Scan 150
A Dictionary of music and musicians : (A.D. 1450-1880), 1880
54 lines. Read by computer on 6 September 2026. Printed page 138. See the scan on archive.org.
1Sung.
3In some old printed books, the last note of a Ligature is placed obliquely, in which case it is always to be sung as a Breve.
5The student will meet with innumerable other forms, more or less difficult to decypher: but, those we have illustrated will be sufficient to guide him on his way, in all ordinary cases; and, in exceptional ones, he will find that long experience alone will be of service to him. [W.S.R.]
7LIGHT OF THE WORLD, THE. An oratorio in two parts; the words compiled from the Scriptures, the music by Arthur S. Sullivan. Written for the Birmingham Festival, and first performed there Aug. 27, 1873. [G.]
9LILLIBURLERO. 'The following rhymes,' says Dr. Percy, 'slight and insignificant as they may now seem, had once a more powerful effect than either the Philippics of Demosthenes or Cicero; and contributed not a little towards the great revolution of 1688.' Bishop Burnet says: 'A foolish ballad was made at that time, treating the papists, and chiefly the Irish, in a very ridiculous manner, which had a burden said to be Irish words, 'Lero, lero, liliburlero,' that made an impression on the [king's] army, that cannot be imagined by those that saw it not. The whole army, and at last the people both in city and country, were singing it perpetually. And perhaps never had so slight a thing so great an effect.'
11Henry Purcell, the composer of the tune, here receives no share of the credit, of which nine tenths, at least, belong to him. The song was first taken up by the army, because the tune was already familiar as a quick step to which the soldiers had been in the habit of marching. Then the catching air was repeated by others, and it has retained its popularity down to the present time. As the march and quick step have not been reprinted since 1686, although by Henry Purcell, it is well that, at last, they should reappear. The only extant copy of both is in The Delightful Companion: or, Choice New Lessons for the Recorder or Flute, 2nd edition, 1686, oblong quarto. As this little book is engraved upon plates, and not set up in types, as then more usual, and this march and quick step are on sheet F, in the middle of the book, we may reasonably assume that they were included in the first edition also, which cannot be less than a year or two earlier in date.
13March.
15LILLIBURLERO.
17[Quick Step.]
19The words are the merest doggrel. They refer to King James's having nominated to the lieutenancy of Ireland, in 1686, General Talbot, newly created Earl of Tyrconnel, who had recommended himself to his bigoted master by his arbitrary treatment of the Protestants in the preceding year, when he was only lieutenant-general. One stanza as sung to the tune may suffice. After that, the two lines of new words only are given.
21Ho! broder Teague, dost hear de decree?
22Lilliburl ro bullen a la.
23Dat we shall have a new deputie.
24Lilliburlero bullen a la.
25Lero lero, lilli burlero, lero lero, bullen a la,
26Lero lero, lilli burlero, lero lero, bullen a la.
27Ho! by shaint Tyburn, it is de Talbote,
28And he will cut all de English troate.
29Dough by my shoul de English do praat,
30De law's on dare side, and Creish knows what.
31But if dispence do come from de pope,
32We'll hang Magna Charta, and dem in a rope:
33For de good Talbot is made a lord,
34And with brave lads is coming aboard:
35Who all in France have taken a sware
36Dat dey will have no protestant heir.
37Ara! but why does he stay behind?
38Ho! by my shoul 'tis a protestant wind.
39But see, de Tyrconnel is now come ashore,
40And we shall have commissions gillore.
41And he dat will not go to mass
42Shall be turn out, and look like an ass.
43But now de hereticks all go down,
44By Creish and shaint Patrick, de nation's our own.
45Dare was an old prophesy found in a bog,
46'Ireland shall be rul'd by an ass, and a dog.'
47And now dis prophesy is come to pass,
48For Talbot's de dog, and Ja…s is de ass.
50Such stuff as this would not have been tolerable without a good tune to carry it down. And yet Lord Wharton has had the entire credit: 'A late viceroy, who has so often boasted himself upon his talent for mischief, invention, lying, and for making a certain Lilliburlero song; with which, if you will believe himself, he sung a deluded prince out of three kingdoms.'1
51From this political beginning Lilliburlero
531 A true relation of the several Facts and Circumstances of the Intended Riot and Tumult on Queen Elizabeth's Birthday. 3rd edit. 1712.
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