MICHAEL PITTMAN

Michael was a good fisherman and a good singer, his favourite song being “The Boy With The Curly Hair".  Michael was always a very outspoken individual, and once when on a party up to Bill Ennis, he wanted to sing his song but couldn't get a chance with the others who were singing. Finally, Bill asked him to sing “The Boy With the Curly Hair", to which Michael responded quite loudly. “I’d sing you “The Boy With the Curly Hair" if they knock off bawlin. How can anyone sing with them bawlin?". He then got silence for his song. Another of Michael’s favourites was “The Black“.

The Black

A story I'll tell you it happened last evening
Of an eminent doctor who lived in Cork Town
Three Jolly Jack Tars that had been out larking
And fifty bright guineas he had to lay down.
These Jolly Jack Tars and their mess mates being groggy
Their money all out and their credit far run
From Patrick St. to the Quay down they rambled
They were bent to procure it, their money for fun.

The cook of the ship being one of the party
A smart lad he was and his color was black
With wit and contrivance he always was ready
And soon found a way to raise cash in a crack.
Says he to the mess mates l heard people talking
A corpse could be sold very easily here
So take me alive, wrap me up in my hammock
And sell me to buy either whisky or beer.

The sailors agreed and accepted the offer
Away to the house where the doctor did dwell
And into his ear they boldly did whisper
Saying Doctor we have got a corpse for to sell.
A corpse said the doctor, like a man in amazement
Oh where did you get it, come tell me l pray
If you’ll bring it here, I’ll buy it quite ready
And fifty bright guineas to you l will pay.

The sailors agreed and accepted the offer
Away to the ship, oh they quickly retired
Come listen a while and pay great attention
And l will tell you what quickly transpired.
They wrapped the poor black, tied him up in his hammock
A smart lad he was, oh most sturdy and strong
And in under his waist coat by way or protection
A knife with a blade about half a yard long.

About twelve o'clock when the streets were lonesome
The sailors went off with the black on their back
And into the house they boldly did venture
And in the back room they concealed the poor black.
The doctor he paid the bold seamen their money
They told him their cook had died on the quay
And rather than have his dead body to bury
We sold him to you and he's out of our way.

The doctor he got out his knife to dissect him
He came down the stairs with the tools in his hand
He opened the door and boldly he ventured
The Black stood before him with cutlass in hand.
He opened the door and boldly did venture
A’ thinking the corpse was in very rich prime
With a voice loud as thunder the Black he approached him
Saying damn your eyes doctor, I’ll skin you alive.

The doctor he ran like a man that was frightened
Straight up to the room where his wife she did lie
Saying, wife, dearest wife, oh where will you hide me
For I fear the Black devil is after my hide.
His wife she got out and the doors she did bar them
She barred them so tight that he couldn’t get in
Saying husband dear husband, leave off your dissecting
For fear the Black devil he might come again.