Rocky Road to Dublin

For the 1967 film of the same name, see Rocky Road to Dublin (film).

"Rocky Road to Dublin" is a fast-paced 19th century song about a man's experiences as he travels to Liverpool, England from his home in Tuam. The tune has a typical Irish rhythm, classified as a slip (or hop) jig in 9/8 timing, and is often performed instrumentally.

Origin

The words were written by D.K. Gavan, "The Galway Poet", for the English music hall performer Harry Clifton (1824-1872), who popularised the song.

The lyrics refer to the Irish capital city Dublin, the Irish towns Tuam and Mullingar, the Welsh town Holyhead, the Irish city Galway and the English city Liverpool.

Variations

The song is partially recited several times by Mr. Deasy in James Joyce's novel Ulysses.

There are many variations in the lyrics depending on the singer. For instance "June" in the first line is often replaced by "May", etc. Most interpretations of the twentieth century omit the second and antepenultimate couplets, and replace the chorus by the following :

One two three four five,

Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road

And all the ways to Dublin, whack-fol-la-de-da !

Recordings

• Bert Jansch
• The Irish Descendants
• The Pogues, as part of a medley on If I Should Fall from Grace with God and on its own
• The Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem, in 1964.
• The Dubliners, in 1964.
• Luke Kelly, in 1973
• Ryan's Fancy, in 1973.
• Paddy Reilly, in 1985.
• Fiddler's Green, in 1992.
• The Rolling Stones on The Chieftains' 1995 album The Long Black Veil.
• Blood or Whiskey, on their debut album in 1996.
• Clandestine, in 1996.
• The Permanent Cure, in 1996
• Gaelic Storm, in 1998.
• Orthodox Celts, on Green Roses (1999).
• Belfast Food, on album Zašto zato in 2000
• Christy Moore, in 2000.
• Dropkick Murphys, in 2001 and 2002.
• Brobdingnagian Bards, in 2002.
• Cruachan, in 2002.
• Blaggards, in 2005.
• Barleyjuice, within the medley, Modern Pirates, on Six Yanks, in 2006.
• Dublin City Workingman's Band on St Patrick's Day 2007, for Luxembourg TV channel RTL
• The Young Dubliners, on the 1994 album Rocky Road and With All Due Respect - The Irish Sessions, in 2007
• Damien Dempsey, in 2008.
• The High Kings, in 2008.
• The Tossers, in 2008.
• Culann's Hounds, on One for the Road in 2008
• Sherlock Holmes (Remastered Recording by The Dubliners) in 2009.

External links

• Lyrics (Manus O'Connor in 1901)
• http://www.orthodoxcelts.com Listen to the song (click Discography then Rocky Road - View)
• Dublin City Workingman's Band » Videos