A popular song from 1909
Words by Sidney R. Ellis
Music by Al H. Wilson
The sheet music:
Lyrics
1. There was not in all Erin a Banshee so great
As the one who watched over the house of McTate
And her weird frightful wailing would always foretell
A sure death to the ailing when sickness befell
So this wraith, who for ages, had made white the cheeks
Of McTate’s, had a record for time honored shrieks
And she killed off the household, save a young lad, and he
Was too wild, strong, and hearty to fear the Banshee
CHORUS
Oh! that old Banshee, that bold Banshee
Soon made her victims learn
That a wise Banshee, a prize Banshee
On death would call the turn
So she lived uncannily, in McTate’s family
Since the days of Brian Boru
And if any heard her cry, they simply had to die
To make her wail come true
2. But the lad soon went off, to America fair
And this same haughty Banshee straight followed him there
When at last he lay stricken, the Banshee with joy
Gave a wail of great power to cheer the poor boy
Up he sat, all a tremble, and turned deadly pale
And in glee, then she gave him another great wail
Then the lad, to those ’round him, cried out, “hear ye that?
Tare-a-nouns, get a shotgun, and kill that sick cat”
CHORUS
Then that proud Banshee, that loud Banshee
Was humbled at his scorn
And that mad Banshee, that sad Banshee
Went straight back home to mourn
There to live eternally, and shriek infernally
From ould Cork to Ballarat
And to ever after shake, the country that would take
Her wail for a sick cat