In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
In the town of Milton one
Brian Flannigan battered away till his money was spent
Then he hit a big one and felt like a man again,
Bought a three decker with two floors for rent
He threw a big party for friends
And relations at a grand old place called Florian Hall
And if you'll just listen, I'll make your eyes glisten
To the rows and the ructions of Flannigan's ball
Six long months I spent in quincy
Six long months doing nothing at all
Six long months I spent in quincy
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
I stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and I stepped in again
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
Free beer on tap and wine for the ladies
Ziti and sauce for Mark Porzio
There were faheys and bradys
Mcauliffes and daleys courtin the girls and dancing away
Brian tully sang out in his finest form
The patron's responded and I lead 'em all
I'd spent six months at Forbes Academy
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
Six long months I spent in quincy
Six long months doing nothing at all
Six long months I spent in quincy
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
I stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and I stepped in again
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
The boys were hammered the girls were hearty
Dancing around in couples and groups
An accident happened, young Dennis Flemming
Put his right leg through miss Finneran's hoops
This gal she fainted and cried bloody murder
Called for her sons and gathered them all
Christopher swore he'd go no further
Till he had revenge at Flannigan's ball
Six long months I spent in quincy
Six long months doing nothing at all
Six long months I spent in quincy
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
I stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and I stepped in again
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
In the midst of the melee
Miss Collins fainted her cheeks by now were as red as a rose
Some of the boys declared she was plastered
Had a small drop too much I suppose
Young Scotty Jenkins so big and able
Saw his fair colleen stretched by the wall
Tore the left leg from under the table
And smashed all the dishes at Flannigan's ball
Boy, oh, boy, now this was a rumble
Myself took a lick from mean Ricky Green
But I soon replied to that fine introduction
And gave him a terrible kick in the spleen
Talent the piper nearly got strangled
They squeezed on his bellows, chanters and all
The girls in the middle nearly got trampled
And that put an end to Flannigan's ball
Six long months I spent in quincy
Six long months doing nothing at all
Six long months I spent in quincy
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
I stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and I stepped in again
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
Brian Flannigan battered away till his money was spent
Then he hit a big one and felt like a man again,
Bought a three decker with two floors for rent
He threw a big party for friends
And relations at a grand old place called Florian Hall
And if you'll just listen, I'll make your eyes glisten
To the rows and the ructions of Flannigan's ball
Six long months I spent in quincy
Six long months doing nothing at all
Six long months I spent in quincy
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
I stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and I stepped in again
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
Free beer on tap and wine for the ladies
Ziti and sauce for Mark Porzio
There were faheys and bradys
Mcauliffes and daleys courtin the girls and dancing away
Brian tully sang out in his finest form
The patron's responded and I lead 'em all
I'd spent six months at Forbes Academy
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
Six long months I spent in quincy
Six long months doing nothing at all
Six long months I spent in quincy
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
I stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and I stepped in again
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
The boys were hammered the girls were hearty
Dancing around in couples and groups
An accident happened, young Dennis Flemming
Put his right leg through miss Finneran's hoops
This gal she fainted and cried bloody murder
Called for her sons and gathered them all
Christopher swore he'd go no further
Till he had revenge at Flannigan's ball
Six long months I spent in quincy
Six long months doing nothing at all
Six long months I spent in quincy
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
I stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and I stepped in again
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
In the midst of the melee
Miss Collins fainted her cheeks by now were as red as a rose
Some of the boys declared she was plastered
Had a small drop too much I suppose
Young Scotty Jenkins so big and able
Saw his fair colleen stretched by the wall
Tore the left leg from under the table
And smashed all the dishes at Flannigan's ball
Boy, oh, boy, now this was a rumble
Myself took a lick from mean Ricky Green
But I soon replied to that fine introduction
And gave him a terrible kick in the spleen
Talent the piper nearly got strangled
They squeezed on his bellows, chanters and all
The girls in the middle nearly got trampled
And that put an end to Flannigan's ball
Six long months I spent in quincy
Six long months doing nothing at all
Six long months I spent in quincy
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
I stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and I stepped in again
I stepped out and I stepped in again
Learning to dance for Flannigan's ball
Lyrics submitted by Brendonsoh
(F)lannigan's Ball Lyrics as written by Tim Brennan Al Barr
Lyrics © SPIRIT TWO SMA
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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hearing this song never having heard of quincy mass. I thought quincy was a jail, that this person spent in for 6 long months, learning to dance to goto flannigans ball where the brawl breaks out wich is the revenge that was being planned while in prison. also explains i stepped out and i stepped in again, meaning after the ball he had to go back to jail. and i always thought that the people they attack at the dance are the same people who sent him to prison first