Story Behind The Song

A humorous folk tale from the Donegal region of Ireland set to music. This is the funny story of Mooney, the Donegal fiddler, who is chided by his wife for his fiddle playing. When he's had his fill of her rebukes one night , he sets off to town and on th

Song Description

A humorous folk tale from the Donegal region of Ireland set to music. This is the story of Mooney, the Donegal fiddler, his wife,who hates his fiddle playing and Mooney's chance meeting with The Devil.

Lyrics

Mooney ( The Donegal Fiddler)
Words and Music by Gordon McLeod, ©1999, 2004, McLeod Nine Music
Verse 1
Mooney the Donegal fiddler, traveled throughout the land,
He fiddled for weddings dances and wakes, he was in great demand.
Though good-natured, a humorous man, never drunk and always true,
Mooney?s wife disparaged his life and his music she did greatly rue.
verse 2
She detested the music so, she could nary a quaver stand,
Specially the fiddle did she scorn, till one night her lovely man
Gathered up his fiddle and some clothes as her scorn in his head did pound,
Shuttin? his door at the stroke of twelve, he set off for Donegal Town.

Chorus:
She called the fiddle the Devil?s box and Mooney never knew why,
But he found out that moonlit night under the Donegal sky.
verse 3
Out on the road under silvery moon he began to better feel,
As by the cemet?ry he did pass, he whistled a merry reel.
He stopped to rest against a ditch, catchin? sight of a wee hooded man
With sooty clothes and eyes aglow, he stretched out a claw-like hand.
verse 4
?Stranger dear what have we here? the hooded man did scowl,
And pointin? to Mooney?s fiddle he said ?Do you mind if I play awhile??
?Of course good sir, please play away? Mooney he replied
And handin? over his fiddle he grinned under the starlit sky.
verse 5
He played an ancient tune it?s said, a jig in a piping style.
The tip of his bow whistled and glowed, Mooney listened all the while,
Quick to learn he had the turn the second time he heard it.
Then the tune was done like last night?s fun leavin? Mooney most delighted.

Chorus

instrumental break
verse 6
?Well ?, Mooney said, shakin? his head, ? That music should bring you fame?,
?To further our acquaintance, would you bless me with your name??
The stranger stood, removing his hood, revealing two horns on his pate,
?I?m Beelzebub, the Devil himself, direct from Gehenna?s dark gate!?
verse 7
Mooney looked straight into Satan?s red eyes with a steady and fearless gaze.
?I swear to my time, music so fine could certainly light Hell?s blaze.?
?I consider myself a lucky man, to have met you this good night Mister.?
?Shake hands with your relations , Sir, you see I?m married to your sister!?

instrumental selection ( 2 traditional jigs, " The Morning Thrush" and " The Mahoe Snaps" )