The Rocky Road To Dublin / Within A Mile Of Dublin

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

Left, the girls of Tuam were nearly 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 and leave where I was born

Cut a stout, black thorn to banish ghosts and goblins

A brand-new pair of brogues to rattle over the bogs

And frighten all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin

A-one, two, three, four, five

Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road

And all the ways to Dublin, whack, follol de-dah

In Mullingar that night I rested limbs so weary

Started by daylight next morning blithe and early

Took a drop of pure to keep me heart from shrinking

Thats the Paddy's cure when'er he's on for drinking

To hear the lassies smile, laughing all the while

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

They asked me was I hired and wages I required to lay

Was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin

One, two, three, four, five

Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road

And all the ways to Dublin, whack, follol de-dah

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

Bundle it was stolen, in a neat locality

Something crossed me mind, when I looked behind

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

'Quiring after the rogue, 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 ways to Dublin, whack, follol de-dah

From there I got away, me spirits never falling

Landed on the quay, just as the ship was sailing

Captain at me roared, said that no room had he

When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy

Down among the pigs, did some hearty rigs

I played some hearty jigs, the water round me bubbling

When off Holyhead I wished meself was dead