July 8. Story of the Day: Rattlin' Bog

Today's story is one you can sing along with (see music video at bottom of post).
The lyrics are from a a version of this traditional Irish folksong that I found in Hi! ho! The rattlin' bog, and other folk songs by John Langstaff (1969). You can find out more about "The Rattlin' Bog" at Wikipedia.

This is Roud 129, which also includes the song Green Grass Grew All Around; you can find a fun discussion of this song type, and "Rattlin' Bog" in particular, at Mudcat. I like the "rattling bog" version very much; the word "rattling" means "something very good of its kind (used for emphasis)."

Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

THE RATTLIN' BOG

(check out the slideshow for the whole song!)

Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.

Now in this bog,
there was a tree,
a rare tree, a rattlin' tree;
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O!
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.

Now on this tree,
there was a limb,
a rare limb, a rattlin' limb;
The limb on the tree,
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O!
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.

Now on this limb,
there was a branch,
a rare branch, a rattlin' branch;
The branch on the limb,
The limb on the tree,
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O!
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.

Now on this branch,
there was a nest,
a rare nest, a rattlin' nest;
The nest on the branch,
The branch on the limb,
The limb on the tree,
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O!
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.

Now in this nest,
there was a egg,
a rare egg, a rattlin' egg;
The egg in the nest,
The nest on the branch,
The branch on the limb,
The limb on the tree,
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O!
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.

Now in this egg,
there was a bird,
a rare bird, a rattlin' bird;
The bird in the egg,
The egg in the nest,
The nest on the branch,
The branch on the limb,
The limb on the tree,
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O!
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.


You will find lots of music videos at YouTube; here's one I liked by Rula Bula: