Ballads Of The Frontier Partisans — There’s Whiskey In The Jar

Me and my mates are rehearsing for a St. Paddy’s gig, so naturally we’re polishing up a set of Celtic-flavored songs. My own Shoot Straight You Bastards. Steve Earle’s Galway Girl. Charlie Robison’s John O’Reilly. Dropkick Murphys’ Rose Tattoo. Gaelic Storm’s magnificent privateer epic Lover’s Wreck.

And Whiskey in the Jar.

Popularized by The Dubliners, it’s a 300-year-old song that must surely have been bellowed out in many a frontier tavern. It tells a fine tale of a highwayman, a British official and a treacherous woman — everything ye need for a fine folk ballad.

Folk music historian Alan Lomax believes that the song originated in the 17th century:

“The folk of 17th century Britain liked and admired their local highwaymen; and in Ireland (or Scotland) where the gentlemen of the roads robbed English landlords, they were regarded as national patriots. Such feelings inspired this rollicking ballad.”

The song apparently gained popularity in Colonial America as tensions grew with the Mother Country.

Here’s The Dubs:

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As I was a goin’ over the far famed Kerry mountains
I met with Captain Farrell and his money he was counting
I first produced my pistol and I then produced my rapier
Saying “stand and deliver!” for he were a bold deceiver

Mush-a ring dum-a do dum-a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my 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 deceive me
But the devil take the women for they never can be easy

Mush-a ring dum-a do dum-a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There’s whiskey in the jar

I went up to my chamber, all for to take a slumber
I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure ‘t was no wonder
But Jenny drew me charges and she filled them up with water
Then sent for captain Farrell to be ready for the slaughter

Mush-a ring dum-a do dum-a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There’s whiskey in the jar

’Twas was early in the morning, just before I rose to travel
Up comes a band of footmen and likewise captain Farrell
I first produced me pistol for she stole away me rapier
I couldn’t shoot the water, so a prisoner I was taken

Mush-a ring dum-a do dum-a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There’s whiskey in the jar

Now there’s some take delight in the carriages a-rollin’
And others take delight in the hurling and the bowling
But I take delight in the juice of the barley
And courting pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early

Mush-a ring dum-a do dum-a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There’s whiskey in the jar

If anyone can aid me ’tis my brother in the army
If I can find his station in Cork or in Killarney
And if he’ll go with me, we’ll go rovin’ through Killkenny
And I’m sure he’ll treat me better than my own a-sporting Jenny

Mush-a ring dum-a do dum-a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There’s whiskey in the jar

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A rogues gallery by Hyoung Nam…