In the merry month of June from my home I started
left the girls of Taum nearly brokenhearted saluted me father dear,
kissed me darling mother drank a pint of beer,
my grief and tears to smother then off to reap the corn,
leave where I was born cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghosts and goblin,
brand-new pair of brogues,
rattling o`er the bogs frightening all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin.
In Mullingar last night, I rested limbs so weary started by daylight next morning bright
and early took a drop of the pure to keep me heart from sinking
that`s the daddy`s cure when he`s on the drinking see the lassies smile,
laughing all the while at me darling style, would set your heart a-bubblin` asked me was I hired,
wages I required `til I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin.
[Chorus:]
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road and all the way to Dublin, whack-fol-la-de-da!
In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity to be so soon deprived a view of that fine city
decided to take a stroll all among the quality bundle,
it was stole in that neat locality something crossed my mind when I looked behind
no bundle could I find upon me stick a-wobblin` crying for a rogue said me
connaught brogue wasn`t much in-vogue on the rocky road to Dublin.
From there I got away, me spirits never failing landed on the quay
just as the ship was sailing captain at me roared,
said that no room had he then I jumped aboard a cabin found for Daddy down among the pigs,
played some funny rigs, danced some hearty jigs,
the water `round me bubblin` off to hollyhead wished myself was dead
or better far instead on the rocky road to Dublin.
The boys in Liverpool, when we safely landed called myself a fool,
I could no longer stand it blood began to boil,
temper I was losing poor old Erin`s Isle they began abusing hooray me soul,
says I, let the shellaillagh fly some galway boys were nigh,
saw I was a-hobblin` with a loud array,
they joined me in the fray and soon we cleared the way on the rocky road to Dublin.
