Whistling Gypsy.

[Affair on Touhy Ave.]

i 1st heard this song when i was small from a Clancy Brothers album my parents own. haven't listened to it in years but i've heard other version of it by The Kingston Trio and the Highwaymen. who did this song originally?

[Sheila Ann]

"The Whistling Gypsy was written by Leo McGuire in Dublin about 1950 and first sung by Joe Lynch, the popular ballad singer from Cork. The song was written on a dare - I heard this from McGuire himself - that he could write a popular Irish song that would not have a sad ending ! The song was very popular throughout the 1950s. I last heard it sung by a quartet in Los Angeles in 1999. I was so surprised that I ran over and joined in with them. Oddly, they were pleased, because it turned out that they knew only one verse of the song and I knew them all ! (TC)"

I'm quoting this from a site I found by using Google.com Always liked this song myself. We sang it as a fun song in glee club when I was in high school. The question intrigued me so I did a bit of scouting around. Hope it helps.

[The Rez]

The Limelighters, Glenn Yarborough's whistle & tenor. The Kingston Trio, Bob Shane's whistle and sandpaper-beautiful high baritone . . .

Has anyone ever sung that marvelous song poorly?

My whistle at the window of my son's mother - way back in the "goin' steady" days - was our signal.

I came home unanounced after Infantry AIT w/ marriage on my mind. I whislted again at her window.

Can't hear that song w/o thinking of the young boy, the girl, and the window.

The Rez

. . . Ah Dee Doo Ah Dee Doo Dah Day