Rattlin Bog

Song Information

Composer: Traditional

Lyric Author: Traditional

Published: Old!

Country of origin: Ireland

General Interest

The origins of this song are uncertain, as there are 180 versions listed in the Roud Index! Most sources agree it’s Irish, and this version certainly is. Another version popular in Ireland is "The Green Grass Grew All Around".

One quote about its origins said "it's ridiculous to try and identify a single source for a song that has such a varied history". We have been unable to find anything that says how old it is!

It's a lot of fun to sing, with the verses getting longer each time - similar in concept to the much loved kids song "There's a hole in the bottom of the sea". Verses can be adapted and added as long as you've got the breath to sing!

Our song gained fame recently when a video of an Irish wedding reception was published by the Irish Times newspaper, which subsequently went viral on YouTube.

Here's a link to the Lyric:

Rattlin' Bog Lyric

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