A catchy tune, familiar to most in Ulster and has been in existence since the 17th Century. Also can be known as Lilli Bullero, Lilly Bolero, or Lily Bolero.
Ho brother Teague, dost hear de decree? Lilli burlero, bullen a la (insert every other line) Dat we shall have a new deputie, CHORUS: Lero, lero, lilli burlero, Lilli burlero, bullen a la Lero lero, lero lero, Lilli burlero, bullen a la. Ho, by my Soul, it is a Talbot; And he will cut all de English throat, Though by my soul, de English do prate, De law's on dere side and de divil knows what, But if Dispense do come from de Pope, We'll hang Magna Carta and demselves on a rope. And de good Talbot is now made a Lord, And with his brave lads he's coming aboard. Who all In France have taken a swear, Dat day will have no Protestant heir. O but why does he stay behind? Ho, by my soul, 'tis a Protestant wind, Now that Tyrconnel is come ashore, And we shall have Commissions galore. And he dat will not go to de Mass, Shall be turned out and look like an ass, Now, now de hereticks all will go down, By Christ and St. Patrick's the nation's our own. Dere was an old prophecy found in a bog, Dat our land would be ruled by an ass and a dog. So now dis old prophecy's coming to pass, For James is de dog and Tyrconnel's de ass.
In 1685, King James II designated Colonel Richard Talbot, a Catholic, as Earl of Tyrconnel and sent him to Ireland as Lord Lieutenant.
Talbot quickly filled the army in Ireland with Catholic officers and recruits, alarming the Protestants who feared a repeat of the massacre in 1641, and raising the hopes of the Irish Catholic community for a restoration of their lands and political power.
This enraged the English and Irish Protestants, who took up this song-“For James is de dog and Tyrconnel’s de ass”-as their protest.
Henry Purcell is alleged to have composed the melody of “Lillibulero” for a march in 1686, but this is disputed. In the same year, Thomas, Lord Wharton composed lyrics to accompany the tune.
Wharton was satirising a conversation between two Irishmen about the imminent arrival of the Catholic Talbot, and its dire implications for the Protestants
The song initially made very little impression on the public.
However, when James II began transferring Irish regiments to England in 1688, broadsides of the lyrics were printed, and by October “Lillibullero” had became immensely popular.
It spread as a popular street song in English towns, and especially inside English barracks to mock the arriving Irish regiments.
The next month, William of Orange invaded, and “Lillibullero” became even more commonplace. Even the palace guards supposedly loyal to James II were heard singing it.
Wharton boasted that he had “sung a deluded Prince out of three kingdoms”. A nice, if apocryphal, line.
Song References
The song parodies the widespread Irish belief in prophecy (“there was an old prophecy found in a bog, that Ireland’d be ruled by an ass and a dog”). Talbot, as well as being a name, is a breed of hound or hunting dog.
“Lilliburlero” was the watchword used by Irish Catholics during the Irish Rebellion of 1641 – and is also believed to be a a garbled version of the Irish words An Lile ba léir é, ba linn an lá, “The Lily was everywhere and ours was the day (i.e., we won )”.
However another theory is that “Lilli” is a familiar form of William, and that bullero comes from the Irish “Buaill Léir ó”, which gives: “William defeated all that remained”
“We will have commissions galore” references the filling of the Army with Catholic officers and recruits, Whilst the raised hopes of the Catholic community are referenced in “by Christ and St Patrick, the nation’s our own”.
Many alternate versions cropped up during these tumultuous days. One of the best-known version is the Ulster Protestant folk lyric called “Protestant Boys”.
The basic melody of “Lillibulero” also appears to have been adapted by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for the theme of the first movement of his Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major.
Second Part Added
A second part was published to the song as William advanced in 1688. The language of the second part is even rougher as two Irish soldiers stationed in England pine for home since the English hate them anyway.
By Chreist, my dear Morish, vat maukes de sho' sad ? The heretics jear us and mauke me mad. Pox take me, dear Teague, but I am in a rage, Poo', what impidence is in dish age? Vat if Dush should come as dey hope, To up hang us for all de dispense of de Pope? Dey shay dat Tyrconnel's a friend to de mash, For which he's a traitor, a pimp, and an ass. Ara', plague tauke me know, I make a swar, I to Shent Tyburn will mauke a great prayer. Oh, I will pray to Shent Patrick's frock, Or to Loreto's sacred smock. Now, a pox tauke me, what dost dow tink, De English confusion to Popery drink. And, by my shoul, de mash house pull down, While dey were swearing de Mayor of de town. Oh, fait and be, I'll mauke de decree, And swar by de Chancellor's modesty; Dat I no longer in English will stay, For be Goad, dey will hang us out of de way.