Lillabullero
Lillabullero
According to Bishop Percy in his Reliques of Ancient English
Poetry (4th. edn., 1794), the words 'Lilli-Burlero-Bullen-a-la'
were 'the words of distinction used among the Irish Papists at the
time of their massacre of the Protestants in 1641'.
They were made the refrain of a nonsense song satirizing the Earl
of Tyrconnel on the occasion of his going to Ireland in January
1686-7 as James II's Catholic lieutenant. The song was immensely
popular and is said to have played a major part in rousing
the anti-Catholic feeling which brought about the Revoultion of
1688. The words were by Lord Wharton and were set to music by
Purcell.
Uncle Toby would whistle or hum Lillabullero in response to any
kind of argument or issue he felt was nonsense or in a situation
where he was shocked or embarassed by the subject at hand.
Click here for the first passage on
Lillabullero in Volume I.
Characters
| Toby |
Yorick |
father (Walter Shandy) |
mother |
Trim |
Tristram |
Dr Slop |
Themes
| HOBBY-HORSE |
Lillabullero |
Don Quixote |
Noses |
Names |
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Last modified May 12, 1996. Maintained by Keith Earley.
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