Luke Kelly
The Rocky Road to Dublin
While in the merry month of May from me home I started
Left the girls of Tuam so sad and 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, leave where I was born
Cut a stout black thorn to banish ghosts and goblins;
Bought a 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 her down the rocky road
All the way to Dublin, Whack follol de rah
In Mullingar that night I rеsted limbs so weary
Started by daylight nеxt morning blithe and early
Took a drop of pure to keep me heart from sinking
That' s a Paddy's cure whenever he's on drinking
See the lassies smile, laughing all the while
At me curious style, 'twould set your heart a bubblin'
Asked me was I hired, wages I required
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
All the way to Dublin, Whack follol de rah
In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity
To be soon deprived a view of that fine city
So then I took a stroll, all among the quality
Me bundle it was stole, all 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 her down the rocky road
All the way to Dublin, Whack follol de rah
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 that no room had he
When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy
Down among the pigs, played some hearty rigs
Danced some hearty jigs, the water round me bubbling;
When off Holyhead I wished meself was dead
Or better for instead on the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three four, five
Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road
All the way to Dublin, Whack follol de rah
Well the boys of Liverpool, when we safely landed
Called meself 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, me Shillelagh I let fly
Some Galway boys were nigh and saw I was a hobble in
With a load "Hurray!" joined in the affray
We quietly 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 way to Dublin
Whack follol de rah