While in the merry month of June, from my home I started
Left the girls of Tuam, nearly broken-hearted
Saluted Father dear, kissed my darlin' mother
Drank a pint of beer, my grief and tears to smother
Then off to reap the corn and leave where I was born
I cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghost and goblin
A brand-new pair of brogues to rattle over the bogs
And frighten all the dogs, on the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four five, hunt the hare and turn her
Down the rocky road, and all the ways to Dublin
Whack-fol-lol-de-rah!
In Mullingar that night I rested, limbs so weary
Started by daylight next mornin’, blithe and airy
Took a drop of the pure to keep my heart from sinkin’
That’s the paddy’s cure, whene’er he’s on for drinking
To see the lasses smile, laughing all the while
At my curious style—‘twould set your heart a-bubblin’
They ax’d me was I hired, the wages I required
Till I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four five, hunt the hare and turn her
Down the rocky road, and all the ways to Dublin
Whack-fol-lol-de-rah!
In Dublin next arrived; I thought it such a pity
To be so soon deprived a view of that fine city
Then I took a stroll, all among the quality
Bundle it was stole, in a neat locality
Something crossed my mind, when I looked behind
No bundle could I find upon my stick a wobblin’
Enquirin’ after the rogue, they said my Connacht brogue
Wasn’t much in vogue, on the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four five, hunt the hare and turn her
Down the rocky road, and all the ways to Dublin
Whack-fol-lol-de-rah!
From there I got away, my spirits never failin’
Landed on the quay as the ship was sailin’
Captain at me roared, said that no room had he
When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy
Down among the pigs; I did some heary rigs
Danced some hearty jigs—the water round me bubblin’
When off Holyhead, I wished myself was dead
Or better far instead, on the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four five, hunt the hare and turn her
Down the rocky road, and all the ways to Dublin
Whack-fol-lol-de-rah!
The boys of Liverpool, when we safely landed
Called myself a fool. I could no longer stand it
Blood began to boil, temper I was losin’
Poor ould Erin’s isle they began abusin’
“Hurrah my soul!” says I, my shillelagh I let fly
Some Galway boys were by and saw I was a hobblin’
With a loud hurray, they joined into the affray
We quickly cleared the way, for the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four five, hunt the hare and turn her
Down the rocky road, and all the ways to Dublin
Whack-fol-lol-de-rah!
Written by: Arr. McKenna, Brian Dunphy, Campbell, Cannon, Darren Holden, Dick Finch, Ewan Cowley, Finbarr Clancy, Joseph Young, Liam Clancy, Mark Murphy, Martin Furey, Sam Lewis, Sheahan, The Dubliners, The High Kings, Trad.(p.d), Watchorn
