To be more precise: turn the whole world into a pub!
Hungary
Bully in the Alley
Paddy and the Rats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Help me, Bob, I'm bully in the alley, way hey, bully in the alley
Help me, Bob, I′m bully in the alley, bully down in Shinbone Al
Help me, Bob, I'm bully in the alley, way hey, bully in the alley
Help me, Bob, I'm bully in the alley, bully down in Shinbone Al
Well, Sally is a girl down that I love dearly, way hey, bully in the alley
Help me, Bob, I′m bully in the alley, way hey, bully in the alley
Help me, Bob, I′m bully in the alley, bully down in Shinbone Al
For seven long years I courted Sally, way hey, bully in the alley
All she did was dilly-dally, bully down in Shinbone Al
Help me, Bob, I'm bully in the alley, way hey, bully in the alley
Help me, Bob, I′m bully in the alley, bully down in Shinbone Al
I'll leave Sal and I′ll become a sailor, way hey, bully in the alley
I'll leave Sal and ship aboard a whaler, bully down in Shinbone Al
Help me, Bob, I′m bully in the alley, way hey, bully in the alley
Help me, Bob, I'm bully in the alley, bully down in Shinbone Al
Help me, Bob, I'm bully in the alley, way hey, bully in the alley
Help me, Bob, I′m bully in the alley, bully down in Shinbone Al
Help me, Bob, I′m bully in the alley, way hey, bully in the alley
Help me, Bob, I'm bully in the alley, bully down in Shinbone Al
Help me, Bob, I′m bully in the alley, way hey, bully in the alley
Help me, Bob, I'm bully in the alley, bully down in Shinbone Al
Help me, Bob, I′m bully in the alley, way hey, bully in the alley
Help me, Bob, I'm bully in the alley, bully down in Shinbone Al
I′ll come back and I'll marry Sally, way hey, bully in the alley
We'll have kids and count them by tally, bully down in Shinbone Al
Help me, Bob, I′m bully in the alley, way hey, bully in the alley
Help me, Bob, I′m bully in the alley, bully down in Shinbone Al
Bully down in Shinbone Al
Bully down in Shinbone Al
The song "Bully in the Alley" by Paddy and the Rats tells the story of a man named Bob who is feeling down on his luck and needs help. He feels like a "bully" in the alley, meaning he is a lonely and hapless soul. The lyrics suggest that he has been trying to court a girl named Sally for seven years, but she has been leading him on and not taking him seriously. The chorus repeats several times throughout the song, with Bob asking for help from his friend and repeating the phrase "bully in the alley."
Bob decides to leave Sally behind and become a sailor on a whaling ship. He hopes that he will be able to forget about Sally and move on with his life. However, he ultimately decides to return to Sally and marry her. The lyrics end on a happy note, with Bob looking forward to having children with Sally and starting a family "down in Shinbone Al."
Overall, the song is a classic tale of unrequited love and the struggles that come with it. It explores themes of loneliness, heartbreak, and the search for meaning and happiness in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Help me, Bob, I'm bully in the alley, way hey, bully in the alley
The singer asks for help from another person named Bob as they have found themselves in trouble while in a particular alleyway. The phrase 'way hey' seems to be a chant to motivate or express excitement.
Help me, Bob, I'm bully in the alley, bully down in Shinbone Al
The singer reiterates the need for Bob's help and gives the name of the specific alleyway they are in, named Shinbone Al.
Well, Sally is a girl down that I love dearly, way hey, bully in the alley
The singer talks about a girl they have strong feelings for named Sally. The 'way hey' chant continues in the song.
Sally is a girl that I spliced nearly, bully down in Shinbone Al
The singer expresses a romantic pursuit of Sally in the alley named Shinbone Al.
For seven long years I courted Sally, way hey, bully in the alley
The singer explains to Bob that they have been courting Sally for seven years, and again the 'way hey' chant is used.
All she did was dilly-dally, bully down in Shinbone Al
The singer is disappointed with Sally's lack of willingness to commit to their relationship in Shinbone Al.
I'll leave Sal and I'll become a sailor, way hey, bully in the alley
The singer decides to leave Sally and become a sailor. The 'way hey' chant is used again in the song.
I'll leave Sal and ship aboard a whaler, bully down in Shinbone Al
The singer confirms their intention to leave Sally and work on a whaling ship in the alleyway named Shinbone Al.
I'll come back and I'll marry Sally, way hey, bully in the alley
The singer plans to return and marry Sally. The 'way hey' chant is used again.
We'll have kids and count them by tally, bully down in Shinbone Al
The singer envisions a happy future with Sally in Shinbone Al where they have children and count them by tally.
Bully down in Shinbone Al
This line repeats as a refrain, highlighting the central location of the narrative -- Shinbone Al.
Writer(s): Christopher John Lethbridge, Trevor Frederick Grills, Jonathan Robert Cleave, Traditional, Rose Prince, Louise Brown, Julian Nicholas Brown, Richard Peter Rowe, Jeremy David Brown, Michael William Hawkins, Rupert Christie, Nigel Sherratt, John Anthony Brown, John Leonard Mcdonnell
Contributed by William H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nigel Holmes
+cromusic ibra
http://www.joestead.com/kimberbio.htm
"John, who has a voice similar to Paul Robeson also sings with the local
operatic society in Halifax and is a member of The Bradshaw
Mummers who can be seen in quaint outfits throughout most
summers at various festivals acting out the important
chapters of English history. John sang lead bass with
Northern Ballet at Leeds Playhouse for the winter season of
Mozart’s Requiem. "
Thr4kus
I find it physically impossible for me to sit still while listening to this song.
ADITYA PRAKASH YADAV
Bro you still active?
Endless Summer
+Thr4kus Same, and only for this version.
Endless Summer
+Katya Knightwolf Not if you have to man the sails!
Grim
Naw, just did! Well, I sat and wrote out a report on The Ancient Mongol Empire. So, not hard to do. xD
Katya Knightwolf
Isn't that the whole point of the song (or shanty depending on the version)? To make one jump up and dance?
ffarkasm
Bármilyen meglepő, nekem ez a kedvenc számom tőlük. Nem mondom, hogy azok rosszak, de jobban örülnék, ha visszatérnének az ír/kocsma stílushoz a punk helyett.
S Gibson
I woke up to this song and it started my day right and of course, I sang the song how can you not!
AimeeLeigha
"This song is about being too drunk to stand and having your mates stash you in an alley until they're ready to go back to sea. Shinbone Alley is a street in St. George's, Bermuda."
AimeeLeigha
@ADITYA PRAKASH YADAV hell yeah brether