Paddy’s Return (Kitty Lie Over)

Jig, D, Traditional Irish
Also know as: The Frost is All Over
TrailJams Tune of the Week: September 23, 2021; June 8, 2025

This traditional Irish jig is most commonly known as “Paddy’s Return” or “Kitty Lie Over.” The traditional song that is sung to this tune is called “Kitty Lie Over.” Perhaps there are two stories behind those titles, or maybe just one. In his Fiddlevideo lesson for “Paddy’s Return,” Kevin Burke comments on the title: “I’ve no idea who Paddy was. But obviously, he went away and then came back.” Perhaps that helps explain it. Whatever is behind the titles, it’s a great tune.

Recordings

• Video – Kevin Burke and Mícheál O’Domhnaill: Paddy’s Return / Willy Coleman’s / Up In The Air – from the album Portland.
• Video – Comhaltas: Paddy’s Return – session recording, from the album Foinn Seisiún Volume 2
• Audio – Duck Baker, Maggie Boyle and Ben Paley: Kitty Lie Over from the album The Expatriate Game.

Dots (Music Notation)

As always for traditional tunes, the musical notation and chords do not indicate the “right” way to play the tune, but are a useful reference.

Sets

Examples of sets that include this tune.

• Paddy’s Return Jig Set: Paddy’s Return (Kitty Lie Over, D) / The Rollicking Boys of Tandragee (Em) / Willie Coleman’s (G)
• Garrett Barry’s Jig (D Mixolydian) / Kitty Lie Over (D) / Out on the Ocean (G)
• Blarney Pilgrim (D Mixolydian) / Garrett Barry’s Jig (D Mixolydian) / Kitty Lie Over (D)

References and Resources

For those who want to dig deeper, here are some other resources.

• More Recordings
  • Video – The Chieftains: The Frost is All Over from the album Voice of Ages (Note: this changes to a different tune at about time 1:47.)
  • Video – Mick O’Brien agus Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh: Kitty Lie Over, Munster Buttermilk, from the album Mick O’Brien agus Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh. Played on pipes in the key of Bb.
  • Video – The Mary Wallopers: ‘Frost Is All Over’ – song and tune, followed by Banish Misfortune.
• Books
  • Book – Foinn Seisiún, Volume 2 — Published by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
  • Book – The Portland Collection, Volume 1 – Contra Dance Music in the Pacific Northwest. By Susan Songer with Clyde Curley.
  • Book & Audio – Grey Larsen: 150 Gems of Irish Music for Tin Whistle – with audio tracks of the tunes played on tin whistle
  • Book & audio – Grey Larsen: 300 Gems of Irish Music for All Instruments
• Lessons
  • Lesson – Sean Cunningham (whistletutor): Tin Whistle Lesson – Kitty Lie Over (Jig) – video lesson for tin whistle
  • Lesson – Kevin Burke (Fiddlevideo): Paddy’s Return – fiddle lesson with video, sheet music, and audio recording download. Excerpt video lesson is free. (Full lesson requires subscription to Fiddlevideo.)
• Other Resources
  • Webpage – The Session: Kitty Lie Over (Jig) – crowdsourced sheet music, notes, and other information.