Annotation:Gobby-O (The)
X:1 T:Gobby O, The M:6/8 L:1/8 R:Jig O:"Irish" S:Aird - Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 4 (1796, No. 94, p. 38) Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:Amin B|c2A (AcA)|E2A A2c|B2G (GBc)|dBG GAB| c2A (AcA)|E2A A2f|edc BAB|E2A A2:| |:B|A2B c2d|e2^f g3|faf gfe|(dBG) G2B| A2B c2d|e2^g aga|edc BAc|E2A A2:|]
GOBBY-O/GOBBIE O, THE (An Gobbi O). AKA and see "Bay of Bantry (The)," "Gaby Boy (The)," "Jefferson and Liberty (1)," "Jefferson's March," "Liberty's Welcome," "Road to Drocherday (The)." Scottish, English, Irish; Jig (6/8 time). A Minor (O'Farrell): A Dorian (most versions): G Dorian (Wilson): A Major (O'Neill/1850). Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Stanford/Petrie, Wilson): AABB (most versions): AABC (Kerr). One suggestion regarding the meaning of the title postulates a progressive derivation from "Gaberlunzie Boy" (i.e. beggar boy), shortened to "Gaby Boy (The)," and finally morphing into "Gobby-O." Another suggests the title derived from the Gaelic word gob, meaning 'mouth' or 'beak'. O'Sullivan & McCandless (2005) say that the title "most likely refers to a 'gobby-stick' (a flute or fife), the inference being that these woodwind instruments are hollow sticks played with the mouth (gob is the Irish language word for 'beak' or 'mouth')." O'Neill (1922) records: "Classed as an Irish tune in Aird's Selections of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs [vol. 4, 1796] and in Brand & Weller's Country Dances for 1798. Aird designated the provenance of the tune as 'Irish'. 'The Gobby O' was a simple jig of two parts. The possibilities of elaboration based on a popular strain are well illustrated by Jeremiah Breen, a blind fiddler of Ballybunnian, North Kerry, as noted down by his pupil Thomas Rice."
Two tunes unrelated to the present "Gobby O", but related to each other, and also called "The Gobby O" appear in the music manuscript collections of flute player Thomas Molyneaux (1788, Nova Scotia) and Lincolnshire army fifer Thomas Buttery (early 19th century). As "Gaby O" it was entered into the large 1840 music manuscript collection of multi-instrumentalist John Rook (Waverton, Cumbria).
The tune became popular in American fife and drum repertory, especially under the title "Jefferson and Liberty (1)," the name of a political campaign song set to the melody. Previously, the melody also served as a vehicle in England for the topical song "Wilkes and Liberty," honoring the 18th century politician and journalist John Wilkes (1727–1797), who championed the cause of American independence in England and was jailed for his troubles. Boston music publisher Elias Howe gave the "Jefferson and Liberty" title a twist, calling the tune "Liberty's Welcome" in his 1880's Musicians Omnibus Nos. 6 & 7.
