The Rocky Road to Dublin

In  the merry month of June from me home I started,

Left the girls of Tuam nearly broken hearted,

Saluted father dear, kissed me darling mother,

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

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

Cut a stout black thorn to banish ghosts and goblins,

I bought a pair of brogues to rattle o'er the bogs,

And frighten all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin.

Chorus

One, two, three four, five, Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky,

road and all the way to Dublin, Whack fol lol de rah,

In Mullingar that night I rested limbs so weary,

Started by daylight next morning light and early,

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

That's an Irishman's  cure whenever he's on a drinking.

See the lassies smile, laughing all the while,

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

Asked me if I was  hired, the wages I required,

Till I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin.

In Dublin next arrived, I thought it was 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, then I looked behind,

No bundle could I find upon me stick a wobbling'

Enquiring for the rogue, they said me Connaught brogue,

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

From there I got away, me spirits never falling,

Landed on the quay, just as the ship was sailing.

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

When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy.

Down among the pigs, I played some hearty jigs,

Dancing and singing, the water round me bubbling,

When off Holyhead wished myself was dead,

Or better to be instead on the rocky road to Dublin.

See 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 losing,

Poor old Erin's Isle they began abusing.

Hurrah me soul says I, my Shillelagh I let fly,

Some Galway boys came by and saw I was a hobbling,

With a load hurray, jumped into the fray,

We swiftly cleared the way for the rocky road to Dublin.