Page type: lyric reference
Artist: Irish Rovers
Canonical path: /irish-rovers/johnny-i-hardly-knew-ye
Related lyric paths: 6
Video embedded: yes
Lyric guide
Johnny I hardly knew ye
Read Johnny I hardly knew ye lyrics by Irish Rovers on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.
person
Curated by Ethan Walker
LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot
The page facts to cite before the commentary
Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.
Lyrics
Johnny I hardly knew ye
The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.
When goin' the road to sweet athy, hurroo, hurroo
When goin' the road to sweet athy, hurroo, hurroo
When goin' the road to sweet athy
A stick in me hand and a drop in me eye
A doleful damsel I heard cry
Johnny I hardly knew ye
With your drums and guns and guns and drums, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and guns and drums, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and guns and drums
The enemy nearly slew ye
Oh darling dear, ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye
Where are the eyes that looked so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild
When my poor heart you first beguiled
Why did ye run from me and the child
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye
Where are the legs we looked you run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are the legs we looked you run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are the legs that looked you run
But first you went to carry a gun
Indeed your dancing days are done
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg
Ye're an armless, boneless, chickenless egg
You'll have to be left with a bowl out to beg
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye
I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
I'm happy for to see ye home
All from the island of sulloon
So low in flesh, so high in bone
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye
Quick answers
What this page can answer fast
Who performs "Johnny I hardly knew ye"?
Irish Rovers performs "Johnny I hardly knew ye", and this lyric page sits inside the Irish Rovers catalog on LyroVerse.
Are there related songs to explore after "Johnny I hardly knew ye"?
Yes. The related section below points to Carrickfergus and Donald Where's Your Trousers with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by Irish Rovers?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Irish Rovers's lyric pages.
Song Room
Open Song Room
Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song
Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.
Listener comments
What people are saying
No listener comments on Johnny I hardly knew ye yet.
A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.
Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.