A longing to laugh thru a jolly lay;
And must hear one before they’d go away.
So he arose and forward went again;
He mused awhile; he knew not what to sing.
Then lo! His face lit with a mental flame;
He found one that to them much joy would bring;
Then with a jolly mien and mirth for all
He sang that rollicking lay, “Lanigan’s Ball.”
This had the psychological effect:
The whole house went roaring rollicking glad.