The Rocky Road To Dublin - The Ramparts

 


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

Left the girls of Tuam so sad and 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 black thorn to banish ghosts and goblins

Bought a pair of brogues rattling o'er the bogs

And fright'ning all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin.

 

One, two, three, four, five,

Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road

All the way to Dublin, whack follol de rah.

 

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 sinking

That's a Paddy's cure whenever he's on drinking

 

See the lassies smile, laughing all the while

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

Asked me was I hired, wages I required

I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin.

 

One, two, three, four, five

Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road

All the way to Dublin, whack follol de rah.

 

In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity

To be soon deprived a view of that fine city

So then I took a stroll, all among the quality

Me 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'

Inquiring for the rogue, they 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

All the way to Dublin, whack follol de rah.

 

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 hearty rigs

Danced some hearty jigs, the water round me bubbling

When off Holyhead, I wished meself was dead

Or better for instead on the rocky road to Dublin.

 

One, two, three, four, five

Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road

All the way to Dublin, whack follol de rah.

 

Well, 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 load "Hurray" joined in the affray

We quietly 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 follol de rah.


      Rocky Road to Dublin is a 19th-century Irish song about a man's experiences as he travels to Liverpool in England from his home in Tuam in Ireland. It describes the adventures and troubles that the protagonist encounters on his travels. 

      At the beginning of the song, the protagonist states that he is "off to reap the corn" meaning he is off to seek his fortune. He begins his journey by bidding farewell to his family and friends and preparing supplies. He leaves his hometown of Tuam, County Galway on foot, and heads east, resting in Mullingar, County Westmeath where he charms the local women with his "curious style" and swagger. 

      He next arrives in the capital, Dublin, and decides to tour the city, but is robbed of his meagre possessions. He attempts to locate the thief, but is mocked. He hops a ship in the harbour headed for England, and is placed in the hold with the pigs, where he experiences severe sea sickness off the coast of Holyhead, Wales. 

      He arrives in the English city of Liverpool where he is mocked by the locals because of his nationality. Losing his temper, he engages them in a fight using his blackthorn shillelagh, but is outnumbered until a group of Irishmen from Galway come to his rescue.

      Notes from, Wikipedia

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