This slip jig, called The Swaggering Jig, (also called ‘Give us a drink of water’) is often one of the first Irish slipjigs that I teach students. I have heard it said that the slipjig and the hopjig are the ‘true’ indigenous musical forms of Ireland; but I’ve not been able to confirm this, and in fact jigs (normal jigs that is, as in ‘double jigs) are referenced in ancient Ireland.
This slipjig, The Swaggering jig, is a fairly straightforward tune to play, once you wrap your head around the 9/8 rhythm. In other words, if we think of ‘bacon and sauceages’ (1-2-3 4-5-6) for jigs, we can think of ‘rashers of bacon and sauceages) (1-2-3 4-5-6 7-8-9) for slipjigs.
This tune, is also connected to a song, which uses a simplified version of the melody. The words can really help with understanding the rhythm and swing of this tune. The song is called Bellaghy Fair, (or sometime Bonlaghy Fair) and was collected in the 1930s in Derry by the song collector Sam Henry. It goes like this:
I went to the fair at Bonlaghy,
I bought a little wee pig,
I rolled it up in my pocket,
And it danced a swaggering jig.
Then it’s hi for the top o’ the heather,
And hi for the root of the sprig,
And hi for the bonny wee lassie,
That danced the Swaggering Jig.
I went to the fair at Bonlaghy,
I bought a wee slip of a pig,
And as I was passing the poorhouse,
I whistled the Swaggering Jig.
Then it’s hi for the cups and the saucers,
And hi for the butter and bread,
And hi for the bonny wee lassie,
That danced the Swaggering Jig.
As I being down by the poorhouse,
I whistled so loud and so shrill,
I made all the fairies to tremble,
That lived near McLoughrim Hill.
Then it’s Hi! for the cups and the saucers,
And hi for the butter and bread,
And hi for the bonny wee lassie,
That danced the Swaggering Jig.
Fiddle players, if you would like to take your fiddle playing to the next level, take a look at my online fiddle courses, including my free Irish fiddle course.