Key G

In the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and six
We set sail from the fair Cobh of Cork.
We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks
For the fine city hall of New York.

        In a very fine craft, she was rigged fore-and-aft
        And oh, how the wild winds drove her.
        She had twenty-three masts and withstood several blasts
        And we called her the Irish Rover.

There was Barney McGee from the banks of the Lee,
There was Hogan from County Tyrone.
And a chap called McGurk who was scared stiff of work
And a chap from West Meade called Mellone.

        There was Slugger O'Toole who was drunk as a rule
        And fighting Bill Casey from Dover.
        And your man Mick McGann from the banks of the Ban
        Was skipper of the Irish Rover.

We had one million bags of the best Sligo rags,
We had two million barrels of bones.
We had three million barrels of bald eagles tails,
We had four million barrels of stone.

        We had five million hogs, we had six million dogs,
        And seven million barrels of porter.
        We had eight million sides of old blind horses hides
        In the hold of the Irish Rover.

We had sailed seven years when the measles broke out
And the ship lost her way in a fog.
And the whole of the crew was reduced unto two,
'Twas myself and the captain's old dog.

        Then the ship struck a rock Lord what a shock
        And then she nearly turn right over,
        Turned nine times around, and the poor dog was drowned--
        I'm the last of the Irish Rover.

Then the ship struck a rock Lord what a shock
        And then she nearly turn right over,
        Turned nine times around, and the poor dog was drowned--
        I'm the last of the Irish Rover.

Irish Rover (Traditional)
Arrangement and Additional words George Clarke