The Rocky Road to 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 That's 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 Holy head 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 And all the ways to Dublin, whack-follol-de-dah 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 Galway's boys were by and saw I was a hobblin' With a "lo!" and "hurray!" they joined in the affray 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 ways to Dublin, whack-follol-de-dah