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"The Irish Rover" is a traditional Irish song about a magnificent, though improbable, sailing ship that reaches an unfortunate end. It has been recorded by numerous artists, some of whom have made changes to the lyrics.
[edit] Original lyrics
- In the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and six,
- We set sail from the sweet Cobh of Cork
- We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks
- For the grand City Hall in New York
- 'Twas a wonderful craft, she was rigged 'fore and aft
- And how the wild winds drove her
- She 'stood several blasts, she had twenty-seven masts
- And they called her the Irish Rover
- There was Barney McGee from the banks of the Lee
- There was Hogan from County Tyrone
- There was Johnny McGurk who was scared stiff of work
- And a man from Westmeath called Malone
- There was Slugger O'Toole who was drunk as a rule
- And fighting Bill Tracy from Dover
- And your man Mick McCann, from the banks of the Bann
- Was the skipper on the Irish Rover
- We had one million bags of the best Sligo rags
- We had two million barrels of stones
- We had three million sides of old blind horses' hides
- We had four million barrels of bones
- We had five million hogs and six million dogs
- And seven million barrels of porter
- We had eight million bales of old nanny goats' tails
- In the hold of the Irish Rover
- We had sailed seven years when the measles broke out
- And our ship lost her way in the fog
- And the whole of the crew was reduced down to two
- 'Twas meself and the captain's old dog
- Then the ship struck a rock; oh Lord what a shock
- The bulkhead was turned right over
- We turned nine times around - then the poor old dog was drowned
- Now I'm the last of the Irish Rover
[edit] The Pogues ft. The Dubliners version
- On the Fourth of July, eighteen hundred and six
- We set sail from the sweet Cobh of Cork
- We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks
- For the Grand City Hall in New York
- 'Twas a wonderful craft
- She was rigged fore and aft
- And oh, how the wild wind drove her
- She stood several blasts
- She had twenty seven masts
- And they called her The Irish Rover
- We had one million bags of the best Sligo rags
- We had two million barrels of stone
- We had three million sides of old blind horses hides
- We had four million barrels of bones
- We had five million hogs
- And six million dogs
- Seven million barrels of porter
- We had eight million bails of old nanny-goats' tails
- In the hold of the Irish Rover
- There was awl Mickey Coote
- Who played hard on his flute
- When the ladies lined up for a set
- He was tootin' with skill
- For each sparkling quadrille
- Though the dancers were fluther'd and bet
- With his smart witty talk
- He was cock of the walk
- And he rolled the dames under and over
- They all knew at a glance
- When he took up his stance
- That he sailed in The Irish Rover
- There was Barney McGee
- From the banks of the Lee
- There was Hogan from County Tyrone
- There was Johnny McGurk
- Who was scared stiff of work
- And a man from Westmeath called Malone
- There was Slugger O'Toole
- Who was drunk as a rule
- And Fighting Bill Treacy from Dover
- And your man, Mick MacCann
- From the banks of the Bann
- Was the skipper of the Irish Rover
- For a sailor it's always a bother in life
- It's so lonesome by night and day
- That he longs for the shore
- And a charming young whore
- Who will melt all his troubles away
- Oh, the noise and the rout
- Swillin' poitin and stout
- For him soon the torment's over
- Of the love of a maid
- He is never afraid
- An old salt from the Irish Rover
- We had sailed seven years
- When the measles broke out
- And the ship lost its way in the fog
- And that whale of a crew
- Was reduced down to two
- Just myself and the Captain's old dog
- Then the ship struck a rock
- Oh Lord what a shock
- The bulkhead was turned right over
- Turned nine times around
- And the poor old dog was drowned
- I'm the last of The Irish Rover
The penultimate verse is often missed out from the song on compilations.
[edit] Cultural impact
- In issue 26 of DC/Vertigo series Preacher when Cassidy describes his drinking buddies in New York City, the names are all taken from the Irish Rover.
- Russian band Aquarium issued this song with original Russian lyrics as Беспечный русский бродяга (Carefree Russian rover) on the namesake album of 2006.
- In the July/August 2006 issue of Analog Science Fiction and Fact, there is a story by Michael Flynn called Sand and Iron where all the character names appear to be taken from the Irish Rover.
