An Irish-Arabian song from 1908
words by Edward Madden
music by Dorothy Jardon
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- On Coney Isle
Where balmy breezes blow
There lived an Irish dame
She won a smile
Down in a ten-cent show
She wiggled into fame
They called her “Arabia”
And talked of her dancing
She looked entrancing
Dark eyes a-glancing
Pat McCann, an Irishman
Who caught her a-prancing
Says, “Faith, I know that smile”
She never saw the Nile
She came from Erin’s Isle
Chorus
Arrah! Arabia, Arrah gowan
You’re no Hindoo baby
With that old lace curtain on
You can smoke your Turkish Trophy
But your name is Maggie Brophy
Faith, you look as if you’d bite us
When you dance the gay St. Vitus
Arrah gowan, Arabia
- Next night McCann
Went down to see the maid
With bagpipes and cobeen
When she began
With all his might he played
The “Wearin’ of the Green”
She got twisted, he insisted
Bagpipes a-squealing
They started spieling
Jig-dance and reeling
Bombashays and U. S. A’s
Says Patrick with feeling
“They suit the heathen Turks”
I’ve spoiled Arabia’s works