As with many
traditional songs, there's more than one version of it. Here's the version I learned. I think this interpretation is by
The Dubliners or
The Pogues, but you can never be completely sure with this sort of thing.
As I was going over the far famed Kerry mountains,
I met with Captain Farrell and his money he was count'n.
I first produced me
pistol, and then produced me
rapier,
Saying
stand and deliver for you are the
bold deceiver.
Chorus
Musha rig um du rum da
Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar
I counted out his money and it made a pretty penny,
I put it in me pocket and I took it home to Jenny.
She sighed and she swore that she never would deceave me,
But the devil take the women for they never can be easy.
Chorus
Musha rig um du rum da
Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar
I went up to me chamber all for to take a slumber
I dreamt of
gold and jewels and sure it was no wonder,
But Jenny drew me charges and she filled them up with water,
And sent for Captain Farrel, to be ready for the slaughter.
Chorus
Musha rig um du rum da
Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar
'Twas early in the morning before I rose to travel,
Up comes a band of
footmen and likewise
CaptainFarrell;
I first produce my
pistol, for she stole away my
rapier
But I couldn't shoot the water, so a prisoner I was taken.
Chorus
Musha rig um du rum da
Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar
And if anyone can aid me, 'tis my brother in the army,
If I could learn his station in
Cork or in
Killarney.
And if he'd come and join me we'd go roving through
Kilkenny,
I'm sure he'd treat me fairer than my own sporting Jenny.
Chorus
Musha rig um du rum da
Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar
There's some takes delight in the carriages a rolling,
Some takes delight in the hurley or the bowlin'.
But I takes delight in the
juice of the barley,
And courting pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early.
Chorus x2
Musha rig um du rum da
Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar
Musha rig um du rum da
Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar
And here is what I've been told is the
original version, although again, it's hard to tell with the
traditional pieces.
As I was a going over
Gillgarry Mountain,
I spied
Colonel Farrell and his
money he was countin'.
First I drew me
pistol and then I drew me
rapier,
Sayin'
stand and deliver for
I am your bold receiver.
Chorus
Well shirigim duraham da
Wack fall the daddy oh,
wack fall the daddy oh
There's whiskey in the jar.
He counted out his money
and it made a
pretty penny,
I put it in me pocket to
take home to darling' Jenny.
She sighed and swore she loved me
and never would deceive me
But the devil take the women
for they always lie so easy.
Chorus
Well shirigim duraham da
Wack fall the daddy oh,
wack fall the daddy oh
There's whiskey in the jar.
I went into me chamber
all for to
take a slumber
To dream of
gold and girls
and of course it was no wonder.
Me Jenny took me charges
and she filled them up with water,
Called on Colonel Farrell
to get ready for the
slaughter.
Chorus
Well shirigim duraham da
Wack fall the daddy oh,
wack fall the daddy oh
There's whiskey in the jar.
Next morning early
before I rose to travel,
There came a band of footmen
and likewise Colonel Farrell.
I goes to draw me pistol for
she'd stole away me rapier,
but a prisoner I was taken
I couldn't shoot the water.
Chorus
Well shirigim duraham da
Wack fall the daddy oh,
wack fall the daddy oh
There's whiskey in the jar.
They put me into jail
with a judge all a writin'
For robbing Colonel Farrell
on
Gilgarry Mountain.
But they didn't take me fists
so I knocked the
jailer down,
And bid a farewell to
this
tight fisted town.
Chorus
Well shirigim duraham da
Wack fall the daddy oh,
wack fall the daddy oh
There's whiskey in the jar.
I'd like to find me brother
the one that's in the
army,
I don't know where he's stationed
in
Cork or in
Killarney.
Together we'd go roving
o'r
the mountains of Killkenney,
And I swear he'd treat me
better than me darling' sporting Jenny.
Chorus
Well shirigim duraham da
Wack fall the daddy oh,
wack fall the daddy oh
There's whiskey in the jar.
There's some takes delight
in the
carriages and rolling,
Some takes delight
in the
hurley or the
bowlin'.
But I takes delight in
the
juice of the barley,
Courting pretty maids in
the morning oh so early.
Chorus x2
Well shirigim duraham da
Wack fall the daddy oh,
wack fall the daddy oh
There's whiskey in the jar.
Well shirigim duraham da
Wack fall the daddy oh,
wack fall the daddy oh
There's whiskey in the jar.