If you’ve been looking for The Rocky Road to Dublin lyrics, then you’re on the right page!
“Rocky Road to Dublin” is a very popular Irish song written by Irish poet D. K. Gavan in the 19th century. It has a long narrative about an Irishman’s adventures and hardships on his travel from Ireland to England.
The hero farewells his family and leaves his hometown, Tuam, to seek his fortune. From Tuam he gets to Mullingar, where he is charmed by the local women; then he arrives in Dublin where he gets robbed. Having no success in finding the thief, he gets on a ship to England to finally arrive in Liverpool. There he’s mocked by the locals because of his nationality; he gets into a fight only to be rescued by a group of Irishmen who come to his support.
The music hall singer Harry Clifton was the first to make the song broadly known as early as the 19th century; Since then, it has been performed by numerous artists, to become a standard of Irish folk music. Today one can find many recordings and arrangements, as well as instrumental performances. Some of the most known recordings are from The Dubliners in 1964, The Chieftains featuring The Rolling Stones on The Long Black Veil in 1995, The High Kings in 2008 and 2017 and The Ramparts Chamber Choir Dublin in 2020 – just to name a few.
On this page you’ll not only find the lyrics of the song, but you can also download a printable PDF file with lyrics for free!
Finally, we have selected for you two music videos: a choral performance by the Ramparts and an instrumental version by Alban Fuam & Harry Clifton. Enjoy!
Table of Contents
Printable Lyrics PDF
Click on the button to download a PDF file with lyrics to this song for free.
The Rocky Road to Dublin Lyrics
1. In the merry month of June from me home I started
Left the girls of Tuam 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, leave where I was born
Cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghosts and goblins
A brand new pair of brogues, rattlin’ o’er the bogs
Frightenin’ 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 lol le rah!
2. In Mullingar that night I rested limbs so weary
Started by daylight me spirits bright and airy
Took a drop of the pure, keep me heart from sinking
That’s the Paddy’s cure whenever he’s on drinking
To see the lassies smile, laughing all the while
At me curious style, ‘twould set your heart a bubblin’
An’ asked if I was hired, wages I required
‘Till I was nearly 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 way to Dublin, Whack fol lol le rah!
3. In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity
To be soon deprived a view of that fine city
Well then I took a stroll, all among the quality
Bundle it was stole, all in a neat locality
Something crossed me mind, when I looked behind
No bundle could I find upon me stick a wobblin’
Enquiring for the rogue, said me Connaught brogue
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 lol le rah!
4. From there I got away, me spirits never falling
Landed on the quay, just as the ship was sailing
The Captain at me roared, said that no room had he
When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy
Down among the pigs, played some funny rigs
Danced some hearty jigs, the water round me bubbling
When off Holyhead wished meself was dead
Or better far instead 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 lol le rah!
5. The boys of Liverpool, when we safely landed
Called meself a fool, I could no longer stand it
Blood began to boil, temper I was losing
Poor old Erin’s isle they began abusing
“Hurrah me soul!” says I, me shillelagh I let fly
Some Galway boys were nigh and saw I was a hobble in
With a loud “Hurray!” joined in the affray
We quickly cleared the way for 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 lol le rah!
6. Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road
And all the way to Dublin, Whack fol lol le rah!
Whack fol lol le rah!
Whack fol lol le rah!
Music Videos
Sing-along Video
Instrumental Video
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