Rocky Road to Dublin

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 [Chorus] 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 [Chorus] 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 [Chorus] 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 [Chorus] 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 [Chorus] 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!