Irish

Mountain Dew (in G). Let grasses grow and waters flow in a free and easy way, but give me enough of the fine old stuff that's made near Galway Bay.

Courtin' in the Kitchen (in G). One of my all-time favorite Irish folk songs. All y'all single belles and beaus, y'all better pay some attention now. Ya hear? (Sorry. Still stuck in cowboy mode. Know what the plural of "y'all" is? It's "all y'all.")

Irish Rover (in D). Another great piece of Irish folk music. It's about the great age of sail when the Irish ruled the high seas in their 23-mast galleons.

The Rattlin' Bog (in G.) There's notes on this page, and this page on this site, and this site on the 'Net, and the 'Net down in the valley-O.

When I Was Single (in D). Yet another fine song about the splendors of love and marriage.

Wild Mountain Thyme (in G). This is one of the songs that one of my all-time favorite bands, Three Pints Gone, does really, really, really, amazingly well. Okay. I guess they really do a lot of songs really, really, really, amazingly well. But this is one of my favorites.

Moonshoner (in Bm) which is a lot like D. This is the popular Irish tune and the American lyrics. You can also find the Irish (or, at least, Clancy) lyrics to this tune with a little searching. They're the ones that go "I'll go to some hollow in this country; ten gallons of wash I can go on a spree."

Finnegan's Wake (in D). Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Let's all hear it for Tim! He ain't dead; get outta bed. And, yes. I do know what a "hod" is.

Abdul Abulbul Amir (in D). This was one of the first songs I learned to play on the tinwhistle. It's about pride. And an epic fight between an Arab and a Russian.

Johnny Dhu (in D) and more verses. Of all the trades, sure a-beggin' is the best for when a man is tired he can sit him down to rest.

Rosin the Beau (in G). Send down a hogshead of whiskey! I'm ready to drink to old Rosin the Beau. Remember, kids: my car gets forty rods to the hogshead, and that's just the way I like it.

Whiskey on a Sunday (in G). This is another really, really touching song about a sweet old dead guy. It's the kind of song that makes you nostalgic for someplace you've never seen. No, really. I mean that.

Wild Rover (in G). This song is a staple of groups that play Irish folk music. Some groups give it their Seal of Approval. Some folks start out by "giving you the clap." Regardless of the schtick, it's a fun song.

The Wind that Shakes the Barley (in G). An Irish rebel song. And if you'd rather not have your barley shaken, you can try The Wind that Shakes the Corn (in D). Don't know what kind of corn crops they grow in Ireland. But that's okay. I don't really know what kind of barley crops they grow, either.

Brennan on the Moor (in D). Okay. Two damn things. First of all, "and with this loaded blunderbuss the truth I will unfold; he made the mayor to tremble and he robbed him of his gold" states that the speaker -- not Brennan -- is holding the loaded blunderbuss. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing. The good Lord knows I've seen more than one audience I'd like to hold at gunpoint. The second is this: it's his wife that bails him out by packing the blunderbuss underneath her coat. In the end, it's by a "false-hearted woman" that he's betrayed. SOB had it coming. He's got a perfectly good, blunderbuss toting wife at home. He should have kept his pants zipped and stayed away from the false-hearted woman. Maybe it should be "got himself killed cause he kept trying to get laid."

Gypsy Rover (in G). Okay. As long as I'm ranting about the moral leanings of folk heroes, why exactly is it that this guy's not good enough when he's a gypsy, but when he's "lord of the valley all over" then it's suddenly grab him quick before he gets away? Talk about a double standard.

Boulavogue (Father Murphy) An Irish rebel tune of the first degree.

James Connolly An Irish rebel song. This was a request, so here you go. Enjoy.

The Ould Triangle This one's an Irish rebel show tune. Sometimes sung by pirates.

The Parting Glass Oh! Oh! Oh! I love this one! I like the slow songs. With powerful lyrics. Really.

Skibbereen Irish folk song. This one was another request. See? I don't ignore all of them.

The Waxie's Dargle What'll you have? I"LL HAVE A PINT! Well, I'll have a pint with you, sir.

William Bloat The very first commercial jingle ever written. This was written by a Belfast linen manufacturer to illustrate their quality product. And an interesting note on William Bloat.

A Nation Once Again. An Irish rebel song. I love Irish rebel songs. If I lived in Ireland, I'd be a rebel. Maybe a rebel without a clue... just like in my high school years, but a rebel nonetheless.

Scottish

Westering Home. Traditional Scottish sailing song about coming home after a long voyage. There are words to it; I can't really remember them.

The Trooper and the Maid (in Bm). (Which is basically like D.) (More or less.) Another song the subject of which we can all understand.

Rothsea-O (in Em). I heard this song on a buddy's Clancy Brothers CD and fell in love with it. The song, not the buddy. It is a laugh riot. Look for my band, Mosaic, to be playing this one soon. Even if I have to kick, scream and hold my breath. Again. We're going to cover this song! Oh yeah -- this song is in E-minor, which, for the purpose of playing on the whistle, is pretty much like G major.

Barnyards of Delgaty and Barnyards of Delgaty in High D This is a Bothy ballad. The "Bothys" were Scottish "Hair Bands" of the 1780s. Much like metal 200 years later in the 1980s, they sang a lot of power ballads. And had really big hair. They say there's nothing new under the sun, and the Bothy bands pretty much prove that. About the '80s, anyway.

This picture of a traditional Scottish Bothy Band was taken in Edinburg in 1782. Note that there is nothing intrinsically gay about a dude having a lot of hair and wearing makeup. Lots of makeup. I'm sure that one Scottish chap has his arm around the other because they are really just good pals. Nothing more. The Scottish lad on the far right looks constipated if you ask me. Of course, no one ever does.

The Work of the Weavers (in D). This Scottish song speaks to me on a fundamental level. I think any craftsman who makes something with his hands will be able to relate to this song.

Calton Weavers (in G). You might be wondering why I seem to have so many songs posted on here about weaving. You might even be tempted to ask why I have so many songs posted on here about weaving. That would be a fair question.

MacPhearson's Farewell (in D). This is one of my favorite songs. I really, really like this one. It's Scottish. I like that. It's about an underdog. I like that. He's got a sword. That's cool, too.

Rattlin', Roarin' Willie (in G). Another of my favorite Scottish songs. Or maybe I should say that a lot of my favorite songs are Scottish. Or... maybe I should just say I drink a lot of Scotch and sing some. We'll leave it at that.

Maid of Fife-O (in D). Suck it up, pansy. Jeez! What a looser! Get over it, dude! You don't have to be a big man... just be a man. Besides, you just met her. And there's lots more where she came from. (UPDATE: Special thanks to Colin, who pointed out to be geographically correct, the place name in this should be Fyvie. (See Fan Letters and Death Threats for the whole story.))

Mingulay Boat Song (in D) and also Mingulay Boat Song (in G). I almost called this one a PIRATE SONG!!! because I heard it from the Jolly Rogers at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival. This is also the first song I ever learned to play on the whistle. "What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor" was second.

Donald, Where's Your Trousers? Let the wind blow high, let the wind blow low. This one goes out to all of Toronto's whistling and/or piping firemen. You know who you are.

Eight Men of Moidart. Another traditional tune... because you can never have enough of those. This one is Scottish.

Eight Men of Moidart -- TT. Another traditional tune... because you can never have enough of those. This is the Tinwhistle Tablature version of the song.

Irish II: Irish Harder

Lowlands of Holland (in G). If on the night that I was married and lay in my marriage bed a bold Homeland Defense captain came and stood at my bed head saying, "arise new wed man and come along with me to the lowlands of Iraq to fight your enemy," I'd pop a cap in his ass 'cause the bastard had it coming. Not that I actually own a gun or anything. Or a cap. Okay, actually I'd laugh at him and lob a book his direction. But it would be a big book.

Mick McGuire (in G). This is a song about a fellow who goes out courting some chick named Kitty Donahue. All goes well until Kitty's mother finds out about Mick's steroid use and the next thing you know McGuire is in front of congress testifying. It's very confusing, I know, but folk music can be like that.

Rising of the Moon (in D). The pikes must be together by the rising of the moon. It's a fishing song. (Thanks for getting that.)

The Parting Glass (in G). But since it falls unto my lot That I should rise and you should not I'll gently rise and softly call: Good night... and joy be with you all.

Back Home in Derry First time I heard this song, Bill from 3 Pints Gone was singing it. It's a great tune.

Banks of the Roses and Banks of the Roses in G On the banks of the Roses, my love and I sat down...

Biddy Mulligan and Biddy Mulligan - More Verses This is another one with too many verses for one page to hold. It's about Biddy Mulligan -- the pride of the Coombe. That's near Flat Brush. (Thanks for getting that one.)

Black Velvet Band Ah-hah! It's not so funny when the gypsy is a chick, is it? Poor dumb rube falls off the turnip truck and the next thing you know he's been made a patsy. Who didn't see that coming?

Nautical

The Admiral and the Enlisted Men (in D). "The enlisted men ride in a motor launch, the admiral he rides in a gig..."

The Good Ship Calabar (in G). "Come all you dry-land say-lie-ors and listen to my song. It's only forty verses, and I won't detain you long."

Blow the Man Down (in D). And if you can't blow him down in D, blow him down any way you like. This is a traditional sea shanty. Actually, it's probably another damn show tune, but what can you do? What can you do?

Blow the Man Down (2) Another version of this song.

Blow the Man Down (3) And yet another version of this song.

Quare Bungle Rye (in G). Songs about sailors that include phrases like "quare bungle rye" are the sort of thing that make my father nervous. You know... make him wonder what kind of website I'm running here, anyhow. Remember, lads: the Navy will make a man out of you. If you don't believe me, just ask the Village People. Oooh! "In the Navy!" I should post that here as a PIRATE SONG!!! (See how I worked that in, even though it's not true. I'm just trying to run up the count of PIRATE SONG!!! tags. Oops. I did it again! HA!!! I'll post that here as a PIRATE SONG!!!, too!!! Britney Spears is kind of like a pirate. At least, she's got a patch, a peg-leg and has been down on everything but the Titanic. That's three of the requirements for piratehood. Aaarrrrgh! It's your turn in the barrel, Britney!

Three Score and Ten (in D). Another song about dead fishermen. In case you're wondering, fishing is a dangerous profession. Remember, that, kids. And stay in school. And stay off the smack.

Drunken Sailor The age-old question... what shall we do with a drunken sailor? Early in the morning. The fact that "leave him alone and let him sleep" is not one of the answers explains why I didn't join the Navy.

Fire Down Below and Fire Down Below - More Verses Another fine song from the days of tall ships that I shamelessly lifted off of a 3 Pints Gone CD. Their newest. AND IT'S FREAKIN' AWESOME. Their best yet... and that's saying something. Really. Go to www.3pintsgone.com and check it out for yourself if you don't believe me.

Pirate

Biddy McGrath's Bra (in G). "Now come all you young girls who like a sailor by night, never wear the straps of your bra too tight." It's kind of a PIRATE SONG... at least, I heard it from a pirate.

Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum (in D). This is a PIRATE SONG. Okay. Actually it's a Broadway show tune. But pirates sing a lot of show tunes.

The Sinking of the Graef Spee (in D). This is kind of like a PIRATE SONG, except with Nazis. And no rum. Yo... Ho.

Whiskey O (in D). This is a PIRATE SONG!!! Or, at the very least, a sea shanty. Whiskey made me pawn my clothes; whiskey gave me a broken nose. Whiskey-O, Johnny-O; John rise her up from down below.

The Last of Barrett's Privateers (in D). Remember kids: piracy doesn't pay. Okay... actually it does. But it doesn't pay as much as a real job. Avast. Oh yeah... It's a PIRATE SONG!!!

All For Me Grog me noggy, noggy grog. It's all for me beer and tobacco. And me PIRATE SONG. I spent all me tin on the lassies drinkin' gin.

YMCA. The world-famous PIRATE SONG!!! From the same guys who brought you In the Pirate Navy!!!

Christmas

Christmas 2006 Update: These versions of the songs were arranged for the Christmas 2006 choir. For some of the songs, other arrangements appear below.

• Away in a Manger (2006) to be played on Bb whistle for key of F.

• Joy to the World (2006) arranged for a D whistle.

• O Come All Ye Faithful (2006) in the key of G, arranged for a D whistle.

• Ring Christmas Bells (2006) in D, to be played on an A whistle.

• Silent Night (2006) in D, to be played on a Bb whistle.

• Wake From Your Sleep (2006) in D.

O Come, All Ye Faithful (in G). Just in time for Christmas!!! Now, you don't have to spend money on a Christmas present for your favorite while player. You cheap bastard. You can just print off a copy of this and give it to the whistle players on your holiday shopping list.

O Little Town of Bethlehem (in G). If you play this music on a "C" whistle, you'll be playing in the key of "F." Which is what it's usually played in. Sometimes, anyway.

Low How a Rose (in G). Another Christmas carol. Tis the season.

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (in D). Carrying on the Christmas carol theme. You can also download this one in G. The tune is usually played in "F;" you can play the "D" version with an F whistle and be on key, or you can play the "G" version on the much-more-common C whistle and be on key. Or you can say "hang it all" and play either version on your favorite Eb whistle and be done with it.

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (in D). That glorious song of old. Don't think you have to play it on your harp of gold. It sounds just fine on a whistle of tin.

Angels from the Realms of Glory (in D). Wing your cursor over this link and get to playin'. Come and whistle. Come and whistle. Come and whistle.

Angels We Have Heard on High (in G). "Sweetly whistling o'er the plains, and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains." If those angels would just spring for a better whistle, it wouldn't be a strain. I mean, I appreciate the cult of the cheap whistle and all, but come on! The right tool for the right job.

Away in a Manger (in D). No crib for his bed, the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head. Second verse, same as the first! (Kidding. I'm a kidder.)

The Cherry Tree Carol (in D). Am I the only one who thinks Joseph is not being treated fairly in this carol? Still, the Clancy Brothers sang this one, so it must be goon on a tinwhistle, right?

Deck the Halls (in G). And don't forget the Fa-la-las.

The First Noel (in D). As we all know, on the first noel, the angels did sing. That's because that was before anyone invented the tinwhistle. Had that been done, of course, today we would all be singing "on the first noel, the angels did toot, was a sweet little sound that was so cute."

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (in D). And if you don't get enough rest with that one, you can play it in G, also.

Good Christian Men, Rejoice (in D) Are you sick of good Christian men rejoicing in B-flat all the time. Well, now you can rejoice in D! Or... you can play this on your B-flat whistle and be in tune with everyone else.

I Saw Three Ships (in D). This is a Christmas carol, not a pirate song. Still, there might have been a pirate or two on at least one of the ships that came sailing in on Christmas day on Christmas day in the morning.

O Holy Night (in D). This song sounds really, amazingly good on a tinwhistle. For a more lighthearted version, try O Hairy Night (in D). This is the version that gets sung around my house at dinnertime. Meals can be a bit odd around here.

O Little Town of Bethlehem (in D). How still we see you sit, listening to the whistler play and trying not to have a fit. You can also play this song in G, if you'd like.

The Twelve Days of Christmas (in D) and also (in G). All I want is another whistle for Christmas, but maybe a piper piping or two would fit in somehow.

We Three Kings (in D) and for a limited time only (in G). (It's hard to find a king in G, these days.) If I'd been one of those kings, I'd have left the gold and myrrh behind and taken Him a tinwhistle. Tinwhistles will get you through times of no frankincense better than frankincense will get you through times of no tinwhistles.

Welsh

All Through The Night (Lullaby. Welsh, I think.) This one is nice played slow and sweet. Awww. It's makin' Baby sleepy. Or else the tinwhistle has sucked away his will to live.

American II: American Harder with a Vengeance

We Are One From the Lion King II. This was another requested tune. I hope it's close; I'm not really sure.

Will the Circle Be Unbroken There's a better home awaitin' in the sky, Lord, in the sky.

The Battle of New Orleans. Get a little bacon. Get a few beans. Get your favorite tinwhistle, and head for New Orleans. You'll love it there.

The Battle of New Orleans - Duet for Tinwhistle and Flute. Here's a version for a flute and whistle duet; you could play it nicely with two whistles -- one low and one not. Heck... you could play it with a soprano recorder and a harmonica... if you wanted to.

The Battle of New Orleans -- TT. The Tinwhistle Tablature version of the song. If you're just learning, this might be the version for you. Bring extra bacon.

The Worms Crawl In True story: This was actually written by a zombie. He'd been a composer in life and figured if he was decomposing anyway, he might as well get a song out of it. And eat the brains. Zombies are everywhere. They have them in every culture. Like second-edition ninjas. (<-- Obscure role-playing reference. If you got that one on your own, congratulations. You're a geek. And probably a loser. Of course, I wrote it, so what does that make me?)

Union Maid. There once was a Union Maid who never was afraid of the goons and the ginks and the company finks and the deputy sheriffs who made the raid and she went to the Union Hall... And so on. But play it faster than that. Faster! Faster, I say!

American

Daisy Bell (in G). Daisy, Daisy, Give me your answer, do; I'm half crazy, all for the love of you ... but you'd look neat upon the seat of a bicycle built for two.

Pick a Bale of Cotton (in G). One of the greatest cotton-pickin' songs of all time... I kid you not one fluffy little bit. This song was recorded by Leadbelly.

Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain and more Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain and yet MORE Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain. Hardly a dry eye in the house. Or, to be more exact, there's a dry eye in the house. Hardly.

Dixie (in D). Away down south in the Land of Cotton, old times there are not forgotten. Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie land! And so you're not just whistlin' Dixie, here's Yankee Doodle (in D). Two for the price of one... and the price of one is free. What more could you ask?

Midnight Special A blues tune -- one of my favorites. Let the Midnight Special shine her everlovin' light on me.

Billy the Kid (in G). The true story of Billy the Kid... in song. Written by Sheriff Pat Garrett's publicist. No, really. It was! Why would I lie?

Jesse James (in G). "That dirty little coward who shot Mister Howard has laid poor Jesse ta' his grave." True story: I once won a game of Trivial Pursuit by knowing that Bob Ford killed Jesse James... all because of this song. Oh, the wonderful things the tinwhistle has done for me!!!

Root Hog or Die (in D). It's not really in D. Not really. But you can play it on a tinwhistle like it was in D. Your accordion player will just have to play a lot of annoying minor chords. (I'm just kidding about associating with an accordion player. I know no one would really do that: Use an accordion, go to jail. That's my motto.)

Bill Bailey (in D). A little ragtime from the early 1900s arranged for tinwhistle never hurt anyone. Much. Worth talking about.

Go Tell It On The Mountain (in G). Over the hills. Everywhere. How can you keep from singing along! Second verse, same as the first! Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere!

Railroad Bill (in G). I think it's pretty cool how a fragment from one song can turn up somewhere completely different. Music travels. Don't believe me? Look at the long voyage rock-and-roll took before it was ever called Rock and Roll.

Boil Them Cabbage Down and more Boil Them Cabbage Down. Bake them ho-cakes brown. Mmm-Mm, but I do love a good ho-cake. Now, can anyone tell me the way to the frolic?

Rocky Top (in D) and for your strumming pleasure, Rocky Top (in D) with chords. I went to school in Tennessee. Graduate of Lincoln County High School. As anyone who ever went to school in Lincoln County knows, this song sticks with you. For a long time. Twenty years later, I still wake up in a cold sweat singing it. At somewhere around seven bajillion beats per minute. And screaming. While my high-school girlfriend yells, "Faster!!! Faster!!!"

Sioux Indians. A nice little tune. There are words to it; they aren't included here, though. Frankly, the words aren't very good. But it's a nice tune.

The Loving Girl (in G). Ahh... who can't relate to this one. Remember: no matter how wonderful -- how perfect -- you think she is, someone, somewhere, is sick of her shit.

Buffalo Gals, Won't You Come Out Tonight (in D). A little ragtime specially arranged for the tinwhistle. Play this and you'll have 'em dancing by the light of the moon.

Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie (in D). Another cowboy song, for all you whistling cowboys out there. Play this song low... and mournfully.

Clementine (in D). This is the clean version. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that this one is also the clean version. Melodically (and lyrically) they are the same version; each one has a different set of chords, though.

Old Chisholm Trail (in G). And the rest of the 47-or-so verses to it. Grab your favorite ten-dollar horse and forty-dollar saddle and start playing this one. You'll be glad you did.

Paper of Pins (in D). I have know idea why I felt compelled to arrange this children's song for tinwhistle. But I had fun doing it. So much so, in fact, that I've got two versions of it. The second version if it is in a slightly lower mode than the first. The first version ranges from a'' at the highest to G at the lowest while the second version ranges from e' at the highest to D at the lowest.

Corinna A blues love song. You know it works out badly in the end.

The Dying Cowgirl (in G). Another fine cowboy... er, cowgirl... song. Cowboy songs are pretty much the same as Irish songs, just with fewer notes. A lot of them got rattled right off the pages coming across the country. To this day, folks in Philadelphia have a stockpile of surplus notes that they don't know what to do with. I'm not joking; I've been there and seen warehouses full of them. They don't melt snow and you can't very well eat 'em, so what are you going to do?

Were You There (in G). Based on the Johnny Cash EZ-Play version, which is where I learned it. Oh, Johnny; goodbye, Johnny. Goodbye, Johnny Cash. I'll meet you in that land where I've never been before and I don't believe that poor Johnny's gone. One more round. Johnny's gone.

The Camptown Races (in D). Da camptown ladies sing dis song, doo-dah, doo-dah.

Alberta (Blues Tune). Alberta, let your hair hang low.

Alabama Bound Blues tune. If that train don't stop and turn around, I'm Alabama bound.

The Bear Went Over the Mountain Second verse, same as the first! The bear went over the mountain the bear went over the mountain the bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

Beer Drinking Song Do's the stuff that buys my beer, Ra -- the guy who pours my beer. Me. The guy who drinks my beer. Fa... a long way to the john. So, I'll have another beer. La? I'll have another beer. Te? No thanks. I'll have a beer. And that brings us back to...

Beggars to God Another song about a gypsy. A happy song. A feel good song. A song that makes you realize one inescapable fact: there is no length to which a gypsy will not go to get some chick naked. Even a pious gypsy.

Be Kind to Your Web-Footed Friends For a duck could be somebody's mother.

Comin' Round the Mountain A fun little tune that everyone remembers from his childhood. You do remember it from your childhood, don't you? No? What kind of sick, deprived childhood did you lead? Every kid is suppose to sing this one over and over and over again until mom and dad give in. Or have a psychotic episode.

Itsy Bitsy Spider. He went up the water spout. Down came the rain and washed the spider out. That would never have happened if the spider's carbon footprint had been smaller. Of course, once he was washed out of the spout, he was eaten by a polar bear. So, I guess the moral is you win some and you lose some. Or maybe the moral is that global warming is bad. I forget. What was the question, again?

Sierry Peaks. Where the yellah pine do grow. And where yellah wood comes from. No kidding.

Streets of Laredo. One evening so fair. Another morbid cowboy song. I've just been in a mood, lately.

The Jolly Cowboy. The jolly cowboy's jolly tune. Jolly good.

Blood on the Saddle. Also a good Halloween tune. For a cowboy, anyway. A morbid one, maybe...

Darling Corey. Don't let 'em burn your still-house down. Never were there truer words spoken. Unless you happen to not have a still-house, then it's pretty much useless advice. But it's still a good tune... especially on nights when you're drinking corn liquor.

Reels, Jigs, Tunes, Ditties, Airs, Doggerel, Leftovers, Slow Airs and Fast Women

The Deacon Jerry Reel (in D). Okay. It's not a real reel. Really. Not in the strict sense of written for Irish dancing and whatnot. But since I wrote this one, I can call it that if I like. Besides, The Deacon Jerry Symphonette just sounded too -- I dunno? -- pretentious? for tinwhistle? Yeah... too pretentious.

The Chapel Bell This is a jig with an interesting fumpflet. It's like a triplet, but there's five of 'em.

The Clare Jig I bet you think this is a jig, don't you? Well... you're right. It is. And a durn fine one at that.

Hey! Macleod! Get Offa My Ewe! (in D). Just the tune. This one is dedicated to every kid at Renaissance Festivals all across the country running around in a Clan MacPizzahut great kilt and carrying the sort of Japanese-style sword that the Bud K catalog would call "the secret sword of the Emperor." Yeah. Pull the other one. The only reason he keeps it a secret is if all the other emperors saw that piece-of-crap sword, they'd laugh at him. Y'all know who you are.

The Whorehouse Bells Were Ringing. This fine dance tune has almost certainly got to be an adaptation of an Irish tune from somewhere.

Away With Rum and Away With Rum - More Verses By gum. Away with rum. In the South Seas, there's a creation story that tells about God walking along the beach and feeling lonely, so he does the only reasonable thing to do when you're lonely. He gets drunk. (Apparently, there is a lot of naturally fermented fruit in the South Seas.) He gets so drunk he throws up. He separates the light bits into day and the dark bits into night and the world is created. Soon he's lonely again. Same deal. Same result. He separates the dry parts into land and the wet parts into sea. This goes on and on until the last time God throws up and separates the hard parts into man and the soft parts into woman. Then God is not lonely anymore.

Jennifer's (Sad Tune) (in D). It's a waltz. It sounds kinda sad if you play it slow. I got the notes to it scrawled on a bar napkin. From Jennifer. Didn't know what else to call it. So, there you go, then. (UPDATE: According to Keith, this song is actually called "Coming Through the Rye." I'm going to leave it called "Jennifer's," though, for the simple fact that I almost never have opportunity to actually have a woman write something on a bar napkin for me. Here's to you, Jennifer, wherever you may be...)

Henry Joy (in D). An okay tune.

Blarney Pilgrim A jig. A most palpable jig.

Miss Suzy Had a Steamboat (in G). Miss Suzy had a steamboat the steamboat has a bell Miss Suzy went to heaven the steamboat went to hello operator give me number nine and if you cannot find it I'll kick you in the behind the refrigerator there was a piece of glass Miss Suzy sat upon it and cut her little ask me no more questions I'll tell you no more lies The boys are in the bathroom zipping down their flies are in the meadow and bees are in the park all the little boys and girls are kissing in the dark the dark is like the movies the movie's like a show the show is like the TV and that is all I know.

Cherish the Ladies Duet for Fute and Tinwhistle in D. This arrangement resulted from someone asking for something for two tinwhistles. This says it's for flute and tinwhistle. Sure. It says a lot of things. But there is no reason it couldn't be played on a tinwhistle and a low tinwhistle, or even two tinwhistles. If there's any interest in stuff like this, I might work on some more. What do you think? Worth it or a complete waste of time? Let me know...

Tommy Goblin's New-Age Five-Percent Jam (in G). This is another flute and whistle duet. I fully expect this form of music to eclipse solo flute in the very near future. After all, who wants to hear Gallway alone when you can hear him with someone who's cool. Someone who plays a whistle.

The Earl's Chair (Reel). Hey, Bubba... Where's a good place for Earl to plant his backside? In Earl's chair, of course. So comfy, it got its own song.

The Connaughtman's Rambles Another jig. I like this one for its title. I thought of kidnapping the Connaughtman and letting him ramble out a few descriptions for some of these tunes. But I wasn't sure exactly where to find him. Connaught, maybe?

The Return of Spring (Polka).

The Rattling Bog Polka. Not just a fun song to sing... it's also a polka. And everybody loves a polka.

Polka Your Eyes Out

I Have a Bonnet Trimmed in Blue (Polka).

The Flogging Reel

The Eagle's Whistle (Slow Air). I love a good slow air. In Native American Flute Music, there actually is an instrument called the eagle whistle. It's suppose to be made from a bone of a Bald Eagle, but actually having a real Bald Eagle bone would probably be enough to get you labeled a terrorist and shot by Dick Cheney. Mine's synthetic. It even came with a soft plastic gig bag... a Ziploc bag.

The Dingle Reel (Reel).

The Barren Rocks of Aden (Polka).

Saddle the Pony Jig. I like this one. It reminds me of Bill the Pony. From Fellowship of the Ring. There's a pony who didn't really get the attention he deserved in the movie. Must not have had a very good agent.

Sailor's Hornpipe A sailor's life is the life for me bud-da-ba-bump-da-dunt did-dy-did-le-did-le lee and I'll never ever ever do a thing about the weather 'cause the weather never ever ever did a thing for me.

The Bank of Ireland (Reel). What's a reel good place to rob if you're a pirate? Arrrgggh. That be the Bank of Ireland, matey.

Aura Lee A nice little practice piece. If you need to practice. You do practice, don't you?

Foxhunter's Jig Another jig. To be played by foxhunters. Although, I suppose it's okay to play it if your not a foxhunter. But if anyone asks, say you are. Or at least a fox inconveniencer.

Donnybrook Fair Another jig.

The Kesh Jig A jig. I think it was written in Chicago. Maybe.

Maggie in the Woods Another POLKA!!! Yes! I love a good polka!

Merrily Kiss the Quaker's Wife Slide to the left; slide to the right. Kiss the Quaker's wife and wait for the fight. (By the way... she has oatmeal on her breath. Or maybe it's motor oil.)

The Merry Blacksmith I know this guy. His name is Ed. His day job is to repair photocopiers, but he's also a fine blacksmith. And plays bass in a rock band. Happy guy. You'd like him. Find the blacksmith's booth at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival and ask to meet Ed. Tell him you heard about him here. It'll probably confuse the heck outta him.

Pigeon on the Gate Reel.

Mike McGoldrick's Jig. I wish someone would write a jig and name it after me. And then make it world famous. And then I could go on the talk show circuit and Oprah would be like "what's it like having a jig named after you?" And I'd be like "it's cool, you know. Cool." And she'd be all like "Okay." And I'd be all like "Yeah." And then we'd go to commercial and when they came back I'd be gone.

Miss McLeods' Reel. I wish someone would write a reel and name it after me. And then make it world famous. And then I could go on the talk show circuit and Oprah would be like "what's it like having a reel named after you?" And I'd be like "it's cool, you know. Cool." And she'd be all like "Okay." And I'd be all like "Yeah." And then we'd go to commercial and when they came back I'd be gone.

Sheehan's Irish Imports Reel. If I had a store, I wish someone would write a reel and name it after my store. And then make it world famous. And then I could go on the talk show circuit and Oprah would be like "what's it like having a reel named after your store?" And I'd be like "it's cool, you know. Cool." And she'd be all like "Okay." And I'd be all like "Yeah." And then we'd go to commercial and when they came back I'd be gone.

The Sally Gardens Reel. About the garden where they grow Sallies. They're a type of flower, kind of like a chrysanthemum.

Scatter the Mud Jig. About mud scattering, of course.

She Waded in the Water Glory, glory hallelujah! She never got it wet. Yet.

Ships Are Sailing Reel. A might fine reel.

Sligo Maid Reel. If you play it reel fast and reel loud, it must be a reel, right?

Spanish Lady A polka. Spanish ladies figure big in Irish music. Don't really know why. If you get on a boat in Spain, the tide must carry you more or less to Ireland. Which is a pretty good deal, really. Aren't the Connemara ponies suppose to be the descendants of Spanish  horses that swam ashore after a shipwreck? I know that ponies aren't ladies, but shipwrecked ladies swimming ashore and reproducing would certainly explain why so many of them are mentioned in Irish music. Just a theory.

Swinging on the Gate Catherine and I did this once when we were kids. It was a colossally heavy metal corral gate, too and the darn thing fell of its hinges. It fell toward me and I was lucky to be thrown clear. Catherine rode it down and hit face-first against one of the metal pipes in the gate. She knocked out a front tooth. She had to go to the hospital, where -- fortunately -- they were able to put it back in. I was about nine and Catherine was about six. Mom was ticked off, and of course it was my fault because any nine-year-old should have had the engineering skills to see the flaw in swinging on the gate. Moral of this story, kids: stay clear of gate swinging. You could very likely end up in the hospital with a serious injury. You might even get killed. Now, with that said, enjoy the song.

The Temperance Reel. There you go. A reel. About temprence.

Top of the Cork Road Jig. The top of the Cork road is asphalt. It collects oil. Underneath that is a gravel matrix. Underneath that is some dirt. Worms live there. This song is closely related to "The Worms Crawl In," which you can also download here... making this a full-service free-music site.

Tour of Scotland Reel. I'd love to make a tour of Scotland. And I'd love to get a kilt and wear it all over Scotland while making that tour. Which is probably something that gets you laughed at in Scotland, or so I am told anyway. Which is too bad, since if a Scot comes over here and buys, say, a pair of cowboy boots to wear all over Missouri and Kansas, I wouldn't laugh at him. Heck -- I'd encourage it. I'd even take 'em out to the best place I know to get a nice pair of boots and a cowboy hat to go with it. They'd look great. It'd be a blast. Now, if they bought say, one of the Rodeo Rider shirts they sell at that store, I might have to laugh a little bit. But that's true for anyone -- Scottish, American or Nigerian -- who buys one of those shirts. But, if they did buy one of those shirts, I'd take 'em out to a bar I know where they could ride the mechanical bull. And if they could stay on longer than I can, I wouldn't laugh anymore. But if I did laugh, it would be a good-natured thing and not in a ridiculing way at all.

Tripping Up the Stairs Jig. Who hasn't done this once or twice. THWACKboomp. Ouch. "What happened?" "I just fell UP the stairs."

Bonaparte's March (Hornpipe) Another traditional tune... because you can never have enough of those.

Chief O'Neil's (Hornpipe) Another traditional tune... because you can never have enough of those. No, really. You can't. It just isn't possible.

Drunken Tinker (Reel) Another traditional tune... because you can never have enough of those. Have you had enough yet? No? See what I mean.

The Home Ruler Another traditional tune... because you can never have enough of those. Had enough yet? Let me hear you say: Thank-you-sir-may-I-have-another? Thank-you-sir-may-I-have-another? Thank-you-sir-may-I-have-another?

Lord Randall's Pride And here it is... another. Another traditional tune, that is... because you can never have enough of those. This one is another Scottish tune. Mmmm. I love Scotland. I love Scotch. I love Bourbon better, but Scotch is nice, too.

Lord Randall's Pride -- TT. The Tinwhistle Tablature version of the song.

Her Dies. It's old. It's French. It's got to be good, right?

Her Taps and Dies. It's newer. It's not French. You be the judge.

Banshee. A good tune for Halloween night, don't'cah think? Get Reel.

Slow Freakin' Airs

A Slow Freakin' Air is a Slow Air based on a rock and roll (or even better, punk rock) song. Some are loosely based. Some are more solidly based. Regardless, they share a title with the song on which they are based. And they're set for tinwhistle. And -- in case you didn't know -- a guitar effects work perfectly well with tinwhistles. Party on, Wayne, and party on, Garth.

• Beat on the Brat (in G) Ramones

• Blister in the Sun (in D) Violent Femmes

• Blitzkrieg Bop (in D) Ramones

• Call Me (in G) Color me a color, baby.

Chris Stein, Joey Ramone, Markey Ramone, Debbie Harry. Musically, these four probably had more influence on me than anyone else. Ever. Pretty weird for tinwhistle player, huh?

• It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) (in D). R.E.M. Lame, yes. But I like this song.

• Pride (in D) U2. Does my heart good to see Bono leveraging  his fame to work for some worthy causes.

• Silly Thing (in D) Sex Pistols.

• Smells Like Teen Spirit (in D) Nirvana. Lame, too. I agree. But I've liked this song since the Benzedrine Monks of Santa Monica did it as Gregorian chant.

• Sweet Home Alabama (in D) Lynyrd Skynyrd. I don't want to hear it. I went to school in the South. Freebird was our class song. You can take the boy out of the country, but you cant -- well... I don't want to hear it.

• Cheney's Got a Gun (in D). Cheney's got a gun. Cheney's got a gun. He's shootin' straight at the sun. Cheney's got a gun...

• I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend Ramones. God bless them. Another slow air. I love these things.

   

Whaddever

It's a Sin (in D). You know -- the song that was a hit in the '80s by the Pet Shop Boys. If you can play this, you're a naughty, naughty crossfingering monkey. With wicked old-school whistle skills.

Winnie the Pooh (in G). The theme song from Winnie the Pooh. So not a pirate song. So, very, very not a pirate song.

Fast Car (in D) by Tracy Chapman. This isn't the whole song, really, but rather the vocal melody. It sounds really nice on a wooden flute. You'll love it so much, you'll download it twice.

The A-Team Theme I PITY THE FOOL WHO CAN'T PLAY THE A-TEAM THEME, FOOL. I gotta tinwhistle. I gotta bad attitude. Fool.

Karma Chameleon (in D). Because I've had this tune stuck in my head for the last week since I heard it used in that commercial where the guy is humming it and his buddy asks "Are you humming Karma Chameleon?" and the first guy tries to claim it's Where Da Hood At. And just so no one feels left out, here's Where Da Hood At (in G, of course.)

The Smurfs (in D). Fa-la-la-la-la-la, Smurf along with me. This is the Smurf theme song. After watching the Smurfs this morning, I figured, what the smurf? Might was well smurfing figure out how to play this smurfing song. (Hey -- it's snowing here today. Too cold to go outside. Too early to play the whistle. If you don't like it, go smurf yourself. In the meantime, I'll smurf someone gently with my song.)

Cheers (in D). The theme song. To the television show. A buddy of mine plays in a band called the Cherry Bombs. They played New Years Eve in a casino and the opening act was stand up comedy by Norm. Every since he mentioned it, I've had the theme song stuck in my head... just like the Karma Chameleon thing.

Frere Jacques I think "frere jacques" is French for "wake up jackass," but I'm not sure. Anyway, here's the song about it.

So Early in the Morning (in G). A sweet little children's rhyme. "When I was young I had no sense; I bought a whistle for eighteen pence." My life has never been the same, since.

The Wren Song (in G). With all of the Christmas carols on this site, I thought maybe I ought to post a St. Stephen's Carol song, also. St. Stephen's Day, in case you're keeping score at home, is on December 26th. St. Stephen was the first Catholic martyr; he was stoned. He was also the first deacon. Interesting tidbit: there were bishops and deacons before there were priests.

The Legend of Zelda (in D, not that it matters.) At least, I guess this is the Legend of Zelda. Sorta. I don't really play video games. Except for Battlefield 1942. I do play that. But I've never played The Legend of Zelda before. But I got a request for it, and so here it is -- adapted for tinwhistle from a cell phone ring tone. I hope. You'll need to be able to crossfinger like a ticked off ninja on a Honda with a tailwind in a hurricane to play it, because it's all over the place. And here's a little rant about having the audacity to make a request.

Love Theme from "Titanic" (in D). I have a sinking feeling that this one isn't COMPLETELY faithful to the original, but it is very playable on a whistle.

A Fairy Tale of New York (in D). A happy song. An upbeat song. The kinda song you want to whistle because you're glad to be alive. And here's a whole new experiment in tinwhistle yumminess... Here's A Fairy Tale of New York sheet music with WHISTLE TAB to boot. Woot!!! Brand new from Full¥Body¥Burn Productions! Never let it be said that we don't lead the way in coming up with fun things to do with the tinwhistle and then giving those things away!!!

Beer Barrel Polka. Roll out the barrel, we'll have a barrel of fun. Forget the verse; it blows. But the chorus is cool. And that's all of the song anyone knows anyway. So play the tune and find folks to sing along with the chorus. It'll be a barrel of fun. No... really. It will. Don't look at me like that.

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound. Didja know that the words to the "Gilligan's Island" theme song can be sung to this tune, and it works just fine? Works the other way, too.:
    Amazing grace how sweet the sound
     That saved a wretch like me.
     I once was lost but now am found
     Was blind but now I see
     Was blind but now I see.

The Farmer in the Dell Another childhood tune. Better get the farmer out of the Dell before he gets mud all over the hard drive.

Firefly Television theme song. Darn fine one, at that. Man, I loved that show. Why do they always take the good shows off the air.

Found a Peanut Found a peanut, found a peanut just now. Found a peanut and wrote a song. Don't get out much. Right now.

Gypsy Guitar This is a neat little tune that my wife plays on guitar. I don't know why, but it must be catchy since here it is. (Of course I tend to catch a lot of things that other people gladly avoid, so there you are.)

It Ain't Gonna Rain No More The second best love ballad ever written. No, really. It is! Seriously.

Happy Birthday To You You live in a zoo; you look like a monkey and you smell like one, too.

He's a Jolly Good Fellow The British equivalent to "Happy Birthday to You." I understand that in England it just isn't possible to enjoy a good meal in a Mexican restaurant without a bunch of teenage waiters wearing sombreros singing this song to some poor, unsuspecting guy on his Jolly-Good-Fellow Day, which the English have in place of birthdays because they never invented birthday cake so it doesn't make any sense for them to have birthdays. The English are a strange people with ways different from our own. Oh, and you can get three or four Jolly-Good-Fellow Days every year, since they really aren't tied at all to any calendar day. Lucky bastards.

My Bonnie Has Tuberculosis My bonnie has only one lung. My bonnie can cough up her tonsils and roll them around on her tongue. It's a love song, of course.

Popeye. The theme from the cartoon, not the movie. (Although, for all I know the movie might have had the same theme song. I remember really liking the movie, but other people tell me it blew. I saw it in Los Angeles at Mann's Chinese Theater, which was the one and only time I ever went there. It was an über-cool theater. I wonder if it's still there?)

Pop Goes the Weasel That's the way the money goes. And the weasel, I suppose. If you've never actually seen a weasel pop, all I can say is DO NOT PUT TOO MUCH AIR IN THEM.

Ninety-Nine Bottles of Beer on the Wall (with COMPLETE lyrics) Not many people know it, but this is actually a war song. The ninety-nine bottle represent the foot soldiers of the unit and if one of them gets killed -- happens to fall -- there'll be one less left. Until eventually there are none left at all. Really. I'm not making that up. War is a bad thing, and not just because it kills bottles of beer. Behind each beer bottle is a person with a family and a history and more beer at home.

The Saints Go Marching In Spiritual. And what they play at the stadium in New Orleans when the football team plays.

Sippin' Cider Through a Straw The prettiest gal I ever saw was sippin' cider through a straw. Actually, she was drinking Scotch. And I married her. But from time to time she does sip cider though a straw.

William Tell Overture. By Rossini. To the dump. To the dump. To the dump dump dump dump dump dump dump dump dump dump. To the dump dump dump dump dump.....

The Wind Beneath My Wings This is a slow air adaptation of the shanty sung by Bette Midler, a pirate from way back. This was another request.

Snouts and Ears And how about one more traditional tune from bonny Scotland, to be followed immediately by...

Snouts and Ears -- TT. The Tinwhistle Tablature version of the song.

Sporting Nellie (Reel) and Sporting Nellie (Reel - Second Version) Two versions of the same reel. Which, of course, makes it a traditional tune. Just with more tradition than a lot of them.

We Are Family A traditional American tune. Unlike traditional Irish tunes, this one made someone a lot of money. That's the difference between the Banks of Ireland and the Bank of America for you.

We Are Family -- TT. The Tinwhistle Tablature version of the song.

You Sexy Thing. I believe in miracles. That has nothing to do with the song at hand. I just wanted to make that clear. I do believe in miracles. You sexy thing.

The Sea Around Yet another traditional tune. Full up on those yet? Want more?

Planxsty Sneetch And to wrap up the 100 song update, here's an original composition for tinwhistle and harp. It might sound something like this. Don't know a harp player? Force your little sister to learn to play the harp so you have someone to practice with. She'll thank you for it. Someday...

Sesame Street in D, simplified tune. Can you tell me how to get how to get to Sesame Street.

Ach Du Lieber Augustin. Because sometimes alles is just plain hinn.

Au Renouval du Tens. And sometimes it's just plain Tens. Whatever that means.