Jack's Heroes Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah 

WHISKEY IN THE JAR 

Since there is so much variation between how a traditional song is recorded in song books and how a band (in this case, The Pogues) chooses to interpret it, I am providing both the "Traditional" and the "Pogued" versions of the lyrics.

[The Pogues'/Dubliners' Version]

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.

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

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

'Twas early in the morning before I rose to travel,
Up comes a band of footmen and likewise Captain Farrell;
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

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

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

[Gilgarry Mountain/
There's Whiskey In The Jar]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

[Kilgary Mountain/
Whiskey In The Jar]

As I was a-walkin' 'round 
Kilgary Mountain
I met with Captain Pepper 
as his money he was countin'
I rattled my pistols and 
I drew forth my saber
Sayin', "Stand and deliver, 
for I am the bold deceiver"

Musha rig um du rum da
Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar

The shinin' golden coins 
did look so bright and jolly
I took 'em with me home and 
I gave 'em to my Molly
She promised and she vowed that 
she never would deceive me
But the devil's in the women and 
they never can be easy

When I was awakened 
between six and seven
The guards were all around me 
in numbers odd and even
I flew to my pistols, 
but alas I was mistaken
For Molly's drawn my pistols and 
a prisoner I was taken

They put me into jail 
without judge or writin'
For robbing Colonel Pepper 
on Kilgary Mountain
But they didn't take my fists 
so I knocked the sentry down
And bid a fond farewell to 
the jail in Sligo town

Now some take delight in 
fishin' and in bowlin'
And others take delight 
in carriages a-rollin'
But I take delight 
in the juice of the barley
And courtin' pretty girls in 
the morning so early


Traditional

Arrangement copyright 1985 by The Pogues & The Dubliners

Great heaping gobs of thanks go to David Yanciw from his help with the Pogues/Dubliners version of these lyrics.

Your intrepid maintainer is DzM.