Ballad of Mad Dog Coll

Ballad of Mad Dog Coll

A rough recording of the Ballad of Mad Dog Coll shot at the Craic n’ Ceol in Lanzarote with Sharon Hussey on Fiddle.

 

Written by R. Gallagher. Fiddle by Sharon Hussey. Copywrite IMRO 2011. – Lyrics: 
–THE BALLAD OF MAD DOG COLL–
Born in July 1908 
In a run down cottage in old Gweedore
Times they were tough he had to emigrate
A one way ticket to old New York,
By 8 years of age he was own his own
A mean old woman she took him home
She said “Son, you’re gonna learn that Life is a bitch, quit your crying and get on with it”

chorus:
This is the Story of Mad Dog Coll
A crazy young bastard from Donegal
He moved to New York and they say he could have had it all..
Bang Bang Shotgun!

By the age of 18 his heart was a rock
He wouldn’t think twice about killing a man
Old Dutchy Schultz was the King of the Bronx
He took young Mad Dog and shook his hand
and said “Kid, I’m gonna take you under my wing, make you richer than your wildest dreams” 

The years went by as Mad Dog grew
Swindle and Murder was all he knew
On July 28th 1931
A routine kidnapping went wrong
They all started shooting, the place went wild
Mad dog shot a 5 year old child,

(chorus)

Salvatore Maranzano – Mafia king of All New York
He wanted to kill “Lucky” Luciano
He paid Mad Dog to do the job.
But “Lucky” heard rumours flying around
And shot old Maranzano down
Then Mad Dog had a price on his head
Within 4 months Mad dog was dead

Now of all the Jews and Italians that Mad Dog crossed
He was actually killed by an Irish boss
Eoiny Madden – Hells kitchen Mob – paid $50,000 to kill Mad Dog
On 8th Avenue and 23rd street
Mad Dog thought he had someone to meet

But in a glass phone booth he was shot down cold
Mad Dog Coll – 24 years old.