form one of the finest Bacchanalian songs in the English language. It quickly became celebrated. But its popularity waned with the decline of convivial drinking. There are six additional verses addressed to poets, soldiers, the clergy, lawyers, doctors etc. The avocations of all of them are unfavorably compared to the joys of good claret and Bumper Squire Jones." ...O'Sullivan.

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Midi Music: Bumper Squire Jones
Irish Text: Carolan, the Life and times of an Irish Harper by Donal O'Sullivan, 1958 Vol 2 pg 40 No 65.
English Text: Ibid. pg 42
Midi music by Davy Rogers, and CD music by "The Harp Consort".
For phonetics consult the pocket dictionary Fóclóir Póca.
  
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