The Rakes of Mallow ✧
A cheerful dance tune built from repeated pairs and quick descending runs.
Sheet music
Tap a staff note or finger tab to hear it.
A · first time
A · second time
B · first time
B · second time
D whistle · G major · 2/4 · 120 BPM · + upper octave
A · first time
A · second time
B · first time
B · second time
Lyrics
Traditional Irish song · eighteenth-century text
An early sung version of the tune, with its historical spelling and wording.
Beauing, belling, dancing, singing, Breaking windows, damning, sinking, Ever raking, never thinking, Live the Rakes of Mallow. Spending faster than it comes, Beating Bawds and Whores and Duns, Bacchus' true begotten sons, Live the Rakes of Mallow.
One time nought but claret drinking, Then like politicians thinking, To raise the sinking-fund when sinking, Live the Rakes of Mallow. One time flush of money store, Then as any poet poor, Kissing Queens, and then a W--re, Live the Rakes of Mallow.
When at home with dada dying, Still for Mallow waters crying, But when there, good claret plying, Live the Rakes of Mallow. Living short, but merry lives, Going where the D---l drives, Keeping Misses, but no Wives, Live the Rakes of Mallow.
Racking tenants, stewards teizing, Swiftly spending, slowly raising, Wishing to spend all our days, in Raking thus at Mallow. Thus to end a raking life, We grow sober, take a Wife, Ever after live in strife, Wish again for Mallow.
About this tune
The Rakes of Mallow has a long history in dance collections, including Walsh’s Caledonian Country Dances in 1733 and a Thumoth collection in 1745. It has travelled through several dance traditions.
The melody pairs repeated notes with short rising and falling figures. Its compact phrases and strong pulse give it a cheerful, outgoing character.
Performances
Watch musicians play this tune on tin whistle. Keys and arrangements may differ from the tabs above.
The Rakes of Mallow on tin whistle
Tin Whistle Traveler
A D-whistle performance and play-along with on-screen tabs.
Watch on YouTube — The Rakes of Mallow on tin whistle by Tin Whistle Traveler (opens in a new tab) ↗