A New Song [Tune: Lilliburlero]
| TYPE | 3 - Complex Melody |
| TOPIC | Political ballad (Williamite) |
| TUNE STRUCTURE | unclear |
| VERSE STRUCTURE | 10v 6l |
| TIME SIGNATURE | 64 |
| TONAL CENTRE | C |
| INCIPIT | GAGBBABAC'BD'G |
| GENRE | Ballad |
| TEXT SOURCE | [Thomas Wharton], ‘A new song’ [London? s.n. 1688?] British Library Case 38.i.25.(3.) |
| TUNE SOURCE | Robert Carr, The Delightful Companion (1686; 2nd ed.), [page F3], untitled melody. British Library MUSIC Wf85/0351. |
| FIRST LINE | Ho Brother Teague dost hear de Decree |
| NOTATED INCIPIT | |
| One of the most famous (or infamous) of songs from the Williamite Wars. Claude Simpson claims that the tune is first printed in the 1686 instruction book for the recorder which is reproduced here (see Simpson,The British Broadside Ballad, 1966, p.450). However, in a 1999 article, Anthony Heywood argued that the tune first appeared in a book of metrical psalms set to old folk tunes of the Low Countries: Souter Liederkens (Antwerp, 1540). See Antony Heywood, ‘Is Lilliburlero an Old Dutch Folk Tune?’, English Dance and Song, 61.1 (1999), 4. Brendan Ó Buachalla, notes that some of the earliest copies of both tune and ballad are entitled, ‘The New Irish Song’, ‘The Irish Song’ and ‘An Irish Prophecy’ (as in The second part of musick’s hand-maid (London 1689), E3v; The Muses farewell to popery and slavery (London, 1689); and A second collection of … poems … against Popery and tyranny (London 1689); see Brendan Ó Buachalla, ‘Lillibulero: The New Irish Song’, Familia: Ulster Genealogical Review, 2.7 (1991): 47-69 (p.55). The unusual musical notation on the broadsheet (c.1688) may simply have been designed to give the impression of a tune to the many who could not read music. | |
 'A new song' Lilliburlero text.jpg)
A New SONGHo Brother Teague dost hear de Decree,Lilli Burlero Bullen a-la,Date we shall have a new Debittie,Lilli Burlero Bullen a-la,Lero, Lero, Lero, Lero, Lilliburlero Bullen a-la,Lero, Lero, Lero, Lero, Lilli Burlero Bullen a-la.Ho by my Shoul it is a T[albo]t, Lilli Burlero, etc.And he will Cut all de English T[hroa]t,Lilli, etc.Lero, Lero, etc.Lero, Lero, etc.Though by my Shoul de Inglish do Prat,Lilli, etc.De Law’s on Dare side, and Chreist knows what,Lilli, etc.Lero, Lero, etc.Lero, Lero, etc. But if Dispence do come from de Pope,Lilli, etc.Wee’l hang Magno Carto and demselves in a Rope,Lilli, etc.Lero, Lero, etc.Lero, Lero, etc.And the good T[albo]t is made a Lord,Lilli, etc.And he with brave Lads is coming aboard,Lilli, etc.Lero, Lero, etc.Lero, Lero, etc.Who’! all in France have taken a Swear,Lilli, etc.Dat day will have no Protestant h[ei]r,Lilli, etc.Lero, Lero, etc.Lero, Lero, etc.O but why does he stay behind,Lilli, etc.Ho by my shoul ’tis a Protestant Wind,Lilli, etc.Lero, Lero, etc.Lero, Lero, etc.Now T[yrconnel]l is come ashore,Lilli, etc.And we shall have Commissions gillore,Lilli, etc.Lero, Lero, etc.Lero, Lero, etc.And he dat will not go to M[a]ss,Lilli, etc.Shall turn out and look like an Ass,Lilli, etc.Lero, Lero, etc.Lero, Lero, etc.Now now de Hereticks all go down,Lilli, etc.By Chreist and St Patrick the Nation’s our own,Lilli, etc.Lero, Lero, etc.Lero, Lero, etc.