Can anyone remember the words of: "Phil Fluter's " It was often sung in a music lesson at school ?

Question

I can remember that it started: "Have you heard of Phil the Fluter of the town of Bally-muck. The times were going hard for him in fact the man was bruk. So he sented out a notice to his neighbours one and all inviting them all to come to Phil The Fluter' s Ball. It was years after that i realised how much i enjoyed those lessons. The teacher Selwyn "Toby" Cash was also a keen fan of Rudyard Kilplng and taught songs such as "On the Road to Mandalay" and "Boots" along withg potted history lessons of the often unschooled British soldier finding himself in strange places and his sometimes erroneous interpretation of what he saw. Not politically correct but vvery very truthful and interersting

The attraction of "Phil the Fluter" for me was that it was sung very quickly and again even quicker. Our Music Teacher played a banjo and it was rumoured that his upper dentures fell out in the middle of one day as the class tried to sing faster than his banjo could be played.

Answer 1

Have you heard of Phil the Fluther, of the town of Ballymuck?

The times were going hard with him, in fact the man was broke.

So he just sent out a notice to his neighbours, one an all

As to how he'd like their company that evening at a ball.

And when writin' out he was careful to suggest to them,

That if they found a hat of his convanient to the dure,

The more they put in, whenever he requested them

The better would the music be for battherin' the flute.

With the toot of the flute, and the twiddle of the fiddle, O;

Hopping in the middle, like a herrin' on the griddle, O.

Up! down, hands aroun', crossing to the wall.

Oh! Hadn't we the gaiety at Phil the Fluther's Ball.

There was Mister Denis Dogherty, who kep' the runnin' dog;

There was little crooked Paddy, from the Tiraloughett bog;

There was boys from every Barony, and girls from ev'ry "art"

And the beautiful Miss Bradys, in a private *** an' cart,

And along with them came bouncing Mrs. Cafferty,

Little Micky Mulligan was also to the fore,

Rose, Suzanne, and Margaret O'Rafferty,

The flower of Ardmagullion, and the pride of Pethravore.

First, little Micky Mulligan got up to show them how,

And then the Widda' Cafferty steps out and makes her bow,

I could dance you off your legs, sez she, as sure as you are born,

If ye'll only make the piper play, "The hare was in the corn."

So Phil plays up to the best of his ability,

The lady and the gentleman begin to do their share;

Faith, then Mick it's you that has agility,

Begorra Mrs. Cafferty, yer leppin' like a hare!

Then Phil the Fluther tipped a wink to little Crooked Pat,

"I think it's nearly time,'' sez he, "for passin' round the hat.''

So Paddy pass'd the caubeen round, and looking mighty cute.

Sez, "Ye've got to pay the piper when he toothers on the flute.''

Then all joined in wid the greatest joviality,

Covering the buckle, and the shuffle, and the cut;

Jigs were danced, of the very finest quality,

But the Widda' bet the company at "handling the fut."

And I've come across variations.