The Rocky Road to Dublin
Written by D.K. Gavan
One, two, three, four five: Hunt the hare and turn her
down the rocky road and all the ways to Dublin.
down the rocky road and all the ways to Dublin.
Whack-fo-lor-re-da.
In the merry month of May, 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, leave where I was born,
I cut a stout blackthorn, to banish ghost and goblin.
In a brand new pair of brogues, I rattled o'er the bogs,
and frightened all the dogs, on the rocky road to Dublin.
In Mullingar that night, I rested limbs so weary,
started by daylight, next mornin' light and airy.
Took a drop of the pure, to keep my heart from sinkin',
that's a Patty’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 asked me I was hired, the wages I required,
'til 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.
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' for the rogue, they said my Connacht brogue,
wasn't much in vogue, on the rocky road to Dublin.
From there I got away, my spirits never failin',
landed on the quay, just 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 made some hearty 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.
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 me soul," says I, my shillelagh I let fly,
With a loud hurray, they joined in the affray,
we quickly cleared the way, for the rocky road to Dublin.