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 my darling mother

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

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

I cut a stout black-thorn to banish ghost and goblin

In a brand new pair of brogues, rattling o'er the bogs

And frightening all the dogs upon the rocky road to Dublin

One, two, three, four, five: Hunt the hare and turn her

Down the rocky reed and all the way to Dab'. Wack-fol-lal-le-la

In Mulligar that night I rested limbs so weary

Started by daylight next morning bright and early

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

That's the Paddy's cure, whene'er he's up for drinking

To see the lassies smile, laughing all the while

At my curious style, 'twould set your heart-a-bubblin'

They asked if I was hired, wages I required

I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin

In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity

To be so soon deprived a view of that fine city

So then I took a stroll all among the quality

My bundle it was stole all in that neat locality

Something crossed my mind, then I looked behind

No bundle could I find upon my stick a-wobblin'

Enquirin' for the rogue, they said my Connaught brogue

Wasn't much in vogue upon the rocky road to Dublin

From there I got away, my spirits never failin'

Landed on the quay just as the ship was sailin'

The captain at me roared, said that no room had he

When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy

Down among the pigs, I danced some funny jigs

Played some hearty rigs, the water round me bubblin'

When off Holyhead wished myself was dead

Or better far instead, upon the rocky road to Dublin

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 losin'

Poor old Erin's Isle they began abusin'

Hurrah me soul says I, me shillelagh I let fly

Some Galway boys were by, and saw I was a hobblin'

Then with a loud hurray, joining the affray

Quickly cleared the way for the rocky road to Dublin