Song Lyrics
WHISKEY IN THE JAR
As I was going over the far famed Kerry Mountains
I met with Captain Farrell and his money he was countin'
I first produced my pistol, I then produced my rapier
Said stand and deliver, I am a bold deceiver
Chorus:
Musha ring um a door um da
Whack for the daddi-o, whack for the daddi-o
There's whiskey in the jar
I counted out his money and it made a pretty penny
I put in me pocket for to take it home to Jenny
She sighed and she swore that she never would deceive me
But the devil take the women for they never can be easy
Chorus
I went into my chamber all for to take a slumber
I dreamt of gold and jewels for sure it was no wonder
But Jenny drew me charges and she filled them all with water
And sent for Captain Farrell to be ready for the slaughter
Chorus
'Twas early the morning before I rose to travel
Up comes a band of footmen and likewise Captain Farrell
I first produced me pistol for she'd stolen away my rapier
I couldn't shoot the water and a prisoner I was taken
Chorus
If anyone can aid me it's me brother in the army
If I could find his station, in Cork or in Killarney
If he will go with me, we'll go rovin' in Killkenny
I'm sure he'll treat me better than me darlin', sportin' Jenny
Chorus
Some take delight in the hurling and the bowling
And some take delight in the carriages a rollin'
I take delight in the juice of the barley
And courtin' pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early
Chorus
WHISKEY ON A SUNDAY
He sits on the corner of old Beggar's Bush
A stride of an old packing crate
And the three puppets dolls on the plank were dancing
As he crooned with a smile on his face
Chorus:
Come day, Go day, wishing me heart it was Sunday
Drinkin' buttermilk all the week and it's whiskey on a Sunday
His tired old hands drummed away on the beam
And the puppets they danced up and down
A far better show than you ever have seen
At the fanciest theaters in town
Chorus
1902 Seth Davey died
And his songs they were heard no more
The three puppet dolls in the dustbin were thrown
And the plank went to mend a back door
Chorus
On some stormy nights down Scotty Road way
When the wind's blowing up from the Sea
You can still hear the songs of Old Seth Davey
As he croons to his dancing dolls three
Chorus
Chorus
WHISKEY, YOU'RE THE DIVIL
Whiskey you're the divil, you're leading me astray
Over hills and mountains and to Amerikay you're sweeter, stronger, dacenter
You're spunkier nor tay Oh whiskey you're me darlin' drunk or sober.
Oh, now brave boys are off for marching off to Portugal and Spain
Drums are beating, banners flying the divil a home we'll come tonight
Oh, love fare thee well with me tiddery idle loodle lum a da
Me tiddery idle loodle lum a da me right fol torral addee o
There's whiskey in the jar.
Said the mother do not wrong me don't take me daughter from me
For if you do I will torment you and after death me ghost will haunt you
Love fare thee well with me tiddery idle loodle lum a da
Me tiddery idle loodle lum a da me right fol torral addee o
There's whiskey in the jar.
Now the French are fightin' boldly men are dying hot and coldly
Give every man his flask of powder his firelock on his shoulder,
Love fare thee well with me tiddelly idle loodle lum a da
Me tiddery idle loodle lum a da me right fol torral addee o
There's whiskey in the jar.
WHISTLING GYPSY ROVER
(Leo Maguire)
A whistling gypsy came over the hill
Down through the valley so shady
He whistled and he sang, till the green woods rang
And he won the heart of a lady
Chorus:
Ah-dee-doo Ah-dee-doo-da-day
Ah-dee-doo Ah-dee-day-dee
He whistled and he sang till the green woods rang,
And he won the heart of a lady
Chorus
She left her father's castle gate
She left her own fond lover
She left her servants and her state
To follow the gypsy rover
Chorus
Her father saddle his fastest steed
He roamed the valleys all over
He sought his daughter at great speed
And the whistling gypsy rover
Chorus
He came at last to a mansion fine
Down by the river Claudy
And there was servants and there was wine
For the gypsy and his lady
Chorus
He is no gypsy, oh father, she cried
But Lord of these lands all over
And I will stay till my dying day
With the whistling gypsy rover
Chorus
Chorus
WHO PUT THE MUSH?
(Ian McCalman & Nick Keir)
My baby said goodbye, she was a Paul McCartney fan
She said she couldn't stand the way I sang my songs
Now I'm a lonely man who can get around an old bodhràn
I'd like to find the man who made me turn out wrong
Who wrote the words to these folk songs
Doo-bee-doo-bee-doo-bee-doo-bee
Who put the mush in the mush-a-ring-a-doo-dah
Who put the diddle in the diddle-i-dee-diddle-dum
Who put the ram in the Rambling Rover
Who put the where in the Doon In the Wee Room
Who was that guy I would like to black his eye
He made my baby walk away from me
Bogle Bogle Bogle Bogle - ah
When we were alone skiddle-idle-iddle-idle-iddle-idle-um
She said my singing had no style tell me something I don't know
And when I asked if she'd gang to the Hielands Leezy Lindsay
She took the first train to Carlisle south of the border
Who put the don't in the Don't Get Married Girls
Who put the do in the Domeama-day-ay
Who put the heel in the heel-ya-ho boys
Who put the heave in the heave her away
I'd like to thank that bloke with my hands around his throat
He made my baby walk away from me
Skip to ma lou-ou-ou
When we went to dance disco me disco me disco me day)
We could never ever agree she liked Jackson I liked Paxton)
She wanted rockin' but I liked Dick Gaughan
I said, Listen to Dolores Keane - she fell in love with a drum machine
That's why she walked away from me
Tell me more - tell me more - tell me more - ugh!
Air fa la la - air fa la la - air fa la la lay hey hey hey)
Air fa la la - air fa la la - air fa la la lay hey hey hey)
That's why she walked away from me
Will ye no come back again - and again and again and again and again)
Who put the no in the no nay never
Who put the week in the week falorum
Who put the clover in the roll me over
Who put the Pogues in the Irish Rover
Ah - that's why she's no longer mine
She made my baby walk away, she took my pair of socks away
She upped and went and locked away my Chieftains tapes from me
That's why my baby walked away from me
THE WICKLOW BOY
(Christy Moore)
As I walked past Portlaoise Prison,
I'm innocent", a voice was heard to say
"My frame-up is almost completed.
My people all look the other way."
Seven years ago his torture started
A forced confession he was made to sign.
Young Irish men specially trained and chosen
Were on the heavy gang that made him run the line.
Others in the Bridewell heard him screaming
Even prison doctors could see
His injuries were not self-inflicted
Those who tipped the scales did not agree.
Chorus:
Give the Wicklow Boy his freedom
Give him back his liberty
Ore are we going to leave him in chains
While those who framed him up hold the key?
Deprived of human rights by his own people
Sickened by injustice he jumped bail,
In the Appalachian Mountains found a welcome
Till his co-accused were both released from jail.
He came back expecting to get justice
Special Branch took him from the plane
For five years we've deprived him of his freedom
The guilty jeer the innocent again.
Chorus
The people versus Kelly was the title
Of the farce we staged at his appeal.
Puppets in well rehearsed collusion,
I often wonder how these men must feel.
As I walked past Portlaoise Prison
Through concrete and steel a whisper came
"My frame-up is almost completed.
I'm innocent, Nicky Kelly is my name."
Chorus
THE WILD COLONIAL BOY
There was a Wild Colonial Boy, Jack Duggan was his name
He was born and raised in Ireland, in a place called Castlemain
He was his father's only son, his mother's pride and joy
And dearly did his parents love, the Wild Colonial Boy
At the early age of eighteen years, he left his native home
And to Australia's sunny shore, he was inclined to roam
He robbed the rich, to help the poor, he shot Judge McEvoy
A terror to Australia was, the Wild Colonial Boy
One morning on the prairie, as Jack he rode along
A listening to the mocking bird, singing a cheerful song
Up rode three mounted troopers, Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy
They all set out to capture him, the Wild Colonial Boy
Surrender now, Jack Duggan, for you see we're three to one
Surrender in the Queen's high name, you are a plundering son
Jack drew two pistols from his belt and proudly waved them high
"I'll fight but not surrender," said the Wild Colonial Boy
He fired a shot at Kelly, which brought him to the ground
And turning round to Davis, he received a mortal wound
A bullet pierced his proud young heart, from the pistol of Fitzroy
And that was how they captured him, the Wild Colonial Boy
WILD COLONIAL BOY [2]
(as sung by the Ian Campbell Folk Group—to the tune of the Wearin' of the Green)
There was a wild colonial boy, Jack Doolin was his name
Of poor but honest parents he was born in Castlemaine
He was his father's only hope, his mother's only joy,
The pride of both his parents was the wild colonial boy.
Chorus
So come all me hearties, we'll range the mountainside
Together we will plunder; together we will ride.
We'll scour along the valleys, and gallop o're the plains
We scorn to live in slavery bound down with iron chains.
In sixty-one this darling boy commenced his wild career.
With a heart that knew no danger, no foeman did he fear.
He held up the Beechworth mail coach and he robbed Judge MacEvoy
Who trembled and gave up his gold to the wild colonial boy.
Chorus
One day as he was riding the mountainside along,
A-listening to the little birds their pleasant laughing song
Three mounted troopers came in view, Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy
And thought that they would capture him, the wild colonial boy.
Chorus
'Surrender now Jack Doolin, you see there's three to one
Surrender now Jack Doolin, you daring highwayman!'
He drew a pistol from his belt and twirled it like a toy.
'I'll fight but I won't surrender,' said the wild colonial boy.
Chorus
He fired at Trooper Kelly and brought him to the ground,
And in return from Davis received a mortal wound.
All shattered through the jaws he lay, still firing at Fitzroy.
And that's the way they captured him, the wild colonial boy.
WILD ROVER
I've been a Wild Rover for manys a year
I spent all me money on whiskey and beer
But now I returning with gold in great store
And I never will play the Wild Rover no more
Chorus:
And it's no, nay, never. No, nay, never no more
Will I play the Wild Rover No, nay, never no more
I went into an ale house I used to frequent
I told the landlady me money was spent
I asked her for credit, she answered me nay
Such a custom as yours I can have any day
Chorus
Then out of my pockets I took sovereigns bright
And the landlady's eyes open wide with delight
Says she I have whiskey and wines of the best
And the words that I spoke were only in jest
Chorus
I'll go home to my parents confess what I've done
And ask them to pardon their prodigal son
When the forgive as oft times before
I never will play the Wild Rover no more
Chorus
Chorus
WILD ROVER NO MORE
(Trad / Iain C. MacKintosh & HamishImlach)
Chorus:
And it's no, nay, never, no, nay, never, no more
Will I play the Wild Rover, no, never, no more
We've both been folksingers for twenty-five years
We will sing half the night for the fun and free beers
But now that we're older we both know the score
No we never will play the Wild Rover no more
I know it's a song one that pleases the folk
But I have to admit that it just makes me choke
A night with a sore tooth is more fun to me
Than to sing even one verse, never mind two or three
It's a song that's requested again and again
If I hear it once more it'll drive me insane
The words all sound stupid it just makes me wild
And the tune could be learnt by a two-year old child
I'll go to a folk club, take a shotgun along
And I'll shoot the first bastard who asks for that song
And the hangman will say as I fall through the floor
Now you never will play the Wild Rover no more
(as sung by Iain MacKintosh & Hamish Imlach)
Tune: Wild Rover
WILD ROVER, NO MORE [2]
(words/ Jimmie MacGregor)
I've sung the Wild Rover for manys a year
There's some folk would boo and there's others would cheer
I sang it so often it gave me a pain
So I'm no gonna sing the Wild Rover again
Chorus:
And it's no, nay, never No, nay, never no more
Will I sing the Wild Rover No, nay, never no more
Well I know it's a good song for pleasing the folk
But I have to admit that it gives me the boke
A night with a tooth ache is more fun to me
Then to sing even one verse for less two or three
Chorus
I sang it that often from midnight to dawn
There's many the time I could see the folk yawn
Cause the words are a scunner there right down the drain
And the tune could be learned by a three year old Wain
Chorus
Well I went to a party it soon became plain
I was gonna be lumbered with that song again
Well I sang forty verse they shouted for more
So I grab my guitar and I went for the door
Chorus
Chorus