Moses Ri-Toora-Li-Ay
(Brian O'Higgins/PD)
The policeman stepped out Oh, so proud on his beat,
When a vision came to him of stripes on his sleeve,
"Promotion." he whispered. "I'm sure of today,
So come with me Mister Ri-Toora-Li-Ay."
"Come tell me your name." says the limb of the law
"To the little fat man selling wares on the straw,
"What's that, sir, my name, sir? 'Tis there on display,
And it's Moses Ri-Toora-Li-Oora-Li-Ay."
Now the trial came on, and it lasted a week,
One judge said 'twas German, another 'twas Greek,
"Prove you're Irish." said the policeman, "beyond it, say nay,
"And we'll sit on it, Moses Ri-Toora-Li-Ay."
Now the prisoner stepped up there as stiff as a crutch,
"Are you Irish or English or German or Dutch?"
'T m a Jew, sir, I'm a Jew, sir, that's come over to stay.
And my name it is Moses Ri-Toora-Li-Ay."
"We're two of a kind," says the judge to the Jew,
You're a cousin of Briscoe*, and I am one too.
This numskull has blundered, and for it will pay."
"Ah, sure that's right," says Moses Ri-Toora-Li-Ay.
There's a garbage collector who works down our street,
He once was a policeman, the pride of his beat,
Now he moans all the night and he groans all the day,
Singing, "Moses Ri-Toora-Li-Oora-Li-Ay."
Note: Briscoe - Jewish Lord Mayor of Dublin.
This song was written circa 1904 when the English prosecuted displays of Irish Nationalism which included the Gaelic language. Silly Buggers!
- Seamus Kennedy
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Seamus Kennedy in Concert
- The Liar Time: 2:57
- Down in the Coalmine Time: 2:30
- Murphy & the Snails Time: 3:39
- Hard Times Time: 3:20
- The Drover's Dream Time: 2:24
- The Writing of 'Tipperary' Time: 5:14
- TWA Recruiting Sergeants Time: 3:45
- The Nuns & the Devil/Johnny & the Bishop Time: 1:31
- The Widow & the Fairy/The King of the Fairies Time: 3:28
- Rose Time: 0:43
- The Mouse Time: 1:22
- The Wearing of the Green/The Rising of the Moon Time: 3:41
- Moses-Ri-Tooral-I-Ay Time: 2:01
- Take Her in your Arms Time: 3:16
- Scottish People Time: 2:45
- The Greatest Love/A Bottle of the Best Time: 2:42
- Look at Maggie Now Time: 3:01
- City by the Lagan Side Time: 2:34
- Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go Time: 4:39
- The Parting Glass Time: 2:01
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