‘Whiskey in the Jar’ is an Irish traditional song set in the southern mountains of Ireland, often with specific mention of counties Cork and Kerry. The song, about a rapparee (highwayman) who is betrayed by his wife or lover, is one of the most widely performed traditional Irish songs and has been recorded by numerous artists since the 1950s. The song first gained wide exposure when Irish folk band the Dubliners performed it internationally as a signature song, and recorded it on three albums in the 1960s. Irish rock band Thin Lizzy hit the Irish and British pop charts with the song in 1973.
The song tells the story of a bandit in southwest Ireland who robs an English Army Officer to keep his girlfriend Molly happy after she promises to love him forever. She then betrays him and the young man is taken to jail. The song's exact origins are unknown. A number of its lines and the general plot resemble those of a contemporary broadside ballad "Patrick Fleming" (also called "Patrick Flemmen he was a Valiant Soldier") about Irish highwayman Patrick Fleming, who was executed in 1650.
Although a massive first hit for Thin Lizzy, this was actually meant to be the B-side. The band recorded ‘Black Boys on The Corner’ as the A-side and put the old traditional Irish Song ‘Whiskey In The Jar’ on the B-side because they didn't have anything else. It was the record company that decided to make ‘Whiskey in the Jar’ the A-side.
‘Whiskey in the Jar’ is sung with many other variants on locations and names, including a version by Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead with mandolinist David Grisman; a version by the Dubliners (which is often sung in Irish traditional music sessions around the world); and a heavy metal version (inspired by Thin Lizzy's performance of the song) by Metallica. Thin Lizzy's 1972 single (bonus track on Vagabonds of the Western World) stayed at the top of the Irish charts for 17 weeks, and the British release stayed in the top 30 for 12 weeks, peaking at No. 6, in 1973.
Label – Decca
Songwriters – Trad. arr., Eric Bell, Brian Downey, Phil Lynott
Producers – Nick Tauber, Derek Varnals
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]As I was goin' over
The Cork and Kerry mountains
I saw Captain Farrell
And his money he was countin'
[Verse 2]
I first produced my pistol
And then produced my rapier
I said "Stand o'er and deliver
Or the devil he may take ya".
[Chorus]
Musha ring dumb a do dumb a da
Whack for my daddy-o,
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar-o
[Verse 3]
I took all of his money
And it was a pretty penny
I took all of his money
And I brought it home to Molly
[Verse 4]
She swore that she'd love me
Never would she leave me
But the devil take that woman
For you know she tricked me easy
[Chorus]
Musha ring dumb a do dumb a da
Whack for my daddy-o,
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar-o
[Verse 6]
Being drunk and weary
I went to Molly's chamber
Takin' my money with me
And I never knew the danger
[Verse 7]
For about six or maybe seven
In walked Captain Farrell
I jumped up, fired off my pistols
And I shot him with both barrels
[Chorus]
Musha ring dumb a do dumb a da
Whack for my daddy-o,
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar-o
[Verse 8]
Now some men like the fishin'
And some men like the fowlin',
And some men like ta hear
A cannon ball a roarin'
[Verse 9]
Me? I like sleepin'
Especially in my Molly's chamber
But here I am in prison
Here I am with a ball and chain, yeah
[Chorus]
Musha ring dumb a do dumb a da
Whack for my daddy-o,
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar-o
[Outro]
And I got drunk on whiskey-o
And I loved, I loved, I loved
I loved, I loved, I loved my Molly-o
And cheerio Farrell
And I'll burn it down
That dirty ol' town