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12-string Guitar: Shlathery's Mounted Fut (Including lyrics and chords)

3,213 views · Published 30 July 2010 · 2:51 · Indexed 8 October 2026

Channel: threelegsoman · 2010 · Education

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The words and tune to this song were written by Percy French in 1889. It was written thirty years before there was a national Irish Army and was not meant as a political satire, but as a "purly comic song of great life and spirit." I remember hearing it on the radio when I was young and loving the jaunty chorus and it has been a pleasure for me to find it and play and sing it myself. Hope you enjoy it.

Shlathery's Mounted Fut
Percy French 

C                                                                  F                           C                     
You've heard of Julius Ceasar, and the great Napoleon too
        F                       C                          D                       G   
And how the Cork Militia bate the Turks at Waterloo.
       C                                                    F                         C
But there's a page of glory that as yet remains uncut,
         F                             C                    G                                   C
And that's the warlike story of the Shlathery's Mounted Fut!
G
This gallant corps was organized by Shlathery's eldest son
                                                                                        G7
A noble-minded poacher with a double-breasted gun
        C                                                             F                             C  
And many a head was opened aye, and many an eye was shut
            F                    C                           G                                    C   
While practisin' manoeuvres in the Shlathery's Mounted Fut

         C                                                              G   
And down from the mountains came the squadrons and platoons
                                                                                              C 
Four and twenty fightin' men an a couple a' stout gossoons.
                                                                               G   
An' whin we marched behind the dhrums to patriotic tunes
                                                                                                               C
We felt that fame would gild the name of Shlathery's Light Dragoons.

Well, first we reconnoithered round O'Sullivan's Shebeen
It used to be 'The Shop House', but we call it, 'The Canteen',
But there we saw a notice which the bravest heart unnerved
'All liquor must be settled for before the dhrink is served.'
So on we marched, but soon again each warrior's heart grew pale,
For risin' high in front o' us we saw the County Jail;
And when the army faced about, 'twas just in time to find
A couple o' stout policemin had surrounded us behind.
Still, from the mountains came the squadrons and platoons,
Four-an'-twinty fightin' min, an' a couple o' sthout gossoons;
Says Shlathery, 'We must circumvent these bludgeonin' bosthoons,
Or else it sames they'll take the names o' Shlathery's Light Dragoons:


'We'll cross the ditch,' our leader cried, 'an' take the foe in flank.'
But yells of consthernation here arose from every rank,
For posted high upon a tree we very plainly saw, '
Threspassers prosecuted, in accordance wid' the law'.
'We're foiled!' exclaimed bould Shlathery, 'here ends our grand campaign,
'Tis merely throwin' life away to face that mearin' drain,
I'm not as bold as lions, but I'm braver nor a hin, 
An' he that fights and runs away will live to fight agin.'
An' back to the mountains went the squadrons and platoons,
Four-an'-twinty fightin' men, an' a couple o' sthout gossoons;
The band was playing cautiously their patriotic tunes;
To sing the fame, if rather lame o' Shlathery's Light Dragoons.'



I have just produced an eBook containing 50 songs (first volume hopefully provided it sells) which can be seen and purchased by following this link: 

http://store.blurb.com/ebooks/316519-50-songs-from-the-threelegsoman-collection

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