Origins: Whiskey In The Jar

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

What is Abuse?

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

RIP chain letter

THIS IS AN ABUSE OF MUDCAT

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Bert
Date: 16 Dec 98 - 11:59 AM

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

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Sandy
Date: 07 Dec 98 - 10:08 PM

Hello out there! My memory tells me that the hugely popular version of Whiskey in the Jar was derived from Lena Bourne Fish's version, collected by Frank Warner in New Hampshire. I was too much a purist at the time to be sure, but I thought it was The Highwaymen (aptly named) who recorded it. That it came from Frank Warner's collection would account for the Bob Gibson, Bob Camp, Frank Warner "arrangement" copyright. We've collected several versions of this song at Folk-Legacy: Max Hunter sings an Ozark version (learned from Allie Long Parker, whom we also recorded) with one verse stating "I have two brothers enlisted in the army, One of them's in jail and the other's in Caroliny" (a nice inversion of Kilarney, eh?); Sara Ogan Gunning sings a good version from Kentucky on her "Girl of Constant Sorrow" Folk-Legacy recording. We also will soon release a CD of traditional songs and ballads from our 40 years of collecting. On it, a splendid old logger from New Brunswick, Canada, sings the version referred to in one of the earlier posts about this song in which the hero says "Oh, it's false-hearted Molly, for you my heart is breakin', If it hadn't been for you, sure, I never would've been taken. And with the metal bar, I broke the Samson down (???), And straight-way made my escape to old 'Ginia town." The CD is ready for release, we're just waiting for the money to do it with. :-) Sandy

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From:
Date: 06 Dec 98 - 12:48 PM

Does anyone have the guitar tab for this tune? Anybody heard Metallica's version???

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Barry Finn
Date: 13 Jul 98 - 02:29 PM

Good job, nice song. Thanks, Barry

Subject: Lyr Add: THE STREETS OF FORBES
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 13 Jul 98 - 11:01 AM

G'day Bob,
Seeing I Have The words typed up already, I thought I'd save you the trouble:-

THE STREETS OF FORBES

Come all you Lachlan men, and a sorrowful tale I'll tell
Concerning of a hero bold who through misfortune fell
His name it was Ben Hall, a man of good renown
Who was hunted from his station, and like a dog shot down.

Three years he roamed the roads, and he showed the traps some fun
A thousand pounds was on his head, with Gilbert and John Dunn
Ben parted from his comrades, the outlaws did agree
To give away bushranging and to cross the briny sea.

Ben went to Goobang Creek, and that was his downfall
For riddled like a sieve was valiant Ben Hall
'Twas early in the morning upon the fifth of May
When seven police surrounded him as fast asleep he lay.

Bill Dargin he was chosen to shoot the outlaw dead
The troopers then fired madly, and filled him full of lead
They rolled him in a blanket and strapped him to his prad
And led him through the streets of Forbes to show the prize they had.

My Mother who grew up in Ben Hall country in the 1920s and 30s says that people in the area still talked about Hall in those days & it was generally accepted that a great injustice was done to him.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: BK
Date: 12 Jul 98 - 11:50 PM

ok, Bill D; how did you get the funky little black square w/the yellow smiley face in this page abt one of my favorite bad boy songs? far out! if there were a lot of catchy little graphics, would they not take up a lot of text space?

cheers, BK

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 12 Jul 98 - 07:14 PM

G'day Barry Finn,

I had a look at the "Abercrombie Mountains" - Ben Hall version of the song. It has 4 stanzas but only the first is really different. The rest has the usual tale 'darlin' Molly' who betrays the highwayman. I suspect that Irish workers here changed the 1st stanza but didn't bother to alter the song to cover the new story.

There are a number of very good original songs about Ben Hall. On the Digital Tradition I found 2 of them. The ballad just called Ben Hall is from Sally Sloane, a great source of Australian songs and music (died ~ 1984). I got to know Sally in the 1970s and she sang at a concert I organised in 1977 (at ~ 76 years of age). Sally was delivered by Ben Hall's Sister who still worked as midwife at the turn of the century. Great, great, great grandparents on my mother's side were married in the same church, in the same year as Ben Hall and Biddy McGuire.

The second song in DT is a rather corrupt transcription of "Streets of Forbes", a lament for Hall written by his brother in law, John McGuire, on seeing his bullet-riddled body led through town, tied over a police pack saddle. I will submit an accurate set of words to set the record straight (as soon as I get my typing fingers working and/or find a good OCR scanner). There are a few more good Hall ballads - Hall got traditional Irish ballads and laments. Twenty years later Ned Kelly songs tended to be in the fashionable music hall styles of the city and less interesting musically.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Until I return, with lyrics

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Jul 98 - 08:18 PM

in response to Barry's earlier post...the TRUE moral is.."If inlaws were outlawed, more folk would have something to sing about!"....(as long as they don't RISE UP to sing..

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Bert
Date: 08 Jul 98 - 12:16 PM

Hold up or Hang up???

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Barry Finn
Date: 07 Jul 98 - 07:38 PM

Bob, please do post, it would be quite nice to hea an Aussie version of this, I believe the true spirit of a nation can be judged by how high they hold up their outlaws (Ha, Ha). Barry

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 02 Jul 98 - 02:10 AM

G'day Barry,

I did not post any lyrics of the Australian variant because I was working off the top of what passes for my memory - and I seem to remember that it was a fairly brief fragment ... just enough to show that the song was known at the time (1860s) and someone had re-formed it to suit current events.

I will look up the texts and see if ther is enough to warrant posting the version. If see ... watch this space!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Barry Finn
Date: 01 Jul 98 - 10:04 PM

Bob, Ben sounds like he could've been a fairly decent fellow if left to his own, kind a like our Pretty Boy Floyd. If folksongs were outlawed, only outlaws would sing about folks, wait, if only inlaws sang folksongs, only folks would sing about outlaws, wait, sorry, if only folksongs were about inlaws, outlaws would only be folks, or is it, if inlaws were outlaws, folks would then only sing out songs that were in .......forget it & slap me silly. Barry, who loves songs about outlaws.

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 01 Jul 98 - 07:48 PM

G'day all,

I see that the 'Whisky in the Jar' seems to have come back to life. I guess that's a little like a good folk song - there's always life in it.

In Australia, this song got a folk processing during the time of one of our particularly notorious (or notable, depending on your viewpoint) bushrangers: Ben Hall. Ben Hall was considered by many to have been victimised by the authorities and to have only turned his hand to crime after being framed for actions of others.

The Police officer responsible was a Pommy remittance man who had enlisted in the colonial police force as an ordinary trooper. When overseas mail arrived addressed to him as SIR Frederick Pottinger (he was a minor baronet) it was decided he could hardly remain in the ranks and he was promoted to Captain. He did not do very well and died of an 'accidentental' shot from his own pistol on a coach bound for an departmental enquiry in Sydney.

Collectors have found a fragmentary local version of 'Whiskey in the Jar' which starts:

"As I was a'going over the Abercrombie mountains, I met with Captain Pottinger and his money he was counting ..."

This is obviously a direct parody (reworking, folk-processing, whatever) of the Irish model - but that is exactly what a folk song is ... a song that keeps working for its living, doing whatever job it turns its hand to, changing as needed to do the job.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Bruce O.
Date: 15 Jan 98 - 09:33 PM

A 'Patrick Fleming' version, with Colonel Pepper snd Ruberry mountain is reprinted from an early 19the century broadside in the Madden collection in Holloway and Black's 'Later English Broadside Ballads', I, # 90. Original edition was London, 1975, but I think Univ. of Nebraska Press has a reprint. (Cork, Kilkenny, Londonderry and London are all mentioned in this version.)

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Pejotka
Date: 15 Jan 98 - 07:25 PM

Here is another verse, that I like. I found it in „Folk ´round the world” edited by Herbert Haufrecht, London (ESSEX) (Gilgary Mountain, new words by Bob Gibson, Bob Camp and Frank Warner) 1 to 3 are similar to the other versions but :

4. Was early in the morning at the barracks of Kilarney, My brother took his leave but he didn´t ask the army; Our horses they were speedy ´twas all over but the shoutin` Now we wait for Farrell upon Gilgary Mountain.

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Denis
Date: 15 Jan 98 - 07:08 PM

The two variations I have from my mother's singing are the Cork and Kerry mountains and I've also heard the far famed Kerry mountains.

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From:
Date: 15 Jan 98 - 04:57 PM

I said I would transcribe the sleeve note for Bold Lovell from Roy Harris's "Champions of Folly" LP, Topic 12TS256, recorded 1974 and released 1975, on which Harris is joined by Martin Carthy (guitar, dulcimer); Bobby Campbell (fiddle, mandola); and Vic Gammon (melodeon, concertina).
The sleeve notes are by the well-known folksinger, the late A. L. Lloyd.
I sent Dick G. a tape of this song, with the hope that he might add a midi of the tune to the database, since I do not yet have that capability. It is not the same tune as Whiskey In The Jar.


BOLD LOVELL

"The theme of this song reminds us of the capture of MacHeath in The Beggar's Opera. Was it suggested by it? Or is the ballad old enough to have put the idea into the head of John Gay who wrote the play in 1728? Sometimes the hero is named Peter or Patrick Fleming, not Lovell. Sir Walter Scott was interested in the song, but he only had a few scraps of it. In 1821 he wrote to his son Cornet Scott at Portobello Barracks, Dublin: 'I wish you would pick up for me the Irish lilt of a tune to Patrick Fleming.'From the bits that Sir Walter quotes, it's clear he had our song in mind. A close cousin is the celebrated Irish highwayman ballad 'Whiskey In The Jar'. Roy Harris learnt it some ten years ago from Mike Herring of Peterborough, who had it from A. L. Lloyd who got it from print ('The New Green Mountain Songster"), and adapted it a bit."

(Some of you may be more familiar with the twentieth century musical adaptation of The Beggar's Opera, "The Threepenny Opera" by Bertold Brecht, from which comes the song Mac The Knife.)

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From:
Date: 01 Dec 97 - 08:30 PM

The notes on the back of the LP indicate that it was sung by A.L. Lloyd, who learned it from print (The New Green Mountain Songster, I think it was called) and changed it around a bit, and Harris learned his version. I will get the LP back out of storage and transcribe the sleeve note in full. Other versions are mentioned in the note.

Thank you Nigel. I think that is exactly what the second line of the chorus says. For all these years I've been trying to make it out, and now that you state it it seems so obvious. . .

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Nonie Rider
Date: 01 Dec 97 - 12:52 PM

I dunno. "There's whiskey in the jar" is an unlikely chorus for a Goodnight. Tune also seems a little cheerful for the purpose.

The Irish aren't shy; if it was intended as an Irish vs. English rewrite, I'd expect that theme to be obvious rather than hidden. And since the singer is functionally blaming his woman more than his captors, that'd be an odd feature of a political ballad unless she was explicitly considered a traitor and punished for it.

But then, I'm not a scholar of the subject, just a fan.

--Nonie

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Nigel Sellars
Date: 26 Nov 97 - 02:33 PM

Just a thought, but I'm beginning to suspect the "Bold Lovell" version is closest to the original -- as are, it seems, the Vermont, Virginia, and at least one Irish version -- in that it fits into the traditional highwaymen's "good night" category with the fellow being hanged at the end (ala "Tyburne Tree", "Sam Hall", "Allan Tyne of Harrow," and "Newlyn (Newry) Town.") I'm wondering if some of the Irish versions were altered for political reasons, that is, to show contempt for English authority by having the hero (representing Irish indepence) smash the jail (gaol) doors, a symbol of English oppression. Any takers?

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Nigel Sellars
Date: 25 Nov 97 - 09:30 AM

Tim Jaques asked about the chorus on "Bold Lovell," and I think the second line goes : "How the devil can a fellow let them be?"

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From:
Date: 24 Nov 97 - 07:39 PM

Glad you got it, Nigel. Can you make out the Chorus? I am not convinced that I have it right but I can't make out the second line.

Thank you for the correction "brisk" for "frisk", which makes far more sense. I thought "frisk" might be the word from which we get "frisky" and it was the only thing that came to mind.

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Barry
Date: 24 Nov 97 - 05:13 PM

Sandy & Caroline Patton also do an american version with the brother , whose in the army, is in jail somewhere in West Virginny, been so long ,thats the only bit of it I can recall. Barry

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Nigel Sellars
Date: 24 Nov 97 - 02:25 PM

Tim jaques sent me a copy of Roy Harris' version, which I first heard twenty years ago on a PBS special on the Philly Folk Fest where it was sung by Martin Carthy! (Who, alas, has never recorded it, though he's the guitarist on the Roy Harris version.) "Bold Lovell" is an English version, but I came across a Vermont version in the "Green Mountain Songster" with nearly identical words but it talks about "Plymouth Mountain"! (Should add Roy sings "pistols" not "pistol" and it's "Bold, _brisk_ , and lively lads and champions of folly," [my favorite phrase in the song]

Somewhere I once read that "Whiskey in the Jar" is actually a stage version of the song (it may have been on a Clancy Brothers' lp), though I can't say for certain that that is true. Does anyone know of earlier versions with different tunes? Whatever the case, this is the version that's supplanted all the others.

Nigel Sellars

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Benjamin Bodhra/nai
Date: 29 Oct 97 - 06:35 PM

The nonsense in the chorus' of irish and Scottish songs seems to be just that - nonsense. You can see the same thing in Puirt a Beul - "i/ bhi/ a bhi/ u/ bhi/ a bhi/" (ee vi ar vi oo vi ar vi) though bhi/ is a word, or in Domhnaill Antaidh "hi/ ri/ iu/l eile".

Often they are just sounds that allow the rhythym to be kept and that large numbers of people can sing. That's my thought anyway. I actually tried to write the words for Whiskey's chorus in Irish and then translate and I never had much success.

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From:
Date: 27 Oct 97 - 08:52 PM

The Dubliners sing "the far-famed Kerry mountains", with other variations on the first version I posted.

What is the chorus supposed to be? Is it a corruption of some Irish words?