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There are many variations in the lyrics depending on the singer. For instance "June" in the first line is often, but not always, replaced by its Irish counterpart "Meitheamh" mistaken by some to be the
English "May". Most interpretations of the twentieth century omit the second and antepenultimate
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The song describes the adventures, troubles, and travails that the protagonist encounters on his travels. At the beginning of the song, the protagonist of the story states that he is "off to reap the corn" meaning he is off to seek his fortune. ("Corn" can refer to any cereal grain, such as
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242:, and metaphorically refers to wealth. Making "Off to reap the corn." a similar expression to other colloquialisms such as "Making paper" or "Stacking bread") He begins his journey by bidding farewell to his family and friends and preparing supplies. He leaves his hometown of
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Irish come-all-ye's; a repository of ancient Irish songs and ballads—comprising patriotic, descriptive, historical and humorous gems, characteristic of the Irish race (1901)
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in 9/8 timing. An extra beat or two between chorus and verse is often added. Sometimes, the final line in the verses is sung with 7 strong musical beats (
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of his meagre possessions. He attempts to locate the thief ("Enquiring for the rogue"), but is mocked because of his accent ("Connaught brogue"). He
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822:(2001). The main theme and chorus are repeated four times, rather than five as in most modern vocal performances.
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in the harbor headed for
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The song was adapted by songwriter
Kiernan Anderson in a song entitled "Rocky Road to Edmonton".
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The words were written by D. K. Gavan, "The Galway Poet", for the
English music hall performer
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Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road And all the way to Dublin, whack-fol-la-de-da
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written by Irish poet D. K. Gavan about a man's experiences as he travels to
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That's always an
Irishman's cure, whenever he's troubled with thinking.
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Faugh-a-ballagh! Clear the way! for the rocky road to Dublin!
646:"And to the Strawberry Beds, I'll drive you at your leisure."
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The steam-coach was at hand, the driver said he'd cheap ones.
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Then with a loud "hurrah !" they joined me in the fray.
651:"A strawberry bed?" says I, "faith, that would be too high!"
641:"Step up, my boy!" says he; "Ah, that I will with pleasure,"
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Sure I frightened all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin.
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In the merry month of June, when first from home I started,
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The song is partially recited several times by Mr Deasy in
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Faith! such jolting never wor on the rocky road to Dublin.
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With a pair of bran new brogues, I rattled o'er the bogs —
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But when I leaped on board, they a cabin found for Paddy.
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Took a drop of the pure, to keep my spirits from sinking,
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For every step of the road, bedad I says I, I'll walk it.
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verse, and replace the original chorus by the following:
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Inquiring for the rogue, they said my
Connaught brogue.
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Shook hands with father dear, kissed my darling mother,
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music. The song is also often performed instrumentally.
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Danced some hearty jigs, with water round me bubbling.
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Something crossed my mind, thinks I, I'll look behind.
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For
England I was bound, it would never do to balk it.
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But sure the luggage van was too much for my ha'pence.
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Then off to reap the corn, and leave where I was born.
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Until I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin.
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Here's the rocky road, now fire away to Dublin !
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Kiernan
Anderson 2022 album A Bird in the Hand Vol. 2
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Some Galway boys were by, they saw I was a hobbling;
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The captain at me roared, swore that no room had he.
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A coachman raised his hand as if myself was wanting,
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It wasn't much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin.
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For it is the rocky road, here's the road to Dublin;
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I cut a stout black-thorn to banish ghost or goblin;
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Drank a pint of beer, my tears and grief to smother;
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Rather than with 6 strong musical beats (9/8 + 9/8):
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And all the way to Dublin, whack-fol-la-de-da !
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I landed on the quay, just as the ship was sailing.
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To be so soon deprived of a view of that fine city;
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A pain in my shin bone, it set my heart a-bubbling;
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853:in 1973 (this version is featured in the 2009 film
708:Or safely put in bed, on the rocky road to Dublin.
546:In Mullingar, that night, I rested limbs so weary.
61:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
730:And poor old Erin's Isle, they all began abusing.
720:Called myself a fool, I could no longer stand it;
715:The boys in Liverpool, when on the dock I landed.
673:I soon got out of that, my spirits never failing,
599:Twas then I took a stroll, all among the quality,
551:Started by daylight, with spirits light and airy;
444:And left the girls alone, sad and broken-hearted.
284:is mocked by the locals because of his nationality
703:But when off Holyhead, I wished that I was dead,
636:I went up to a stand, full of cars for jaunting;
614:No bundle could I find upon my stick a-wobbling.
566:To see the lassies smile, laughing all the while
313:. It has a typical Irish rhythm, classified as a
725:My blood began to boil, my temper I was losing.
588:In Dublin next arrived, I thought it was a pity
576:They axed if I was hired, the wages I required.
539:I very quickly ran on the rocky road to Dublin.
774:Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road
693:Down among the pigs I played such rummy rigs,
571:At my comical style, set my heart a-bubbling.
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1223:Unaccompanied performance of all seven verses
1172:The Rocky Road To Dublin | Colm R. McGuinness
661:He drove me out as far, upon an outside car.
604:My bundle then was stole in a neat locality,
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428:Version reported by Manus O'Connor in 1901.
1148:Peter Graham, compositions for concert band
278:, Wales. He arrives in the English city of
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1137:Peter Graham, compositions for brass band
802:The song serves as the first movement of
530:And fearing the big cannon, looking o'er
121:Learn how and when to remove this message
19:For the 1967 film of the same name, see
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1077:in 2016, from the play The Bloody Irish
262:, and decides to tour the city, but is
230:(1832–1872), who popularized the song.
382:(every strong musical beat is in bold)
250:, on foot, and heads east, resting in
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162:The song performed by Christoph Nolte.
195:, Ireland. Originally popularized by
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59:adding citations to reliable sources
516:I did not sigh or moan until I saw
1373:Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
1307:Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
1106:The Era magazine, 22 February 1863
14:
1336:Untitled second television series
297:come to his rescue ("join in the
1331:Untitled first television series
170:Problems playing this file? See
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810:, which exists in versions for
46:needs additional citations for
735:"Hurrah! my boys," says I, my
1:
1218:Sheet music and modern lyrics
1480:Works about human migration
191:, England from his home in
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1115:Attribution on sheet music
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1089:The Longest Johns in 2023
1490:Dublin (city) in fiction
1194:The Rocky Road to Dublin
1086:Colm R. McGuinness, 2022
1060:in 2015, from the album
769:One two three four five,
147:The Rocky Road To Dublin
814:(2000, commissioned by
222:in an 1863 illustration
16:19th century Irish song
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1069:The Kings of Connaught
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70:"Rocky Road to Dublin"
895:The Irish Descendants
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1485:Year of song unknown
1455:Culture in Mullingar
1364:Rocky Road to Dublin
981:Brobdingnagian Bards
183:" is a 19th-century
181:Rocky Road to Dublin
55:improve this article
22:Rocky Road to Dublin
1470:Songs about Ireland
1040:Irishman in America
916:The Long Black Veil
835:The Clancy Brothers
1450:19th-century songs
1225:(Ray Begley, 2014)
1075:Fiachna Ó Braonáin
1063:Songs From Ireland
935:The Permanent Cure
923:The Rolling Stones
911:The Rolling Stones
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1198:, retrieved
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1058:Damien Leith
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1035:Johnny Logan
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959:Belfast Food
950:
941:Gaelic Storm
914:
869:Paddy Reilly
863:Ryan's Fancy
854:
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820:concert band
816:Foden's Band
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804:Peter Graham
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48:verification
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1412:Team Downey
1407:Guy Ritchie
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1381:Die Forelle
1178:26 February
1029:The Tossers
1011:Barleyjuice
952:Green Roses
929:Clandestine
881:Bert Jansch
839:Tommy Makem
785:Adaptations
739:I let fly.
532:the Shannon
403:gs on the r
311:Dorian mode
268:hops a ship
1444:Categories
1324:Television
1314:Third film
1280:Dr. Watson
1094:References
1005:Bad Haggis
963:Zašto zato
875:The Pogues
851:Luke Kelly
829:Recordings
812:brass band
737:shillelagh
291:shillelagh
288:blackthorn
205:Irish folk
185:Irish song
172:media help
81:newspapers
1274:Based on
1037:in 2008,
999:Blaggards
961:on album
808:Gaelforce
282:where he
280:Liverpool
252:Mullingar
189:Liverpool
111:June 2020
987:Cruachan
480:(Chorus)
399:ll the d
360:ll the d
276:Holyhead
201:standard
1400:Related
1376:(2011)
1356:(2009)
1054:in 2013
1048:in 2008
1031:in 2008
1019:in 2008
1013:in 2006
1007:in 2005
1001:in 2005
995:in 2002
989:in 2002
983:in 2002
971:in 2000
965:in 2000
955:in 1999
943:in 1998
937:in 1996
931:in 1996
925:in 1995
919:in 1995
903:in 1994
897:in 1993
891:in 1992
884:in 1990
877:in 1988
871:in 1985
865:in 1973
847:in 1964
841:in 1964
796:Ulysses
518:Athlone
411:ad to D
376:ad to D
368:n the r
315:hop jig
95:scholar
1316:(2023)
1310:(2011)
1302:(2009)
1200:1 June
1081:Lankum
818:) and
793:novel
421:Lyrics
395:ghten
391:And fr
356:ghten
352:And fr
299:affray
295:Galway
264:robbed
260:Dublin
240:barley
211:Origin
97:
90:
83:
76:
68:
24:(film)
1345:Music
1291:Films
837:with
415:blin.
407:cky r
380:blin.
372:cky r
305:Music
236:wheat
102:JSTOR
88:books
1475:Tuam
1278:and
1202:2023
1180:2023
1083:2019
1071:2016
244:Tuam
193:Tuam
74:news
1429:Max
1362:' "
1282:by
949:on
913:on
364:gs
347:):
238:or
203:of
57:by
1446::
1262:'
799:.
534:,
520:.
332:+
254:,
246:,
1390:"
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1366:"
1252:e
1245:t
1238:v
859:)
597:'
413:u
409:o
405:o
401:o
397:a
393:i
378:u
374:o
370:o
366:o
362:o
358:a
354:i
340:8
325:8
179:"
174:.
124:)
118:(
113:)
109:(
99:·
92:·
85:·
78:·
51:.
26:.
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