AN ISLAND CEILIDH PART 5: FUNNY SONGS

The break was coming up at the Stanley Bridge ceilidh, and Dad had the perfect song at the ready. A few years back he came up with a real gem called “The 50-50 Song.” An Island institution, 50-50 tickets are sold at the front of the hall. If you win, you get half the pot. “We always had to explain to tourists what the 50-50 draw was,” says Dad. So he did what he does best: he wrote a song to explain it.

Half the 50-50 will go into your pocket, The other half will go towards the hall, The government takes half your half and half you owe your better half so in the end there’s nothing left at all.

“Everybody laughs about the government taking your money,” says Dad. As always, the audience is in stitches. Soon, we’re all singing along.

Islanders are sure to say, that “you can’t win if you don’t play!” So don’t forget your tickets to the 50-50 draw.

Ticket sales have skyrocketed since the song was written. Tonight, the pot is 138 dollars. Tom asks the lucky family from Quebec what they plan on doing with their spoils. “We’re going to put it towards her piano lessons,” the mother says, pointing to her youngster.

“I love these ceilidhs and these good family values. Like…gambling,” says Tom as they return to their seats.

“And drinking songs!” I add.