What Had You For Your Dinner? Thomas McCarthy (Off) 2008
[My date, from Song Collector's Collective probably recorded in 2016. Listen: https://soundcloud.com/song-collectors/what-had-you-for-your-dinner. A second recording by Gwilym Davies is at bottom of page.
His online profile follows. See also the Irish versions by Mary Delaney and Paddy Reilly.
R. Matteson 2018]
Online profile: Thomas McCarthy was born in the town of Birr, County Offaly, in the Irish midlands into a well respected Irish Traveller family. His grandfather was known as a “seanachie” which is an Irish term for someone with a profound orally derived knowledge of the history and families of Ireland.
Thomas learnt his crafts of singing and storytelling from his mother, aunts and uncles.
His extended family has a long history of musicianship and includes the well-recognised and respected Doran Brothers and their grandfather “Big John Cash”, who all played the Irish uillean (elbow) pipes.
Quotes: "When I was a child my grandfather Johnny McCarthy would take us off in the wagon in the summertime to County Clare and Galway. We would go visit people who played music and sang the old songs. This tradition is called cur darekin and my grandfather was always welcome and loved anywhere he went, for people who knew him as a kind, decent and caring man."
"I learnt most of my songs through my mother Mary McCarthy who was a fine singer."
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What Had You For Your Dinner?- sung by Thomas McCarthy
1. "What had you for your dinner now my darling boy?
What had you for your dinner my comfort and my joy?"
I had eels and cold poison mother fix my bed soon
I have a pain in my heart, and I am tae lie down.
2. "What will you leave your father now my darling boy?
What will you leave your father, my comfort and my joy?"
"I leave a coach and four horses, mother fix my bed soon,
I have a pain in my heart, Wad I like to lie down."
3. What will you leave your mother now my darling boy?
What will you leave your mother my comfort and my joy?
I leave the keys of gold treasure, mother fix my bed soon
I have a pain in my heart, Wad I like to lie down.
4. What will you leave your young wife, my darling boy?
What will you leave your young wife, my comfort and my joy?
I leave a long rope, for to hang her, mother fix my bed soon,
I have a pain in my heart, and I'd like to lie down.
5. Where will be you be buried my own darling boy
Where will be you be buried my comfort and my joy?
In the graveyard of Kilkenny I will take a long sleep,
With a stone to my head and the scratch on my feet.
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My Darlin' Boy- Irish Traveller Thomas McCarthy from Birr in County Offaly
What had you for your dinner now my darlin' boy?
What had you for your dinner, my comfort and my joy?
I've had eels and cold poison, Mother dress my bed soon
I have a pain in my heart and I want to lay down.
What will you leave your father,
I leave a coach with four horses,
What will you leave your mother,
I leave the keys to gold treasure
What will you leave your children,
Take and follow their mother
What will you leave your young wife,
I leave yon rope for to hang her,
And where will you be buried now, my own darlin' boy
And where will you be buried, my pride and joy,
In the graveyard of Kilkenny, I will take a long sleep,
With the stone at my head and the turf at my feet.