Origins: Whiskey In The Jar

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Benjamin Hollister also from Australia
Date: 27 Oct 97 - 08:17 PM

I first heard this thru' the Seekers with the Col. Pepper and the verse about escaping from gaol, and going over the Kilgarry Mts. Then I heard the far famed Kerry mountains, so Sligo Town didn't fit too well anymore, so I substituted dTra/ Li/ (Tralee) Town.

Alos the verse when he wakes as:

Twas early in the morning before I rose to travel Up came a band of footmen and likewise Capt. Farrell I reached for me pistols for she'd stol'n away me rapier (sabre, whatever) But I couldn't shoot (fire) the water so a prisoner I was taken.

This has got to be one of the all time great almost impossible to sing along to songs as everyone knows different words. True folk!!!

The chorus even changes:

With a Whack fol the darry oh

or

With a muisheen a ring a down

Still great song

Sla/n a chairde

benjamin

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: LaMarca
Date: 27 Oct 97 - 04:52 PM

Then there's the version my husband sings:
As I was goin' over the (something somethin) mountain,
I met with Colonel Sanders as his chickens he was countin'...

Chorus:With a little hydrolyzed chicken distillate,
Monosodium glutamate,
Di-sodium guanylate,
That's how we make the sauce!

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Nonie Rider
Date: 27 Oct 97 - 01:29 PM

(Whoops--only one name for the Colonel above. I THINK his version has one Colonel Pepper and one Captain Farrell, but I don't remember where.)

Subject: Lyr Add: KILGARY MOUNTAIN (from Joe Haldeman)
From: Nonie Rider
Date: 27 Oct 97 - 01:24 PM

Well, if we're gonna swap versions, this is what I remember of how Joe Haldeman sings it. I don't know his source, but's pretty clearly a folked-over version, since it's got two names for the colonel and THREE for the woman, three hands worth of weapons, and a farewell to a judge he didn't have.

KILGARY MOUNTAIN

As I was a walkin' over Kilgary mountain,
I met with Colonel Pepper and his money he was countin'.
I drew forth me pistols and I brandished my sabre,
Saying "Stand and deliver, for I am a bold deceiver,"

(Cho)
Musha ringum durum da,
Wack fol the derry o,
Wack fol the derry o,
There's whiskey in the jar.

Them shiny golden coins sure did look bright and pretty,
I took the money home, and I gave it to my Kitty.
She swore and she promised that she never would deceive me,
But the Devil's in the women; they can always lie so easy.

Now when I awoke, 'twas around six or seven,
Guards were all around me in numbers odd and even
I drew forth me pistols, but alas I was mistaken,
For Molly'd poured the powder out, and a prisoner I was taken.

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

I'm going to join me brother, the one who's in the army,
And I don't care where he's stationed, in Killare or Killarney.
And with him I'll go roaming to the mountains and the city,
And I'm sure he'll treat me better than my darling sporting Jenny.

Now some takes delight in the fishing or the bowling;
Others takes delight in the carriages a-rolling;
But I takes delight in the fruit of the barley
And courting pretty women in the morning O so early.

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From:
Date: 27 Oct 97 - 10:22 AM

Here is how we sing it in Poland:

As I was going over the far fam'd Kerry Mountains,

I met with Captain Farrel, and his money he was countin',

I first produced my pistol, and I than produced my rapier,

Sayin': "Stand and deliver for you are my bold deceiver".

Slainte

Szarak

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: lesblank
Date: 26 Oct 97 - 06:26 PM

For my money, the definitive version of this oldie is done by the Limeliters on their 1962 or 63 album ,"Sing Out". It has some similarity to the lyrics on this thread but it is exactly like the old Burl Ives Columbia album of the early 60's. In any case, a great cause for swappin'.

Thanks !!

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: BK
Date: 26 Oct 97 - 01:12 AM

Somewhere long ago I learned "Gilgarry Mountain." Probably no more likely to be accurate than anything else. It's the spirit that counts.

It is a "blackguarding" song, (automatically rowdy/amoral/offensive/anti-social/immature/irresponsible, etc..), but I've also wondered about the girlfriend's point of view; Maybe she doesn't want to be asociated with this damn fool bozo who blithely robs a prominant local citizen, (apparently assuming nothing effective will be done to him?) and thereby puts her, by association, into the role of accomplice, and in jepardy of a jail sentance, or transportation to one of the dreaded - probably for good reason - penal colonies, etc, etc... She probably was better off without this clod..

Cheers, BK

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Lidi
Date: 25 Oct 97 - 05:54 AM

About the mountain.....I have heard; "...over the far-farmed Kerry mountains.."

Cheers

Lidi

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Nonie Rider
Date: 24 Oct 97 - 04:53 PM

I'm also heard "And I bid a fond farewell to that judge in Sligo town."

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From:
Date: 24 Oct 97 - 03:58 PM

I've heard it as "I knocked the sentry down".

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Nonie Rider
Date: 23 Oct 97 - 02:42 PM

No, I hadn't heard "Tequila in the Jar." Sounds wonderful! Source or lyrics please (please, please)?

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 23 Oct 97 - 09:35 AM

Farewll pronounced@#*

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 23 Oct 97 - 09:32 AM

Also another verse:
They put me into prison without a Judge or writin'
for robbing Captain Farrell on Kilgarry mountain
But they did not take my fists so i knocked the gaoler (jailer,for you yanks)down
And I bid a fond farewll to that gaol in Salom (pronounced sal-m) town

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 23 Oct 97 - 03:19 AM

a long shot without corroboration: One name for the highest mountains in Ireland (Co. Kerry) is the "MacGillycuddy's reeks". Kilgarry, Kilmagenny could be a mishearing for the middle part of that place name.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Ricky Rackin
Date: 22 Oct 97 - 11:23 PM

Anybody know the version :"Es tequilla in the Jar" whose chorus goes:

Muchos gringos trabajar We're from the Barrio [3x] Es tequilla in the Jar!

Obviously set to the standard tune.

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Nonie Rider
Date: 22 Oct 97 - 07:51 PM

Joe Haldeman used to sing this as he'd learned it:

"I drew forth me pistols and I brandished me sabre"
(spoken: "With my THIRD hand...")

--Nonie

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From:
Date: 22 Oct 97 - 05:03 PM

Error about the pistol.

Should be, of course,

"She stole away his pistol and she filled it up with water".

Also in the next verse it should be singular for the pistol, as he only seems to have had one.

No matter how careful I try to be in typing things I manage to screw it up somehow.:(

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Nonie Rider
Date: 21 Oct 97 - 07:27 PM

Cool! I've never seen the Kilmagenny and Lovell versions, only Kilgary and Gilgarra.

Subject: Lyr Add: BOLD LOVELL (from Roy Harris)
From:
Date: 21 Oct 97 - 06:46 PM

Martin, I always thought it was Cork and Kerry mountains too.

The Bold Lovell version, the lyrics of which except for the chorus could be sung (perhaps with slight adjustments) to the tune of Whiskey in the Jar, says "across the the misty mountains".

I think its Irish and Bourbon "whiskey", and Scotch and Rye "whisky".

Here is Bold Lovell. I got it off of Roy Harris's "Champions of Folly", a long deleted Topic LP from the 1970's. I think that I have the chorus right in the last line, although with his accent and the slur it could as easily be "Ah the women cannot let a fellow be." I think it's "devil" though. (Curse all recordings without lyrics sheets) Maybe someone has it in a songbook. Sir Walter Scott apparently asked his son in Ireland to find him the lyrics.


BOLD LOVELL

As Lovell was out riding out across the misty mountains
Two merchants, two merchants, their money they was counting
He reached for his pistol, and he never gave them warning
He robbed them of their money and he bade them both good morning

Chorus
Oh, the devil's in the women so they say,
Ah the devil cannot let a fellow be

He went to a public house and counted out his money
He called on the landlady to bring forth pretty Polly
But while they was talking, and thinking of no matter
She stole away his pistol and she filled it up with water

Chorus

As Lovell and Polly were taking their sweet pleasure
In walked the troopers saying "Lovell, you must leave her
For a long time you've been on the road to the gallows
So some along with us young man and be a decent fellow

Chorus

He reached for his pistols but they wouldn't fire for water
They lathered him well and gave to him no quarter
Polly, she cried, "If I'd known that they was coming,
I'd have fought them like a tiger, love, even though I am a woman

Chorus

"I have two brothers and they're in the Marines
One of them's at Chatham and the other one's at sea
Bold, frisk and lively lads, and champions of folly
I'd rather they was here today than you deceitful Polly

Chorus

As Lovell was climbing up that old gallows ladder
He called out so gaily for his highway cap and feather
"Well, I've always been a lively lad, but never murdered any
I think it bloody hard to swing for liftin' a bit of money!

Chorus

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: alison
Date: 21 Oct 97 - 06:22 PM

Hi,

the nearest I could find to it was a town called Kilmaganny, which is near the Booley Hills, (just North East of Carrick on Suir), but I don't think it's right because this is on the other side of the country from the Cork and Kerry Mountains, which always made more sense to me.

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 21 Oct 97 - 03:40 PM

Tim

I think the usual location when sung in Ireland is "Cork and Kerry mountains" or "Kilgarry Mountain". Not sure if the latter exists. I'll check.

Regards

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 21 Oct 97 - 01:41 PM

FWIW- If you search for whisky (Scots becerage) you won't find whiskey (everybody else's tipple. If you search for whixk* you'll get both (as well as whiskers and whisked). If you search for [in the jar] you'll find all the songs that use that phrase (the square brackets specify a phrase}

Subject: RE: Whiskey In The Jar
From: rich r
Date: 18 Oct 97 - 08:54 PM

Search DT with "whiskey and jar" and you should get a couple versions of this song

rich r

Subject: Lyr Add: WHISKEY IN THE JAR
From:
Date: 18 Oct 97 - 04:34 PM

An internet search came up with these lyrics, which are similar to the ones I've usually heard. The search also came up with many strange variations I had never heard.

There is usually also a verse after his capture, but before he mentions his brother, which documents his punching out the sentry and making his escape from jail in Sligo.

There is also a variation of this song called "Bold Lovell", aka "The Devil's In The Women". It is sung to a different tune and has a different (although more intelligible) chorus cursing the treachery of his bawd, although the storyline is much the same. (I've always thought that it would be a good exercise to write a version of Whiskey In The Jar from his girlfriend's perspective, explaining why she turned him in to the authorities.) In the Bold Lovell variation, he doesn't escape and he gets hanged.

I copied these from a site and take no responsibility for complete accuracy. Is there really a Kilmagenny mountain?


As I was going over the Kilmagenny mountain
I met with Captain Farrell and his money he was counting.
I first produced my pistol, and then produced my rapier.
Said stand and deliver, for I am a bold deceiver,

Chorus:
musha ring dumma do damma da
whack for the daddy 'ol
whack for the daddy 'ol
there's whiskey in the jar

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

Chorus

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

Chorus

It was early in the morning, before I rose to travel,
the guards were all around me and likewise Captain Farrell.
I first produced my pistol, for she stole away my rapier,
but I couldn't shoot the water so a prisoner I was taken.

Chorus

If anyone can aid me, it's my brother in the army,
if I can find his station in Cork or in Killarney.
And if he'll come and save me, we'll go roving near Kilkenny,
and I swear he'll treat me better than me darling sporting Jenny

Chorus

Now some men take delight in the drinking and the roving,
but others take delight in the gambling and the smoking.
But I take delight in the juice of the barley,
and courting pretty Jenny in the morning bright and early

Chorus

(Note: Last verse is usually

Now some take delight in the carriages a-rolling
And others their delight in the hurley and the bowling
But me I take my pleasure in the juice of the barley
And courting pretty girls in the morning bright and early

Subject: Whiskey In The Jar
From: Paul
Date: 18 Oct 97 - 02:40 PM

I was searching the data base for this song (Whiskey In the Jar)after realizing I don't the words to it, to my surprise I couldn't find it. Does anyone know if it may be under a different name or not. Thanks

Paul