Darling Old Stick
DESCRIPTION: Bull Morgan McCarthy inherits his brother's shillelah and fights with those he'd heard of as "informer" and "canary." Partly as result, partly as cause, he meets Kate. "I bought this gold ring, sir, And Kate to the priest I shall bring, sir"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1853 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 11(798))
KEYWORDS: marriage fight trial humorous
FOUND IN: Ireland Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Mackenzie-BalladsAndSeaSongsFromNovaScotia 137, "Bull Morgan McCarthy" (1 text)
O'Conor-OldTimeSongsAndBalladOfIreland, p. 51, "Darling Old Stick" (1 text)
Dime-Song-Book #2/72, pp. 34-35 and #2/64, pp. 34-35, "Darling Old Stick" (1 text)
TeddyReganSongster, pp. 71-72, "Darling Old Stick" (1 text)
Roud #3276
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 11(798), "The Darlin' Old Stick," John Ross (Newcastle), 1847-1852; also 2806 c.15(258), 2806 b.11(11), "The Darlin' Old Stick"; Harding B 20(34), Harding B 11(799), Harding B 11(797), "The Darlin' Ould Stick"; Harding B 11(1370), "Darling Old Stick"; Firth b.25(73), "The Darling Ould Stick"
NLScotland, L.C.178.A.2(300), "The Darlin' Old Stick," unknown, c.1870
SAME TUNE:
The Beautiful Boy (File: LBCS061)
Teddy O'Toole (per broadside Bodleian Harding B 20(34))
Young America and Ould Ireland ("It's a soger I am, and I'm wearing the green") (Wolf-AmericanSongSheets, p. 183)
Pat's Opinion of the Stars and Stripes ("I've got a new song for to sing ye's to night, It's intended to put the Blue Devils to flight") (by John F. Poole, sing by Fred May) (Campfire-Songster-1862, p. 67)
The Stars and the Stripes ("I've got a new song for to sing ye's to night, It's intended to put the Blue Devils to flight") (by John F. Poole) (FriskyIrishSongster, pp. 14-15)
Ballinamana Oro ("You know I"m your priest, and your conscience is mine, And if you be wicked, 'tis not a good sign") (FriskyIrishSongster, pp. 19-20)
File: Mack137
Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List
Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography
The Ballad Index Copyright 2025 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.