Michael Finnegan

DESCRIPTION: Of the exploits of Michael Finnegan, constantly urged to "begin again" after a variety of escapades such as the wind blowing his whiskers back into his chin, or growing fat and then growing thin
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1923 (Camp Clavell and Girl Reserve Club Songs)
KEYWORDS: nonballad nonsense humorous campsong
FOUND IN: US(MW) New Zealand Ireland
REFERENCES (9 citations):
Sutton-Smith-NZ-GamesOfNewZealandChilden/FolkgamesOfChildren, p. 134, "(Little Michael Finnigan)" (1 text)
Brophy/Partridge-TommiesSongsAndSlang, p. 66, "Michael Finnigan" (1 short text)
Peirce-KeepTheKettleBoiling, p. 48, "(There was a old man called Michael Finnegan)" (1 short text)
Silber/Silber-FolksingersWordbook, p. 242, "Michael Finnigan" (1 text)
Pankake/Pankake-PrairieHomeCompanionFolkSongBook, p. 201, "Michael Finnigan" (1 text, 1 tune)
Averill-CampSongsFolkSongs, pp. 132, 255, 259, 390-391, 415, "Michael Finnigan" (notes only)
BoyScoutSongbook1997, p. 41, "Michael Finnegan" (1 text, 1 tune)
Abrahams-JumpRopeRhymes, #236, "I know a man named Michael Finnegan" (1 text)
DT, MIKFINEG
Roud #10541
RECORDINGS:
Pete Seeger et al, "Finnegan Beginigin" (on PeteSeeger11)
NOTES [38 words]: It perhaps says something about the American education system that this song was forced upon me in grade school, but the schools would never have even contemplated a serious ballad with something resembling actual content.... - RBW
Last updated in version 6.6
File: FSWB242B

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