[The Rock of Cashel | County Tipperary]
'It's a Long Way to Tipperary' started out as just a holding title for this blog. But having lived with it for a while, I can't see it changing any time soon!
A slightly odd choice I know, but it's oddness is probably one of the reasons I liked it in the first place. That along with its optimistic tone and the sense that, although it's a long way to get there, given mine and billions of other peoples' hearts lie there, it certainly seems worth the effort.
Drawing a fairly long bow, I guess I'm likening the journey humanity and our little Earth is on to that quest to get to Tipperary. We've certainly a long way to go - it will probably take most of my lifetime to know if we're even on the right path - but if we can make it to a more resilient. prosperous and sustainable future, it will have been worth all the trials and tribulations the journey is already bringing.
Jack Judge apparently wrote the original song in one night for a 5-shilling bet and performed it for the first time the very next night at a music hall in Stalybridge.
I only wish the solutions to some of our current challenges could be created so readily!
It's a Long Way to Tipperary.
By Jack Judge (co-credited to Henry James "Harry" Williams)
Up to mighty London
Came an Irishman one day.
As the streets are paved with gold
Sure, everyone was gay,
Singing songs of Piccadilly,
Strand and Leicester Square,
Till Paddy got excited,
Then he shouted to them there:
It's a long way to Tipperary,
It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary
To the sweetest girl I know!
Goodbye, Piccadilly,
Farewell, Leicester Square!
It's a long long way to Tipperary,
But my heart's right there.
(repeat)
Paddy wrote a letter
To his Irish Molly-O,
Saying, "Should you not receive it,
Write and let me know!"
"If I make mistakes in spelling,
Molly, dear," said he,
"Remember, it's the pen that's bad,
Don't lay the blame on me!
It's a long way to Tipperary,
It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary
To the sweetest girl I know!
Goodbye, Piccadilly,
Farewell, Leicester Square!
It's a long long way to Tipperary,
But my heart's right there.
Molly wrote a neat reply
To Irish Paddy-O,
Saying "Mike Maloney
Wants to marry me, and so
Leave the Strand and Piccadilly
Or you'll be to blame,
For love has fairly drove me silly:
Hoping you're the same!"
It's a long way to Tipperary,
It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary
To the sweetest girl I know!
Goodbye, Piccadilly,
Farewell, Leicester Square!
It's a long long way to Tipperary,
But my heart's right there.
30 January 1912
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