Formerly in the Irish Packet
In the merry month of June from my home I started
Left the girls of Tuam nearly broken-hearted
Saluted me Father dear, kissed me darlin’ Mother
Drank a pint of beer, my grief and tears to smother
Then off to reap the corn, leave where I was born
I cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghosts and goblins
Bought a pair of brogues, rattlin’ o’er the bogs
And frightened 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 fol-lol-de-ra
In Mullingar that night I rested limbs so weary
Started by daylight next morning bright and airy
Took a drop of the pure to keep my heart from sinking
That’s the Paddy’s cure, whene’er he’s on for drinking
To see the lassies smile, laughing all the while
At my curious style, ’twould set your heart a-bubbling
Asked if I was hired, wages I required
’Till I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin
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 out among the quality
My bundle it was stolen in a neat locality
Something crossed my mind, when I looked behind
No bundle could I find upon me stick a-wobblin’
Enquiring for the rogue, found me Connaught brogue
Wasn’t much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin
From there I got away, me spirits never failing
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
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, shillelagh I let fly
Some Galway boys were nigh, they saw I was a-hobblin’
With a loud “Hurray!” they joined in the affray
We quickly cleared the way, for the rocky road to Dublin