McNally’s Row of Flats was a popular song of 1882 describing the emerging diversity of the Five Points in New York City. Set in a run down “row of flats” on Bottle Alley on Mulberry Street run by a minor Tammany politician, here mix Irish, Italians, Jews, Chinese, and African Americans, along with rats and the cats who eat them. The song was written by the team that invented the American Musical, Harrigan and Braham. Edward Harrigan was an Irish American and David Braham was Jewish, whose partnerhip had an “only in America” quality. While they used the currency of stage Irish and Black minstrelsy stereotypes, at the time their work was respected for its ethnic realism mixed with comedic musicality. Irish and Black were set at odds against a common background of poverty and striving, with just about every other lineage stirred in. Their work was both racist and illuminating.
Mick Moloney of New York University performs this catchy celebration of the not-so-melted ethnics of the Reconstruction and Jim Crow Eras. The song was in the musical McSorley’s Inflation set in the still serving ale house. Give it a listen.
Lyrics:
"McSorley's Inflation" Down in Bottle Alley Lived Timothy McNally, A wealthy politician, And a gentlemen at that; Admired by the ladies, The gossoons and the babies, Who occupy the building Called McNally's row of flats. Chorus. Ireland and Italy, Jerusalem and Germany, Chinamen and nagurs, And a paradise for cats; Jumbled up together In snow or rainy weather, They represent the tenants In McNally's row of flats. The great conglomeration Of men from every nation, The Tower of Babylonian Couldn't equal that Peculiar institution, Where brogues without dilution Were rattled off together In McNally's row of flats.-Chorus. Bags of rags and papers, Tramps and other slapers, Italian lazzaronies, With lots of other rats, Laying on the benches, And dying there by inches From the open ventilation In McNally's row of flats.-Chorus. It never was expected The rents would be collected; They levied on the furniture, The bedding and the slats; It's then you'd see the rally, As they'd battle down the alley, Fired from the building, Called McNally's row of flats.-Chorus
Sources:
Collected Songs: Part 1: 1873-1882 By David Braham, Edward Harrigan (1997)
Songs for Kellys and Cohens By Earle Hitchner Wall Stree Journal March 17, 2010
EDWARD HARRIGAN’S REALISM OF RACE By Michael Aman The Journal of American Drama and Theatre; New York Vol. 24, Iss. 1, (Winter 2012)
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