Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye

Formerly in the Irish Packet

While on the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo (x2)
While on the road to sweet Athy, a stick in me hand and a drop in me eye
A doleful damsel I heard cry:
“Johnny I hardly knew ye”

With guns and drums and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo (x2)
With guns and drums and drums and guns, the enemy nearly slew ye
My darlin dear ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye

Where are the eyes that looked so mild, hurroo, hurroo (x2)
Where are the eyes that looked so mild when my heart ye first beguiled
Why did ye skedaddle from me and the child
Johnny I hardly knew ye

Where are the legs with which ye run, hurroo, hurroo (x2)
Where are the legs with which ye run when first ye went to carry a gun
Indeed yer dancing days are done
Johnny I hardly knew ye

I’m happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo (x2)
I’m happy for to see ye home, all from the island of Ceylon[^11]
So low in flesh, so high in bone
Johnny I hardly knew ye

They’re rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo (x2)
They’re rolling out the guns again, but they’ll never take our sons again
No they’ll never take our sons again
Johnny I’m swearin’ to ye