The Irish Rover
"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.
The origins of the song are uncertain but it is usually attributed to a little known songwriter/arranger named J.M. Crofts.
Crofts is listed as the author in the 1966 publication,Walton's New Treasurey of Irish Songs and Ballads 2.[1]
Some of the lyrics have become corrupted over time. For example, the opening line of one of the verses is often presented as: "We had sailed seven years when the measles broke out". Measles is actually a corruption of mizzens, which refers to the third and smallest mast on a ship. Both measles and mizzens are now commonly used in versions by different performers.
A recording of the Irish Rover by The Dubliners and The Pogues reached number 8 in the UK Singles Chart and number one in the Irish Singles Chart in 1987.
The Clancy Brothers version
- In the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and six,
- We set sail from the Coal Quay of Cork
- We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks
- For the grand City Hall in New York
- 'We'd an elegant craft, it was rigged 'fore and aft
- And how the trade winds drove her
- She had twenty-three masts and she 'stood several blasts
- 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 McGirr who was scared stiff of work
- And a chap from Westmeath named 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 bones
- We had three million bales of old nanny goats' tails
- We had four million barrels of stones
- We had five million hogs and six million dogs
- And seven million barrels of porter
- We had eight million sides of poor blind horses' hides
- 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 a 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
- And nearly tumbled over
- Turned nine times around - and the poor old dog was drowned
- I'm the last of the Irish Rover
The Pogues and The Dubliners version
| "The Irish Rover" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
- 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 bales 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 would tootle 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 McGirk
- 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.
The Tramps version
(Only a slight change in wording and verse order from the original lyrics)
- On the fourth of July eighteen hundred and six
- We set sail for the sweet home of Cork
- We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks
- For the grand City Hall of New York
- It was a wonderful craft she was rigged fore and aft
- And how the wild wind drove her
- She stood several blasts she had twenty seven masts
- And we 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 bone
- We had five million hogs and six million dogs
- And seven million barrels of porter
- We had eight million barrels of old nanny goats tails
- All on board on The Irish Rover
- There was Barney MaGee from the banks of the Lee
- There was Hogan from county Tyrone
- There was Johnny McGirr who was scared stiff of work
- And a chap from Westmeath named Malone
- There was Slugger O’Toole who was drunk as a rule
- And Fighting Bill Tracy from Dover
- There was Dolan from Clare just as strong as a bear
- All on board on The Irish Rover
- We had sailed seven years when the measles broke out
- Our ship lost its way in the fog
- Then the whale of the 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 boat was turned right over
- Whirled nine times around then the old dog was drowned
- And the last of The Irish Rover
- Whirled nine times around then the old dog was drowned
- I’m the last of The Irish Rover
Cultural impact
- The Irish Rover is one of the most popular Scottish country dances and is set to the music of the song.
- The Canadian Irish folk group created in 1963, The Irish Rovers were named after the traditional song "The Irish Rover" by their mother in Ballymena, Ireland. Their first recording of the song was on their 1966 debut album, The First of the Irish Rovers.
- Slugger O'Toole - a character referred to in The Irish Rover has been adopted as the name of a major political website in Northern Ireland.
- 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.
- 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.
Recordings
"The Irish Rover" has been recorded many times by a variety of artists. Versions are listed below by notable artists in descending chronological order.
- 2011 - Drunken Lullabies (band) on their album Póg mo thóin
- 2011 - Fiddler's Green (band) on their album Wall of Folk
- 2011 - Dropkick Murphys on their album Going Out in Style
- 2010 - The Screw City Saints on their album Drinking, Fighting, Dying
- 2010 - The High Kings on their album Memory Lane
- 2009 - Culann's Hounds on their album One for the Road
- 2009 - Happy Ol´McWeasel on their first single Irish Rover - Single 2009
- 2007 - Tommy Makem on the posthumous release The Legendary Tommy Makem Collection
- 2005 - Liam Clancy on his album Yes... Those Were The Days: The Essential Liam Clancy
- 2005 - The Blaggards on their album Standards
- 2001 - The Tossers on their album Communication & Conviction: Last Seven Years
- 2000 - Sons of Maxwell on their album Sailor's Story
- 1998 - The Corsairs on their album The RED One
- 1994 - Orthodox Celts on their self-titled début album
- 1987 - The Dubliners with The Pogues on The Dubliners' album 25 Years Celebration
- 1975 - Ronnie Drew on his self-titled début solo album
- 1966 - The Irish Rovers on their début album, The First of the Irish Rovers