The Rocky Road to Dublin

While in the merry month of May, from me, home I started

Left the girls of Tuam, nearly brokenhearted

Saluted father dear, kissed me, 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

Cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghosts

And goblin' brand-new pair of brogues to rattle o'er the bogs

And frighten all the dogs on 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-fol-la-de-da

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 me heart from sinking

That's the paddy's cure, when there, he's on for drinking

To see the lassies smile, laughing all the while

At my curious style, 't would set your heart a-bubblin'

Asked if was I hired, and wages, I required

'Til I was almost tired over the rocky road to Dublin'

One, two, three, four, five

Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky roads

And all the way to Dublin', whack-fol-la-de-da

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 stolen in that neat locality

Something crossed me mind, when I looked behind

No bundle could I find, upon me stick a wobblin'

Crying after the rogue, they said, "Me Connaught brogue

It 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

And all the way to Dublin', whack-fol-la-de-da

From there, I got away, me spirits never failing

Landed on the quay, just as the ship was sailing

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

Then I jumped aboard a cabin, found for paddy

Down among the pigs, did some hearty rigs

Played some hearty jigs, the water 'round me bubblin'

And when off holyhead, wished myself was dead