Good ol’ Irish music! It’s lovely, lively, and fun to dance to. Did you know that sometimes the most beautiful tunes can have hilarious names? Presenting the top ten weirdest tune names in Irish music.
In terms of Irish music, a ‘tune’ is a song without lyrics, played on traditional Irish instruments, where there is no singing involved.
The reels, jigs, and hornpipes that we know and love have been around for so long that we don’t even know who composed them.
So, if you’re the kind of person who’s fascinated by songwriters and their backstories, Irish tunes might not be for you.
The only backstory you have to go on here is in the title of the tune itself, which can often be weird and random.
However, if it’s a laugh you’re looking for, stay ‘tuned’ for our list of the top ten weirdest tune names in Irish music!
10. Tripping up the Stairs – a happy jig to start us off
Analysing this tune’s name just leaves us gazing open-mouthed at the sheet music. Surely, wouldn’t it take some amount of talent to fall up some stairs?
That can’t be comfortable on the knees, either. There are so many questions left unanswered here.
9. Smash the Windows – getting us straight into the stranger stuff
The name of this tune prompts us to imagine what the composer must have been feeling when they named it. Anger? Excitement? God only knows.
The tune itself is jolly and sure to put you in a good mood as soon as you hear it.
8. The Flying Wheelchair – a mode of transportation for the future?
This tune earns a spot on our countdown of the top ten weirdest tune names in Irish music because who wouldn’t want to take to the skies in a wheelchair?
This is a charming tune and is often a crowd-pleaser at trad sessions.
7. Jerry Beaver’s Hat – the argument starter
This name may not look strange to you, but it is known to start arguments amongst musicians.
Many people believe that the tune is called ‘Jerry Beaver’s Hat’, meaning a hat belonging to someone called Jerry Beaver.
Others claim the tune is called ‘Jerry’s Beaver Hat’, which suggests that some poor beaver was made into a hat just because some lad called Jerry wanted to have the sweetest style around.
6. The Clumsy Lover – we all know one!
This tune had us in fits of giggles! We are curious to know why someone would pick this name for a tune.
Weirdest of all, this tune is also referred to as ‘The Sloppy Kisser’. We can’t decide which name sounds better!
5. Get Up Old Woman and Shake Yourself – a seriously long title
Wow. This tune must cause some misunderstandings between musicians at trad sessions, like this, for instance:
“What tune should we play next?”
“Get Up Old Woman and Shake Yourself.”
“What did you just call me!???”
4. Old Hag, You Have Killed Me – the funniest yet
Our main question here is, who is this hag and who have they killed?
Does the composer mean ‘kill’ in the literal sense, or is it more like ‘you’re killing me with this funny tune name’?
3. The Cow That Ate The Blanket – one of the weirdest tune names in Irish music
Why is this a weird tune name? Well, it’s not just any cow but the cow that ate the blanket. This tune is also known as ‘The Cat That Ate The Candle’.
We wonder if that beaver from weird tune number seven ate something odd, too, before being made into Jerry’s hat, of course.
2. The Hairy-Chested Frog – for more animal mayhem
We never knew that frogs could have hairy chests, but if it’s in a tune name, it must be true!
We’d like to know if this frog had a name or if they were nameless like the beaver, the cow, and the cat.
1. I Buried My Wife and Danced on her Grave – taking the top spot on our compilation of weirdest tune names in Irish music
This tune surpasses all with its dark, twisted, and outright weird name. Why? Because we seriously don’t want to know the meaning behind it!
These were our top ten weirdest tune names in Irish music, but there are hundreds more for you to laugh at.
Just ask any trad musician, and they’ll share their favourites with you. It’s sure to be an interesting conversation!
