Stories of Famous Songs, Vol 2

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FAMOUS SONGS
wrote and composed a vast quantity of songs? some of which are preserved hy Walker, Hardiman, and Bunting, but as his pieces are not known except in a few cases outside the land in which they were born, I refrain from giving more. The music of several of O'Caro-lan's composing will be found adapted to Eng-lish words and often claimed as of English origin, but to give a full list of these would be only tiring to the reader. " Bumper, Squire Jones," which is usually stated to be O'CaroIan's, was really written by Arthur Dawson, Baron of the Exchequer, to O'Carolan's air of " Planxty Jones." The following history of the song is taken from the " Dublin University Magazine" for January, 1841.
" Respecting the origin of O'Carolan's fine air of ' Bumper, Squire Jones/ we have heard a different account from that given on O'Neill's authority. It was told us by our lamented friend the late Dean of St. Patrick's, as the tradition preserved in his family : O'Carolan and Baron Dawson, the grand or great-grand-uncle to the dean, happened to be enjoying together, with others, the hospitalities of Squire Jones, of Moneyglass, and slept in rooms adjacent to each other. The bard being called upon by the company J:o compose a song or tune in
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