Tunie: Colcannon

About

I first heard this sung by Bob Hallett of Great Big Sea, though I know several other artists recorded it first.

Did you ever have colcannon made with lovely pickled cream

And the greens and scallions mingle like a picture in a dream?

Did you ever make a hole on top to hold the melting flake

Of the creamy flavored butter that your mother used to make?

Oh you did, so you did

So did he and so did I

And the more you think about it, sure the nearer I to die

Oh weren’t them the happy days when troubles we knew not

And our mothers made colcannon in the little skillet pot?

Did you ever take potato cake in boxty off to school

Tucked underneath your oxter with your books, your slate, your rule?

And when teacher wasn’t looking sure a great big bite you’d take

Of that creamy flavored butter that your mother used to make

Oh you did, so you did

So did he and so did I

And the more you think about it, sure the nearer I to cry

Oh weren’t them the happy days when troubles we knew not

And our mothers made colcannon in a little skillet pot?

Did you ever go a-courting maid when the evening sun went down,

And the moon began a-creeping from beyond the hill of Down?

Did you wander down the boreen where a clúrachán was seen

Did you whisper loving praises to your own dear sweet cáilín?

Oh you did, so you did

So did he and so did I

And the more you think about it, sure the nearer I to cry

Oh weren’t them the happy days when troubles we knew not

And our mothers made colcannon in a little skillet pot?