Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road And all the way to Dublin, whack-fol-la-de-da - In the merry month of June, when first from home I started,
- And left the girls alone, sad and broken-hearted.
- Shook hands with father dear, kissed my darling mother,
- Drank a pint of beer, my tears and grief to smother;
- Then off to reap the corn, and leave where I was born.
- I cut a stout black-thorn to banish ghost or goblin;
- With a pair of bran new brogues, I rattled o'er the bogs —
- Sure I frightened all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin.
- (Chorus)
- For it is the rocky road, here's the road to Dublin;
- Here's the rocky road, now fire away to Dublin !
- The steam-coach was at hand, the driver said he'd cheap ones.
- But sure the luggage van was too much for my ha'pence.
- For England I was bound, it would never do to balk it.
- For every step of the road, bedad I says I, I'll walk it.
- I did not sigh or moan until I saw Athlone.
- A pain in my shin bone, it set my heart a-bubbling;
- And fearing the big cannon, looking o'er the Shannon,
- I very quickly ran on the rocky road to Dublin.
- In Mullingar, that night, I rested limbs so weary.
- Started by daylight, with spirits light and airy;
- Took a drop of the pure, to keep my spirits from sinking,
- That's always an Irishman's cure, whenever he's troubled with thinking.
- To see the lassies smile, laughing all the while
- At my comical style, set my heart a-bubbling.
- They axed if I was hired, the wages I required.
- Until 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 of a view of that fine city;
- 'Twas then I took a stroll, all among the quality,
- My bundle then was stole in a neat locality,
- Something crossed my mind, thinks I, I'll look behind.
- No bundle could I find upon my stick a-wobbling.
- Inquiring for the rogue, they said my Connaught brogue.
- It wasn't much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin.
- A coachman raised his hand as if myself was wanting,
- I went up to a stand, full of cars for jaunting;
- "Step up, my boy!" says he; "Ah, that I will with pleasure,"
- "And to the Strawberry Beds, I'll drive you at your leisure."
- "A strawberry bed?" says I, "faith, that would be too high!"
- "On one of straw I'll lie, and the berries won't be troubling";
- He drove me out as far, upon an outside car.
- Faith! such jolting never wor on the rocky road to Dublin.
- I soon got out of that, my spirits never failing,
- I landed on the quay, just as the ship was sailing.
- The captain at me roared, swore that no room had he.
- But when I leaped on board, they a cabin found for Paddy.
- Down among the pigs I played such rummy rigs,
- Danced some hearty jigs, with water round me bubbling.
- But when off Holyhead, I wished that I was dead,
- Or safely put in bed, on the rocky road to Dublin.
- The boys in Liverpool, when on the dock I landed.
- Called myself a fool, I could no longer stand it;
- My blood began to boil, my temper I was losing.
- And poor old Erin's Isle, they all began abusing.
- "Hurrah! my boys," says I, my shillelagh I let fly.
- Some Galway boys were by, they saw I was a hobbling;
- Then with a loud "hurrah !" they joined me in the fray.
- Faugh-a-ballagh! Clear the way! for the rocky road to Dublin!
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