Rocky road to Dublin

In the merry month of June from my home I started,
Left the girls of Tuam nearly broken-hearted.
Saluted father dear, kissed my darling mother,
Drank a pint of beer my grief and tears to smother.
Then off to reap the corn, and leave where I was born,
I cut a stout black-thorn to banish ghost or goblin,
In a brand new pair of brogues, I rattled o'er the bogs,
And frightened all the dogs, on the rocky road to Dublin.

Whack fal le ral, whack fal lal re ral
Whack fal le ral, whack fal lal le ral do.

In Mullingar that night, I rested my limbs so weary,
Started by daylight next morning, light and airy;
Took a drop of the pure, to keep my spirits from sinking,
That's an Irishman's cure, when he's on for drinking;
To see the lasses smile, laughing all the while,
At my curious style, 'twould set your hearts a-bubblin'
They ax'd if I was hired, the wages I required,
Till I was almost tired on 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;
Then I took a stroll all among the quality,
My bundle it was stole in a neat locality;
Something crossed my mind, then I looked behind,
No bundle could I find on my stick a-wobblin',
Enquirin' for the rogue, they said my Connaught brogue
Wasn't much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin.

From there I got away, my spirits never failin',
Landed on the quay, as the ship was sailin';
Captain at me roared, said that no room had he,
When I jumped on board, cabin found for Paddy,
Down among the pigs; I played some funny rigs,
Danc'd some hearty jigs, the water round me bubblin',
When off Holyhead, I wished myself was dead,
Or, better far instead, on the rocky road to Dublin.

The boys in Liverpool, when we safely landed,
Called myself a fool - I could no longer stand it;
Blood began to boil, temper I was losin',
Poor old Erin's Isle they began abusin'.
"Hurrah, my soul!" says I, my shillelah I let fly;
Some Galway boys were by, saw I was a hobble in,
Then with a loud hurrah, they joined in the affray.
(SPOKEN) Faugh-a-ballagh!
We quickly clear'd the way, for the rocky road to Dublin.