Mulrooney on a Bike

Over the past month I have learned that the historically-oriented posts here at the blog are not the most popular with the readers. The history major son would be horrified at the lack of interest. Fortunately, for those who do find them compelling, they will continue as Fast Digs Updates (when they are relevant to that), or as random other posts relating to those bygone, halcyon days.

For instance:

Everyone can name a couple bicycle-themed songs, yes. For me, those by Queen and Nazareth are the easiest to recall off the top of my head, and with a little effort there are others I could dig up. Did you know that during the big bike boom of the 1890s there were hundreds of bicycle songs written. Many of them, maybe most, were instrumentals, but there were plenty that also had lyric accompaniment. One such is Mulrooney on a Bike (1894), words and music by Emmet Duffy (keep in mind you have to say / sing as if you have an Irish brogue - those apparent misspellings are not, ie. "whin" = when, "dure" = door, "strate" = street, "fate" = feet, etcetera:

Now it was a  pleasant evening, sure, whin outside Mike Mulrooney's dure
A dude had left a bicycle quite safe, he thought,
Now whin the bike Mulrooney spied, he said, "Be gob sure I can ride,"
So Tim McFadden held it while on board he got,
McFadden thin gave him a push, and down the strate the bike did rush,
Just like a freight train off the track, the boys all said:
He ran into a hack almost, and thin he struck an iron post.
He flew up in the air and landed on his head.

(chorus)
Yerra, the strates were all blockaded whin the news got 'round
That Mulrooney he was thryin to ride a bike.
(Who's that?) Mister Mike Mulrooney, sure he must be looney,
Who would ever think he'd do the like?
(No indeed) Sure his friends tried to persuade him not to roide,
But he said, "Just watch me, and I'll show yez how."
(Wow, wow) He said that it was aisy - the man was surely crazy,
And three doctors they are tending to him now.

Whin Mulrooney landed on his head, they rushed to see if he was dead,
The pavement was all broken where his head had struck;
He said, "Twas but an accident. I wasn't watching where I wint,
I'll thry it wasnt agin, perhaps I'll have more luck."
He got upon the bike once more, and down the strate he madly tore;
 He ran into a funeral and tipped the hearse,
Thin dashed right through a German band, and wrecked a Dago's pea-nut stand,
'Twas like a railroad smash-up, only ten toimes worse.

(chorus)

All the neighbors yelled 'till they were hoarse, Mulrooney took a zig-zag course,
From side to side, scared all the horses off the strate.
He fell off once, he fell off twice - he wouldn't take a friend's advice;
He says, "I'll ride this darned machine, av I lose both fate."
Got on again, had not gone far, whin he struck an electric car;
He knocked it off the track, they thought that he'd stop thin.
His head was cut and straming blood, his clothes wor all destroyed with mud,
but he got on the bike and started off again.

(chorus)

The salvation army came along, Murlooney dashed right through the trhrong;
He nearly killed the captain - how the soldiers swore,
He smashed the base drum all to bits, thin Mrs Clancy's twins had fits
Whin they saw him a'timpt to roide through Grady's store.
He dashed along at frightful speed, their warning shouts he did not heed.
A ditch was due to lay a sewer, and down wint Mike,
They with a derrick pulled him out, that he'll recover there's some doubt,
But av he does, he never more will ride a bike.

(chorus)