Lyrics
In the merry month of June first from home I started
Setting the scene in the merry month of June, the narrator begins their journey from home.
Left the girls of Tuam all sad and broken-hearted
Leaving behind saddened and broken-hearted girls in Tuam.
Saluted me Father dear, kissed me darlin' Mother
Saluting the father, kissing the darling mother before departure.
Drank a pint of beer my grief and tears to smother
Consuming a pint of beer to cope with grief and tears.
Then off to reap the corn, leave where I was born
Embarking on the journey to reap corn, leaving the birthplace.
Cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghosts and goblins
Cutting a stout blackthorn to ward off ghosts and goblins.
A brand new pair of brogues I rattled o'er the bogs
Wearing a new pair of brogues, making noise over the bogs and frightening dogs.
And frightened all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin,
Encountering challenges on the rocky road to Dublin.
One, two, three, four five, hunt the hare and turn her
A playful counting and encouragement to pursue the journey despite difficulties.
Down the rocky road, and all the ways to Dublin
-Whack fol-lol-de-ra.
-A steam coach was at hand the driver said he'd cheap ones
Considering a steam coach but opting to walk, expressing determination.
But sure the luggage van was too much for a ha'pance
-For England I was bound It would never do to balk it
-For every step of the road bedad says I I'll walk it
Committing to walking every step, with a humorous mention of a pain in the shin bone near Athlone.
I did not sigh or moan, until I saw Athlone
-A pain in my shin bone it would set your heart a bubbling
-Fearing the big cannon, looking or the Shannon, I very quickly ran on the rocky road to Dublin.
-One, two, three, four five, hunt the hare and turn her
Repeating the counting and encouraging refrain.
Down the rocky road, and all the ways to Dublin
-Whack fol-lol-de-ra.
-In Mullingar that night I rested limbs so weary,
Resting in Mullingar, taking a drop of alcohol for courage, and enjoying the company of smiling lassies.
Started by daylight next morning light and airy,
-Took a drop of the pure, to keep my heart from sinking,
-That's the Paddy's cure, whene'er he's on for drinking,
-To see the lassies smile, laughing all the while,
Describing the curious style and interactions, expressing weariness on the rocky road.
At my curious style, would set your heart a-bubbling,
-They asked if I was hired, the wages I required,
-Till I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin.
-One, two, three, four five, hunt the hare and turn her
Repeating the refrain, emphasizing the challenging journey.
Down the rocky road, and all the ways to Dublin
-Whack fol-lol-de-ra.
-A coachman raised his hands, as I myself was wanting
Interacting with a coachman, choosing a strawberry bed to lie on during the journey.
I went up to the stand it was full of cars for jaunting
-Get up me boy says he
-Ah that I will with pleasure and too the strawberry beds, I'll drive you at me leisure
-A strawberry bed says I, faith, that would be to high
-On one of straw I'll lie and the berries won't be troubling
-He drove me out as far upon and outside car
-Such a jolting never were, on the rocky road to Dublin.
-One, two, three, four five, hunt the hare and turn her
Repeating the refrain, highlighting the bumpy ride to Dublin.
Down the rocky road, and all the ways to Dublin
-Whack fol-lol-de-ra.
-In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity,
Arriving in Dublin, experiencing the theft of belongings, and the mention of a Connaught brogue not being in vogue.
To be so soon deprived a view of that fine city,
-Then I took a stroll all among the quality,
-My bundle it was stole in a neat locality;
-Something crossed my mind, then I looked behind,
-No bundle could I find upon me stick a-wobblin',
-Enquiring for the rogue, they said my Connaught brogue
-Wasn't much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin.
-One, two, three, four five, hunt the hare and turn her
Repeating the refrain, expressing the challenging path.
Down the rocky road, and all the ways to Dublin
-Whack fol-lol-de-ra.
-From there I got away my spirits never failing,
Boarding a ship, facing cramped conditions among pigs, and a wish for a different fate on the rocky road to Dublin.
Landed on the quay 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, I played some funny rigs
-Danced some hearty jigs, the water round me bubblin'
-When off to Holyhead I wished that I was dead,
-Or better far, instead, on the rocky road to Dublin.
-One, two, three, four five, hunt the hare and turn her
Repeating the refrain, highlighting the continuing challenges.
Down the rocky road, and all the ways to Dublin
-Whack fol-lol-de-ra.
-The boys of Liverpool, when we safely landed,
Upon safely landing in Liverpool, facing abuse, losing temper, and engaging in a physical altercation defending Erin's Isle.
Called myself a fool, I could no longer stand it;
-Blood began to boil, temper I was losin'
-Poor old Erin's Isle they were all abusin'
-"Hurrah my soul!" says I, shillelagh I let fly,
-Galway boys were by, saw I was a hobblin'
-Then with a loud Hurray, they joined in the affray,
-We quickly cleared the way, on the rocky road to Dublin.
-One, two, three, four five, hunt the hare and turn her
Repeating the refrain, celebrating clearing the way on the rocky road to Dublin.
Down the rocky road, and all the ways to Dublin
-Whack fol-lol-de-ra.
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