The Rocky Road to Dublin Songtext
von Damien Dempsey

Was in the merry month of June when first from home I started
Left the girls of Tuam all sad and broken hearted
Saluted father dear, kissed me darling mother
I 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
Me brand new pair of brogues, rattlin′ o'er the bogs
Frightened all the dogs over the rocky road to Dublin

One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare, turn her down the rocky road
And all the ways to Dublin, whack-for-la-lee-da-dah

In Mullingar that night I rested limbs so weary
Started by darylight next morning bright and early
Took a drop of the pure, kept me heart from sinking
That′s the Paddy's cure, ever he's on for drinking

To see the lassies smile, laughing all the while
At me curious style, would set your heart a-bubblin′
An′ asked if I was hired, wages I required
'Til I was nearly tired of the rocky road to Dublin


One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare, turn her down the rocky road
And all the ways to Dublin, whack-for-la-lee-da-dah

In Dublin next arrived, I thought it′d be 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 stole, in the neat locality

Something crossed me mind, when I looked behind
No bundle could I find upon me stick a-wobblin'
"Enquiring after the rogue?" said my Connaught brogue
Wasn′t much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin

One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare, turn her down the rocky road
And all the ways to Dublin, whack-for-la-lee-da-dah

From there I got away, me spirits never failing
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, played some hearty rigs
Danced some hearty jigs, the water round me bubblin'
Meltin′ at Holyhead, wished meself was dead
Or better far instead on the rocky road to Dublin


One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare, turn her down the rocky road
And all the ways to Dublin, whack-for-la-lee-da-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 losin'
Poor old Erin's isle they began abusing

"Hurrah me soul!" says I, shillelagh I let fly
Galway boys were by and saw I was a-hobblin′
With a loud, "Hurray!" joined into the affray
Quickly cleared the way for the rocky road to Dublin

One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare, turn her down the rocky road
And all the ways to Dublin, whack-for-la-lee-da-dah

Hunt the hare, turn her down the rocky road
And all the ways to Dublin, whack-for-la-lee-da-dah