In the merry month of June out from me home I started,
left the girls of Tuam nearly broken hearted,
saluted father dear, kissed me darling mother,
drank a pint of beer me grief and fears to smother,
then off to reap the corn and leave where I was born,
cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghost and goblin
In a brand new pair of brogues I rattled o'er the bogs
and frightened all the dogs on the rocky road to DublinOne, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare and turn her
down the rocky road and all the ways to Dublin,
whack fol al de rol
In Mullingar that night I rested limbs so weary,
started by daylight next morning light and airy,
took a drop of the pure, to keep me heart from sinkin',
that's the Paddy's cure whenever he's on for drinkin'
To see the lassies smile, laughin' all the while,
at me curious style, 'twould set your heart a-bubblin'
They ax'd if I was hired, the wages I required,
til I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare and turn her
down the rocky road and all the ways to Dublin,
whack fol al de rol
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
me bundle it was stolen in a neat locality,
Something crossed me mind, then I looked behind,
no bundle could I find upon my stick a-wobblin',
Enquirin' after the rogue, they said me Connacht brogue
wasn't much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare and turn her
down the rocky road and all the ways to Dublin,
whack fol al de rol
From here I got away, me spirits never failin',
landed on the quay just as the ship was sailin',
Captain at me roared, said that no room had he,
when I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy
down among the pigs, I skipped some funny rigs,
I played some hearty jigs, the water round me bubblin',
When off to Holyhead, I wished meself was dead,
or better far instead on the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare and turn her
down the rocky road and all the ways to Dublin,
whack fol al de rol
The boys of Liverpool, when we safely landed
called myself a fool, I could no longer stand it,
blood began to boil, temper I was loosin'
poor old Erin's isle they began abusin',
Hurrah me soul, says I, my shillelagh I let fly,
some Galway boys were by, saw I was a-hobblin',
Then with loud hurray, they joined in the affray,
we quickly cleared the way for the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare and turn her
down the rocky road and all the ways to Dublin,
whack fol al de rol
This song was probably written in the 19th century. It is a lively and popular ballad sung very quickly. A bit of a terror to sing, this became one of the Dubliners showpieces. The tune is a favourite with fiddlers and pipers.
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