The Rocky Road To Dublin

In the merry month of June from me home I started

Left the girls of Tuam a-really broken-hearted

Saluted Father dear, kissed me darlin' Mother

Drank a pint of beer, me grief and fears to smother

Then off to reave the corn, leave where I was born

With a stout blackthorn to banish ghosts and goblins,

A bran'new pair of brogues, rattling o'er the bogs

And frightening all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin

One two three four five, hunt the hare and turn him

Down the rocky road, and all the way to Dublin

Whack fol-lol-de-ra

In Mullingar that night I rested limbs so weary

Started by daylight next morning light and airy

Took a drop of the pure to keep me heart from sinking

That's the paddy's cure, whene'er he's on for drinking

See the lasses smile, laughing all the while

At me curious style, 'twould set your heart a-bubbling

They'd ask me was I hired, the wages I required

Till I was nearly tired of the rocky road to Dublin

One two three four five, hunt the hare and turn him

Down the rocky road, and all the way to Dublin

Whack fol-lol-de-ra

In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity

To be so soon deprived a view of that fine city

So then I took a stroll all among the quality

Me bundle it was stole in a neat locality

Something crossed me mind, when I looked behind

No bundle could I find upon me stick a-wobblin'

Enquiring for the rogue, they said me Connaught brogue

Wasn't much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin

One two three four five, hunt the hare and turn him

Down the rocky road, and all the way to Dublin

Whack fol-lol-de-ra

From there I got away me spirits never failing

Landed on the quay just as the ship was sailing

The Captain at me roared, said that no room had he

When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy

Down among the pigs, I played some bonny rigs

Danced some hearty jigs, the water round me bubblin'

When off t'Holyhead I wished meself was dead,

Or better far, instead, on the rocky road to Dublin

One two three four five, hunt the hare and turn him

Down the rocky road, and all the way to Dublin

Whack fol-lol-de-ra

The boys of Liverpool, when we safely landed

Called meself a fool, I could no longer stand it

Me blood began to boil, temper I was losin'

Poor old Erin's isle they began abusin'

"Hurrah me soul!" sez I, shillelagh I let fly

Galway boys were nigh and saw I was a hobblin'

With a loud "Hurrah," joinin' in the fray

We quickly cleared the way for the rocky road to Dublin

One two three four five, hunt the hare and turn him

Down the rocky road, and all the way to Dublin

Whack fol-lol-de-ra