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Brian O'Lynn

[ Roud 294 ; Ballad Index R471 ; trad.]

Thomas Moran of Mohill, County Leitrim, sang Brian O'Lynn in a recording made by Peter Kennedy on the anthology Songs of Animals and Other Marvels (The Folk Songs of Britain Volume 10; Caedmon 1961, Topic 1970).

Madeleine (Sandra Kerr) sang Brian O'Lynn in the eleventh episode of the 1974 children's TV series Bagpuss, The Fiddle. A different version with Madeleine and Gabriel (John Faulkner) singing alternate verses was included in 1998 on the Smallfolk CD Bagpuss: The Songs & Music.

Lyrics

Sandra Kerr and John Faulkner sing Brian O'Lynn

Now Brian O'Lynn had no breeches to wear.
So he borrowed a sheepskin to make him a pair,
With the fleshy side out and the woolly side in,
“They'll be pleasant and cool,” says Brian O'Lynn.

Now Brian O'Lynn had no shirt to his back,
So he went to a neighbour to borrowed a sack.
He puckered the meal bag up under his chin
“They'll take them for ruffles,” says Brian O'Lynn.

Now Brian O'Lynn was hard up for a coat.
So he borrowed a skin of a neighbouring goat
With the horns sticking out of the pockets, and then
“They'll take them for pistols,” says Brian O'Lynn.

Brian O'Lynn had no stockings to wear,
He bought him a rat's skin to make him a pair,
He then drew them on and they fitted his shin,
“Whoo, they're illegant wear,” says Brian O'Lynn.

Now Brian O'Lynn had no shoes to his toes,
So he hopped in two crab shells to serve him for those,
Then he scraped out two oysters that matched like a twin,
“They'll shine out like buckles,” says Brian O'Lynn.

Now Brian O'Lynn had no watch to put on,
So he scooped out a turnip to make himself one.
He placed a young cricket all under the skin
“They'll think it's a-ticking,” says Brian O'Lynn.

Now Brian O'Lynn to his house had no door,
He'd the sky for a roof and the bog for a floor,
He'd a way to jump out and a way to swim in,
“It's a fine habitation,” says Brian O'Lynn.

Links

See also the Mudcat Café thread Lyr Req/Add: Brian O'Lynn & Tam o' the Linn .