Origins: Whiskey In The Jar

Subject: Lyr Add: GILGARRAH MOUNTAIN
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 08 Dec 98 - 12:57 AM

Right you are, Sandy. There on p. 147 of Traditional Folk Songs from the Anne & Frank Warner Collection is the copyright "Collected, Adapted and Arranged by Bob Gibson, Bob Camp and Frank Warner."

Here are the words as printed...

GILGARRAH MOUNTAIN

As I was goin' over Gilgarrah Mountain,
I met Colonel Pepper and his money he was counting.
I rattled my pistols and drew forth my saber,
"Stand and deliver, for I am a bold deceiver,"

CHO: Musha ringum durum da,
Wack fol the daddy o,
Wack fol the daddy o,
There's whiskey in the jar.

Them shiny golden coins sure did look bright and jolly,
I took the money home, and I gave it to my Molly.
She promised and vowed she never would deceive me,
But the Devil's in the women and they never can be easy.

I returned to my cave in Gilgarrah Mountain,
And left my sweetheart Molly the money a-counting.
As I was soundly sleeping, the divil sure may take her,
She fired off my pistols and she loaded them with pepper.

She told Colonel Pepper where I was a-hiding,
And led them to my cave right early in the morning.
O Molly, you've deceived me, although I loved you dearly,
But you never cared for me; I can see it bright and clearly.

Now I awakened between six and seven,
Guards were around me in numbers odd and even.
I flew to my pistols, but alas I was mistaken,
For I fired off my pistols and a prisoner I was taken.

They put me into jail, without a judge or writing,
For robbing Colonel Pepper up on Gilgarrah Mountain;
But they didn't take me fists, so I knocked the sentry down,
And I bid a long farewell to the jail in Sligo town.

Now some takes delight in the fishing and bowling;
Others takes delight in the carriages a-rolling;
But I takes delight in the fruit of the barley
Courting pretty girls in the morning so early.

Well, the Gilgarrah Mountain was not in Munster (Kerry, Tipperary, etc.), not if our highwayman was taken in his cave there and lodged in Sligo jail.

"There's Whiskey in the Jar" appears in Colm O Lochlainn's great book of (mostly) broadsides, Irish Street Ballads. For those who care, he has "Kerry mountain," "Captain Farrell" and "Jenny." He also includes the verse...

If any one can aid me 'tis me brother in the army
If I could learn his station, in Cork or in Killarney.
And if he'd come and join me we'd go roving in Killkenny
I'll engage he'd treat me fairer than my darling sporting Jenny.

I recall Liam saying words to this effect once while I was in the Air Force.

All the best,
Dan HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 11-Jul-02.

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: AndreasW
Date: 08 Dec 98 - 07:16 AM

I heard
"As I was going over the mountains near Killarney"
by different singers in some pubs, one in Kilronan on Inishmore, one in Killarney and one in Dingle.
But don't ask me for the names of the pubs, those are stored somewhere in my memory, probably in some write-only memory...
Andreas

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Ritchie
Date: 08 Dec 98 - 07:56 AM

The late Phil Lynott of 'Thin Lizzy' used to look down from the stage to the assembled ladies in the audience before singing 'whisky in the jar' and say......

"Do you have any Irish in you....?"..pause for effect

"Well,would you like some....?"

(the little tinker..)

love and happiness

Ritchie.

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 08 Dec 98 - 10:33 AM

My two penn'orth:

I had it in the late 60's from Mike James of the Songsmiths as "They didn't take my fists, so I knocked down the sentry/And I bid a fond farewell to the judge and all his gentry" which rhymes, anyway.

Steve

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: DonMeixner
Date: 08 Dec 98 - 11:22 PM

My favorite varient is the Smother's Brothers version.

As I was goin' over the North Pole so merry I met a St. Bernhard who was short and squat and harry, I pull for a stick and I made for to heave her, Saying fetch and deliver for you are a bold retriever.

Mush a ringum...

Don Meixner

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Harry O
Date: 11 Dec 98 - 09:54 PM

The usual process. the song travels, placenames unfamiliar to the listeners are changed to suit the locality. The same applies to proper names. "Unusual" names are rationalised.There also exists the potential for mishearing the lyrics, or misremembering them in post-performance recollection.

We are all familiar with the "Chinese Whispers" phenomenon. Same principal applies.

Harry O

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: David Ball
Date: 13 Dec 98 - 09:38 PM

I used to study Greek and Latin and when I learned the rhetorical figures -- metaphor, simile, etc. -- I was struck by how they all could be found in even the most unpretentious songs. I particularly noticed that the last verse of "Whiskey in the Jar" is a priamel ("some like...some like...but I like..."), a form already well established when Sappho was writing (about 7th century BC). It's also a tricolon, a series of three, which is of course a favorite of everybody's.

Anyway, I've heard it as "...and bid farewell to this tight-fisted town," which I like, if only because it doesn't contain any names of places I've never visited.

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From:
Date: 15 Dec 98 - 05:57 PM

I read on some newsgroup that there is now a shopping mall in Sligo. Sort of spoils the tune for me, although there is no reason why Sligo shouldn't have a mall like everyone else. "And I bid a fond adieu/To the mall in Sligo town" . . .

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Bert
Date: 16 Dec 98 - 11:59 AM

You've seen one you've seen a mall.

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Chris Ubik
Date: 16 Dec 98 - 12:32 PM

As I believe was mentioned before, Metallica does a cover of it on their latest album, "Garage, Inc." Not the definitive recording, but surprisingly good.

Other gems on the album include Skynyrd's "Tuesday's Gone," Bob Seger's "Turn the Page" and Blue Oyster Cult's "Astronomy."

Ok, my inner headbanger is going back underground :-)

Chris

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Ian
Date: 26 Dec 98 - 09:00 AM

If anybody knows the whisky in the jar riffs/solo could they please submit it to OLGA as I'm tearing my hair out!

Ian Atkinson,Yorkshire, England

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Art Thieme
Date: 26 Dec 98 - 10:03 PM

Just E-mailed Roy Harris to check in here & look at the good discussion. He may have his .02 to add---we'll see! (Did that 'cause his version of this song was mentioned several times.)

Art

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: alison
Date: 26 Dec 98 - 10:11 PM

Hi Ian,

which riffs? the Thin Lizzy one is pretty easy to work out. I'l do it for you if it's that one you want.

slainte

alison

Subject: Lyr Add: WHISKEY IN THE JAR (from Metallica)
From: Kirk
Date: 31 Dec 98 - 03:56 AM

The Metallica version has different lyrics than have been posted. I have never heard the Thin Lizzy version, but I assume that the Metallica version has the same as the Thin Lizzy version.

Here is my interpretation of the Metallica version of "Whiskey in the Jar":

As I was going over the Cork and Kerry mountains,
I saw Captain Farrell and his money he was counting.
I first produced my pistol, and then produced my rapier.
I said stand and deliver, oh the devil, he may take ya,

(Yeah)

I took all of his money, and it was a pretty penny.
I took all of his money, yeah, and I brought it home to Molly.
She swore that she loved me, no never would she leave me,
But the devil take that women, yeah, but you know she tricked me easy

CHORUS: Musha ring dumma do damma da
Whack for my daddy 'ol
Whack for my daddy 'ol
There's whiskey in the jar-O

Being drunk and weary, I went to my last chamber,
Take the money with me, but I never knew the danger.
For about 6:00, maybe 7:00, (yeah) In walked Captain Ferrell,
I jumped up by my pistols, and I shot him with both barrels. (Yeah)

CHORUS: Musha ring dumma do damma da (yeah-yeah)
Whack for my daddy 'ol
Whack for my daddy 'ol
There's whiskey in the jar-O

{Lots of cool Thin Lizzy sounding riffs}

Now some men like the fishin', and some men like the fowlin',
Some men like to hear, to hear the cannonball a' roarin'.
Me, I like sleepin', 'specially in the morning's chamber,
But here I am in prison, here I am with the ball and chain. (Yeah)

CHORUS: Musha ring dumma do damma da (yeah, yeah)
Whack for my daddy 'ol
Whack for my daddy 'ol
There's whiskey in the jar-O (yeah)

ENDING: Whiskey in the jar-O
Musha ring dumma do damma da
Musha ring dumma do damma da
Musha ring dumma do damma da
Musha ring dumma do damma da

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From:
Date: 31 Dec 98 - 04:12 AM

RIP chain letter

THIS IS AN ABUSE OF MUDCAT

Subject: Abuse?
From: Kirk
Date: 31 Dec 98 - 06:04 PM

What is Abuse?

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: alison
Date: 31 Dec 98 - 06:14 PM

Don't worry Kirk, some nice kind person deleted a chain letter someone had slipped in here.

The Metallica version lyrics are pretty like the Thin Lizzy ones... I'll assume the guitar riffs are too.... will post them soon.

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Kirk
Date: 31 Dec 98 - 09:15 PM

OK, I wondered what that was about.

Kirk

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: The Jinxminator
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 10:58 AM

Where the fuck can you find the bass and lead tab for Whiskey in the fucking jar? please?

Subject: Tune Add: WHISKEY IN THE JAR
From: alison
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 07:41 PM

Hi Ian and Kirk,

I had a go at working out the Thin Lizzy riffs so here you go. (Again.... not strictly accurate....... it's hard to be an electric guitar on a piano ....and where the lead went beserk I gave up ....you can try to figure that out yourselves....... alternatively just play very fast and stay inside the chord structures.)

This is the intro

Guitar chords are easy G D Em Em D G

MIDI file: WHISKINT.MID

Timebase: 480

Name: Whiskey in the jar (Intro)
TimeSig: 4/4 24 8
Key: G
Tempo: 100 (600000 microsec/crotchet)
Start
0000 1 72 054 1198 0 72 054 0002 1 72 044 0238 0 72 044 0002 1 72 029 0118 0 72 029 0002 1 71 030 0120 0 71 030 0019 1 69 042 0221 0 69 042 0000 1 71 038 1198 0 71 038 0002 1 71 025 0238 0 71 025 0002 1 71 049 0118 0 71 049 0002 1 69 046 0118 0 69 046 0002 1 67 030 0238 0 67 030 0002 1 69 029 1680 0 69 029 0019 1 67 024 0104 1 64 031 0049 0 67 024 0068 0 64 031 0037 1 62 026 0206 1 60 025 0032 0 62 026 0171 0 60 025 0036 1 57 036 0223 1 55 026 0032 0 57 036 0683 0 55 026 0035 1 55 026 1558 0 55 026 0107 1 59 030 0118 0 59 030 0002 1 62 048 0118 0 62 048 0002 1 64 031 0118 0 64 031 0002 1 67 045 0118 0 67 045 0002 1 64 022 0118 0 64 022 0002 1 62 027 0118 0 62 027 0002 1 64 029 1146 0 64 029 0019 1 62 022 0240 0 62 022 0035 1 59 023 0238 0 59 023 0002 1 57 023 0238 0 57 023 0002 1 55 022 0238 0 55 022 0002 1 52 015 0476 0 52 015 0290 1 50 013 0914 0 50 013 0960 1 67 068 0478 0 67 068 0002 1 66 047 0478 0 66 047 0002 1 64 061 1198 0 64 061 0002 1 62 034 0238 0 62 034 0002 1 62 050 0238 0 62 050 0002 1 64 034 0085 1 66 038 0035 0 64 034 0118 0 66 038 0002 1 67 045 0238 0 67 045 0002 1 64 029 0238 0 64 029 0002 1 66 036 0238 0 66 036 0002 1 62 034 0238 0 62 034 0002 1 64 029 0238 0 64 029 0002 1 67 037 0238 0 67 037 0002 1 67 044 1678 0 67 044 0002 1 62 034 0238 0 62 034 0002 1 62 043 0238 0 62 043 0002 1 64 034 0118 0 64 034 0017 1 66 038 0105 0 66 038 0032 1 67 046 0208 1 64 029 0015 0 67 046 0223 0 64 029 0002 1 66 030 0238 0 66 030 0002 1 62 029 0238 0 62 029 0002 1 64 029 0238 0 64 029 0002 1 67 032 0238 0 67 032 0002 1 67 038 1678 0 67 038 0002 1 62 050 0238 0 62 050 0002 1 62 038 0238 0 62 038 0002 1 64 033 0118 1 66 029 0002 0 64 033 0101 0 66 029 0019 1 67 030 0238 0 67 030 0002 1 64 035 0238 0 64 035 0002 1 66 025 0238 0 66 025 0002 1 62 028 0238 0 62 028 0002 1 64 024 0238 0 64 024 0002 1 67 031 0238 0 67 031 0002 1 67 053 1678 0 67 053 0002 1 55 031 0238 0 55 031 0002 1 55 027 0238 0 55 027 0002 1 57 030 0118 0 57 030 0002 1 59 028 0118 0 59 028 0002 1 62 030 0238 0 62 030 0002 1 55 027 0238 0 55 027 0002 1 57 038 0238 0 57 038 0002 1 55 020 0238 0 55 020 0002 1 59 036 0238 0 59 036 0002 1 55 032 0718 0 55 032
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Whiskey in the jar (Intro)
M:4/4
Q:1/4=100
K:G
c5cc/2B/2A|B5BB/2A/2G|A7G/2E/2|-E/4D3/4CA,G,3G,2|
-G,5B,/2D/2E/2G/2E/2D/2|E19/4D5/4B,A,|G,E,13/4D,15/4|
-D,4G2F2|E5DDE/4F3/4|GEFDEGG2|-G5DDE/2F/2|
-F/4G3/4EFDEGG2|-G5DDE/2F/2|GEFDEGG2|-G5G,G,A,/2B,/2|
DG,A,G,B,G,3||

and here's the lead break (well the first half of it anyway........ )

MIDI file: WHISKLEA.MID

Timebase: 480

Name: whiskey in the Jar (lead break)
TimeSig: 4/4 24 8
Key: G
Tempo: 100 (600000 microsec/crotchet)
Start
1440 1 71 061 0238 0 71 061 0002 1 72 031 0238 0 72 031 0002 1 74 053 0238 0 74 053 0002 1 72 042 0238 0 72 042 0002 1 71 031 0238 0 71 031 0002 1 69 044 0238 0 69 044 0002 1 71 048 0238 0 71 048 0002 1 69 053 0238 0 69 053 0002 1 67 033 0238 0 67 033 0002 1 66 042 0238 0 66 042 0002 1 67 040 0238 0 67 040 0002 1 69 035 0238 0 69 035 0002 1 71 043 0238 0 71 043 0002 1 72 041 0238 0 72 041 0002 1 74 045 0478 0 74 045 0002 1 71 048 0238 0 71 048 0002 1 74 045 0238 0 74 045 0002 1 76 040 0478 0 76 040 0002 1 76 053 0238 0 76 053 0002 1 74 036 0238 0 74 036 0002 1 76 042 0238 0 76 042 0002 1 79 048 0718 0 79 048 0002 1 76 042 0238 0 76 042 0002 1 74 046 0358 0 74 046 0002 1 76 042 0118 0 76 042 0002 1 74 037 0238 0 74 037 0002 1 76 042 0238 0 76 042 0002 1 71 040 0478 0 71 040 0002 1 74 033 0238 0 74 033 0002 1 72 038 0358 0 72 038 0002 1 71 037 0358 0 71 037 0002 1 69 022 0238 0 69 022 0002 1 67 040 0358 0 67 040 0002 1 66 038 0358 0 66 038 0002 1 64 029 0238 0 64 029 0002 1 72 034 0135 1 71 042 0017 0 72 034 0101 0 71 042 0087 1 69 034 0121 1 67 040 0016 0 69 034 0222 0 67 040 0002 1 66 029 0257 0 66 029 0002 1 64 036 0358 0 64 036 0002 1 62 041 0358 0 62 041 0002 1 60 026 0238 0 60 026 0002 1 59 029 0238 0 59 029 0002 1 60 015 0238 0 60 015 0002 1 59 018 0238 0 59 018 0002 1 60 021 0238 0 60 021 0002 1 59 016 0238 0 59 016 0002 1 60 024 0238 0 60 024 0002 1 59 016 0238 0 59 016 0002 1 60 015 0238 0 60 015 0002 1 59 012 0238 0 59 012 0002 1 60 009 0238 0 60 009 0002 1 59 014 0238 0 59 014 0002 1 60 022 0238 0 60 022 0002 1 59 030 0478 0 59 030 0002 1 71 050 0238 0 71 050 0002 1 72 049 0238 0 72 049 0002 1 74 031 0238 0 74 031 0002 1 72 046 0238 0 72 046 0002 1 71 049 0238 0 71 049 0002 1 69 049 0238 0 69 049 0002 1 71 042 0238 0 71 042 0002 1 69 042 0238 0 69 042 0002 1 67 038 0238 0 67 038 0002 1 66 039 0238 0 66 039 0002 1 67 043 0238 0 67 043 0002 1 69 036 0238 0 69 036 0002 1 71 042 0238 0 71 042 0002 1 72 042 0238 0 72 042 0002 1 74 049 0478 0 74 049 0002 1 71 053 0238 0 71 053 0002 1 74 050 0238 0 74 050 0002 1 76 049 0478 0 76 049 0002 1 76 061 0238 0 76 061 0002 1 74 049 0238 0 74 049 0002 1 76 049 0238 0 76 049 0002 1 79 048 0718 0 79 048 0002 1 76 043 0358 0 76 043 0002 1 74 046 0238 0 74 046 0002 1 76 052 0118 0 76 052 0002 1 74 037 0238 0 74 037 0002 1 76 044 0238 0 76 044 0052 1 71 048 0428 1 74 042 0015 0 71 048 0208 0 74 042 0019 1 72 040 0358 0 72 040 0002 1 71 032 0358 0 71 032 0002 1 69 036 0238 0 69 036 0002 1 67 035 0358 0 67 035 0002 1 66 035 0358 1 64 046 0032 0 66 035 0190 0 64 046 0020 1 72 032 0135 0 72 032 0036 1 71 041 0118 0 71 041 0069 1 69 042 0118 0 69 042 0053 1 67 052 0189 1 66 032 0049 0 67 052 0191 0 66 032 0002 1 64 032 0459 0 64 032 0053 1 64 042 0140 1 65 030 0015 0 64 042 0133 1 67 042 0022 0 65 030 0133 0 67 042 0022 1 64 032 0475 0 64 032 0019 1 72 026 0223 1 67 020 0015 0 72 026 0208 1 74 026 0015 0 67 020 0208 1 67 017 0015 0 74 026 0223 0 67 017 0053 1 76 017 0223 1 67 018 0015 0 76 017 0206 0 67 018 0005 1 62 028 0958 0 62 028 0257 1 62 022 0225 1 64 033 0048 0 62 022 0190 0 64 033 0002 1 67 041 0238 0 67 041 0002 1 71 048 0478 0 71 048 0002 1 71 038 0478 0 71 038 0002 1 69 033 0203 0 69 033 0018 1 67 033 0259 1 64 029 0031 0 67 033 0207 0 64 029 0002 1 62 031 0238 0 62 031 0002 1 62 026 0203 0 62 026 0002 1 64 033 0238 0 64 033 0018 1 67 020 0259 1 69 032 0031 0 67 020 0207 0 69 032 0002 1 67 023 0238 0 67 023 0002 1 64 031 0238 0 64 031 0002 1 62 026 0238 0 62 026 0002 1 64 016 0238 0 64 016 0002 1 60 020 0478 0 60 020
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:whiskey in the Jar (lead break)
M:4/4
Q:1/4=100
K:G
B7c|dcBABAGF|GABcd2Bd|e2edeg3|ed3/2e/2deB2d|
c3/2B3/2AG3/2F3/2E|c/2BA/2GFE3/2D3/2C|B,CB,CB,CB,C|
B,CB,CB,2Bc|dcBABAGF|GABcd2Bd|e2edeg3|e3/2de/2de5/4B7/4d|
c3/2B3/2AG3/2F3/2E|c3/4B3/4A3/4G3/4FE9/4E/2=F/2G3/4|
E9/4c3/4GdG5/4e3/4G|D5DEG|B2B2AGED|D3/4E5/4GAGEDE|
C8||

Hope this helps, if printed music is easier e-mail me, (or use the personal messages.)

Jinxminator...... seeing as you asked SO nicely(!?!)..... try OLGA (on line guitar archives)it has most guitar riffs, (admittedly not this one), and please bear in mind that we have very young people visit this one.

Slainte

alison

Subject: Lyr Add: WHISKEY IN THE JAR
From:
Date: 29 Jan 99 - 05:11 PM

Hi,

Here is a version I play (with chords).

Slainte

Szarak

WHISKEY IN THE JAR

As I was going over the far fam'd Kerry Mountains, G e
I met with Captain Farrel, and his money he was countin', C G
I first produced my pistol, and I than produced my rapier, G e
Sayin': "Stand and deliver for you are my bold deceiver". C G

CHO: Musha ring dum a doo dum a da, D
Whack fol de daddy o, G
Whack fol de daddy o C
There's whiskey in the jar. GDG

I counted out his money and it made a pretty penny,
I put it in my pocket, and I took it home to Jenny,
She sighed, and she swore that she never would deceive me,
But the devil takes the women for they never can be easy.

I went into my chamber all for to take a slumber,
I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure it was no wonder,
But Jenny drew my charges and she filled them out with water,
Then sent for Captain Farrel, to be ready for the slaughter.

'Twas early in the morning just before I rose to travel,
Up comes a band of footmen and likewise, Captain Farrel,
I first produced my pistol for she stole away my rapier,
But I couldn't shoot the water, so a prisoner I was taken.

If anyone can aid me 'tis my brother in the army,
If I can find his station, in Cork or in Killarney,
And if he'll go with me we'll go roving in Kilkenny,
And I'm sure he'll treat me better than my darling sporting Jenny.

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Ben
Date: 03 Feb 99 - 12:24 PM

Holly #$%*. All I wanted was the lyrics to "Whiskey In The Jar". I had no idea of the history behind the song. I am a much wiser person now! Thanks to all!

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 04 Feb 99 - 07:42 AM

Here's a cat amongst the pigeons. This (popular) version has a counterpart on the other side of the Irish border.

I've heard a Loyalist version which is a bit more - er - direct than the (kind of) Republican one which everybody knows, I will try and persuade 'one who knows' to post it.

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: alison
Date: 04 Mar 99 - 06:02 PM

Hi,

OK.. I now have a fancy gadget that will convert music into guitar tab... so if any of you are still looking drop me and e-mail (use the personal messages bit at the top of the page)with your e-mail address and I'll send you a GIF.

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From:
Date: 05 Mar 99 - 01:31 AM

eye god! I've found so many different versions of " whisky in the jar", that it's makin me noggin ache!

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Roy Harris
Date: 05 Mar 99 - 11:48 AM

I first heard 'my' version 'Bold Lovell' in the late 1960's sung by a fine singer, Mike Herring, of Peterborough,at the Nottingham Traditional Music Club when he did a guest spot there. I founded the club in 1967, it ran for 22 years. Mike told me he had the song from A.L. Lloyd. A.L.(Bert) supplied me with the words, I went on to sing it around the folk circuits, telling people that it was "An English version of Whiskey In the Jar". In my first ever concert in New York, held in Wayne Hollingsworth's loft circa '76,I sang it and announced it this way only to be approached by a gleeful Roberts & Barrand telling me it was in the 'Green Mountain Songster'. Bert Lloyd later confirmed this to me, adding that he had adapted his version from there! A further memory -I was once on the Gene Shay radio show in Philly, doing a mix of live and album tracks. Gene played Bold Lovell, a lady rang in to tell me "How marvellous that I could sing like that, and play guitar like that at the same time". I was very tempted to take credit, but had to admit to her that it was Martin Carthy on guitar. I always found it a pleasureable song to sing. The phrase "Both brisk and lively lads, and champions of folly" just rolls off the tongue. A great song. When I recorded it I called the album "Champions of Folly" I'm flattered to know that people in America have the album. Did it go any further? If you bought that record,far off from the UK, please let me know. Thanks. ROY.

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: KillerBob66
Date: 06 Mar 99 - 01:24 AM

Kirk, I believe you made a little mistake in Metallica's lyrics for Whisky in the Jar "Me, I like sleepin', 'specially in MY MOLLY'S chamber"

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From:
Date: 06 Mar 99 - 06:42 PM

Roy, I am very pleased to see you posting here.

I bought that album in Montreal in the late 1970's or early 1980's, as well as another one called "By Sandbank Fields", I think -- I'm not by my LP's as I type this. You'd do us a great service if you could have these released on CD.

"Both" frisk and lively lads? So that's it! For nearly twenty years I thought it was "bold"!

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Persephone
Date: 12 Apr 99 - 09:32 PM

i heard this song on the radio a couple of days ago (metallica version) i thought it sounded like a folk song, but i wasnt sure. its such a wondeful song, and i find it refreshing that they chose to remake it. it made me think of how sick us muscisians are of covers, and that maybe in addition to the originals that i write, i should take a look at old folk songs and make them my own. songs survive so long for a reason;)

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: alison
Date: 12 Apr 99 - 11:26 PM

Yes, I heard it the other day too.. I think its in the charts over here....

The Metallica version sounded exactly like the Thin Lizzy one.

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 13 Apr 99 - 10:14 AM

Personally I can't stand the Metallica version, but as I've said on earlier threads, if popular bands covering standards will help people search out the originals, then it's a good thing.

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From:
Date: 09 Sep 99 - 01:38 PM

Actually, that's EXACTLY what I'm trying to research...the history of the song. Most of these higwaymen songs have some kind of historical fact behind them. Anyone know about this one? I am involved in renaissance faires all over the U.S. and three different performs at one faire each have a different version. We ALL want to know if there is a REAL story behind the song. Please EMAIL me if you know.

Thanks.

Larry

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Art Thieme
Date: 10 Sep 99 - 09:13 PM

Roy,

Truly is good to hear your cybervoice here.

Jeff Davis, singing partner of Jeff Warner (Jeff & Jeff), says in his TRADITIONAL column in the current FOLK ALLIANCE NEWSLETTER that this song had NOT BEEN COLLECTED IN IRELAND. The first time it was collected was by Frank and Ann Warner--parents of Jeff & Garret--from (as Sandy said) Lena Bourne Fish. In the Warners' great book of songs they collected, _AMERICAN TRADITIONAL FOLKSONGS FROM THE ANNE AND FRANK WARNER COLLECTION_ -- (Syracuse Univ. Press--1984) it states that the "song was collected in Ireland" but as a "tune only".

Art

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: CarlZen
Date: 11 Sep 99 - 02:14 AM

Bezell-

The song appears in "The Folksongs of Noth America" by Allan Lomax. He credits Frank Warner, also. The introduction to the song has a lot of the type of history you may be looking for. The most interesting thing to me was his statement that "There is a close connection between this ballad and John Gay's 'Beggar's Opera' (1728). It's worth a trip to the local library. If you've enver seen the book, you may find it fascinating enough to purchase.

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Sourdough
Date: 11 Sep 99 - 11:46 AM

In the Boston Atheneum is a one of a kind book by a highwayman sentenced to death in Colonial Massachusetts. Hemay have been a sailor at some time in his life because he had a lot of comlex tattoos.

While waiting for his execution, he didn't write a song but did write his memoirs and asked that they be bound in leather made from his decorative skin. This was done and the book is in the Atheneum.

I never had the nerve to ask the librarian whether there was a bookmark, too.

Sourdough

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar (Grateful Dead version)
From: Tom Henehan
Date: 24 Dec 99 - 03:24 PM

I just got the Grateful Dead box-set "So Many Roads," which includes a rehearsal tape of "Whiskey in the Jar," recorded shortly before Jerry Garcia's demise. (It's the second-to-last selection on the album, followd by the title tune, which was recorded at the Dead's final show in Chicago.)

Jerry had just recorded the song with David Grisman for their "Shady Grove" album (which I have NOT yet heard). To my ear, he's got the melody "wrong," or perhaps "different from the traditional": the verse should have an "ABAB" melodic structure, as I recall it, with a rising or starting line, floowed by a concluding line, then a repeart of the two lines before the refrain. Jerry sings it "ABBB," with the second or "finishing" melody line repeated almost-ad-infinitum, which sounds counterintuitive to me.

However:

All such quibbling aside, it's a nice rendition, with the band gradually joining in to accompany Jerry's John-Hurt-style fingerpicking. Since it's a rehearsal recording, you hear some verbal byplay commenting on the old song. Hearing this cut prompted me to look up the lyrics on Mudcat and to stumble across this discussion thread, and I'm glad that happened.

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 24 Dec 99 - 11:49 PM

I don't know where the song was first or last collected but there is a (circa 1850) London broadside of "Whiskey in the Jar" at the Bodlian Library. What we don't know is whether it was at that time a traditional song, a composition of a broadside scribe or a music hall song.

All the best,
Dan Milner

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 03 May 01 - 10:38 PM

For evidence that the "Patrick Flemming" version, c 1800, in Holloway and Black's 'Later English Broadside Ballads', I, #90, is no later than c 1684 see ZN787 in the broadside ballad index on my website. www.erols.com/olsonw

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: GUEST,Steve
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 03:11 PM

I remember that there's also a rather truncated version in Alfred Williams's Folk Songs of the Upper Thames. This shows it was in oral circulation in England about 1900-1920. But I've misplaced my copy of the book so I can't see what Williams says about it! Anyone?

Steve

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Percustard
Date: 25 Jun 02 - 02:59 AM

Just noting that the words to the song about Ben Hall's demise, The Streets of Forbes" (mentioned above) has an error.

Ben didnt go to Goobang Creek.

He went to Goobang Mick (who then betrayed him to the police).

Subject: Lyr Add: WHISKEY IN THE JAR
From:
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 03:35 PM

I've sort of become a local hero to the song... LOL

I did a paper in my freshman comp class about it, about the three versions I had (and preferred and the time) Metallica, Thin Lizzy, and the Dubliners.

The interesting thing, is that it never mentions him getting caught in either the Metallica, or the Thin Lizzy version, except at the end when Jame Hetfield sings "... Me I like sleepin', specially in my Molly's chamber, but here I am in prison, here I am with the ball and chain."

That's OK though, I found another version, on the "A Tear and a Smile from the Emerald Isle: The Gold Collection, Favorite Irish Songs" CD. Personally I hate that version, its way too damn poppy and happy... But here's the lyrics:

(Sounds like calliope music)

As I was going over Kilmagenny Mountain
I met with Capt. Farrel and his money he was counting
I first me pistol, and then I drew me saber,
Saying, "Stand and deliver for I am a bold deceiver."

With me ring dum a do dumma da
Whack for the daddy o
Whack for the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar.

He counted out his money and it made a pretty penny.
I put it in my pocket and I gave it to my Jenny.
She sighed and she swore that she never would betray me,
But the devil take the women! They never can be easy.

With me ring dum a do dumma da
Whack for the daddy o
Whack for the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar.

I went into me chamber, oh, for to take a slumber.
I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure it is no wonder.
But Jenny drew my charges and filled them up with charges,
And she went for Capt. Farrel to be ready for the slaughter.

With me ring dum a do dumma da
Whack for the daddy o
Whack for the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar.

'Twas early in the morning before I rose to travel.
Up comes a band of footmen and likewise Capt. Farrel.
I then produce my pistol for she stolen away me saber,
But I couldn't shoot the water so a prisoner I was taken.

With me ring dum a do dumma da
Whack for the daddy o
Whack for the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar

If anyone can aid me it's me brother in army,
If I can learn his station in Cork or Killarny;
And if he'll come and join me, we'll go rolling in Killkenny,
And I'll gauge he'll treat me fairer than my darlin' sporting Jenny.

With me ring dum a do dumma da
Whack for the daddy o
Whack for the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar.

With me ring dum a do dumma da
Whack for the daddy o
Whack for the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar.
(End)

It isn't much different I suppose, but the song is way too happy sounding for me to like. LOL, I prefer the Dubliners version, my wife loves the Metallica version, and my mom likes both the thin Lizzy and Metallica versions better.

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 03:43 PM

sorry, left out some stuff, the line is of course "i first produce me pistol, and then i drew my saber"

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 08:34 PM

James-

You or someone else also messed up one line:

"but jenny drew my charges and filled them up with charges"

Which should run to rhyme with the next line as:


But Jenny drew my charges and filled them up with WATER...

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Sep 03 - 03:52 PM

hehe, yeh... little scatter brained with i typed it

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Sep 03 - 09:03 PM

James-

Not to worry! Do feel free to come back with more goodies. We don't always savage "guests."

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: GUEST,James Hood
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 11:16 PM

its cool, im still doing more work on seeing what i can dig up, heck i may even be able to find my english paper i did on these... heh

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 08:23 AM

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: GUEST,GUEST Patrick Sheehan
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 01:32 AM

Anybody know why the song is called "Whiskey in the Jar"? More specifically, why do they say, "There's whiskey in the jar" in the chorus when not one of the versions of the song has anything to do with Whiskey or Jars?
   The last stanza in a lot of the versions has the bit about "the juice of the barley" but all of the songs are about this outlaw guy getting betrayed by some girl, so why is the chorus a bunch of nonsense and a random bit about booze?


Some of my thoughts:
   I keep looking but everywhere I look tells me the same thing: the words in the chorus are just nonsense. But I find that hard to believe. It sounds very much like the little Irish I know:

"Musha ring um a do um a da" is very very similar sounding to these Irish words:
Musha => M'uishe (my whiskey)
ring um a => rinne me/ (rinne = past tense of "de/an" which is "do, make, perform, carry out, commit, turn out, reach, establish"; me/ = "I, me")
do => don (from "do" + "an" = "to the, for the")
um a da => amada/n (fool)

which translates to "I made my whiskey for the fool." Which, as a translation, has the nice qualities that it follows correct Irish grammar and also follows stress rules for both sentences and individual words. It also has to do with whiskey, which is nice.

my whiskey made a fool of me would translate to, I think:
Rinne se/ m'uishe me/ amada/n. Which doesn't work as a translation because the subject has to follow the verb.

"Whack for the daddy-o" is sometimes said to be a mistranscription of "work of the devil-o" which makes some sense as far as my first translation goes in an "alcohol is the devil's brew" sort of sense. It is also in keeping with the story line revolving around a highwayman.

A possible anternative Irish translation is as follows:
uacht failte ta/ diobh,
which sounds like "whack fol cha ta jiov" which is pretty close. Unfortunately, I don't think it makes any sense since it translates to "It is a testament of welcome for them".

My last thought is that maybe it has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with whiskey at all. Maybe the line "there's whiskey in the jar" is actually the mistranscribed line. Maybe the chorus never had anything to do with whiskey.

The Irish word for whiskey, "uisce" (pronounced "ish-keh"), is also the Irish word for water. And many of the versions of the song have his girl filling up his cartridges with water as a main plot point.

-----
Those are some ideas. Does anybody else have any helpful suggestions? (Aside from the suggestion that it is just nonsense...)
Does anyone know where this chorus originates? (There is a very similar sounding chorus in "Whiskey, you're the divil" which the Clancys cover, I think, and that song has a bit more to do with whiskey but still not much as it's mainly a war song.)
Any leads on what's goin' on here?

- Very confused,
   Patrick Sheehan

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: John Robinson (aka Cittern)
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 04:42 AM

Slightly off topic, but after dismissing this song for many years after hearing way too many Irish Theme Bar versions, I was knocked off my seat by the version done by Last Night's Fun. So different that it had to be introduced since nobody would have recognised it as this song!

Best regards
John Robinson
http://www.JulieEllison.co.uk

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: GUEST,knowitall
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 11:19 AM

Old bloke in the bar, tells tall tales of his adventurous past to tourists and passing trade, in return they usually buy him a drink. If the are not quick in providing the tipple, the storyteller leaves them with a cliffhanger and musharingdum... (blah blah) they have to be reminded "whack for me" (order me a drink) which means knock on the bar to catch the Innkeepers attention. When the whiskey is poured from the jar they get the next installment of the story. That's the tradition where all the different versions originate from.