Gilgarry Mountain a/k/a Whiskey in the Jar

Subject: RE: Gilgarry Mountain a/k/a Whiskey in the Jar
From: AndreasW
Date: 14 Jul 98 - 02:23 AM

I always understood "far famed Kerry Mountains" in Luke Kelly's and the Dubliners version of the song, not "far feinn Kerry Mountains", but as I do not speak any gaelic, I do not know whether feinn is a gaelic word and if so, what is its meaning.

Andreas

Subject: RE: Gilgarry Mountain a/k/a Whiskey in the Jar
From:
Date: 01 Jul 98 - 03:35 PM

I will revive the former thread for your edification.

Subject: RE: Gilgarry Mountain a/k/a Whiskey in the Jar
From: O'Boyle
Date: 30 Jun 98 - 08:49 PM

I should probably post this in the "what are you listening to?" thread but lets not forget the Dublin based '70s rock band Thin Lizzy's version. With the more violent verse ...."Being drunk and weary I went to Molly's chamber/ Taking my molly with me and I never knew the danger/ At around six or maybe seven in walked Captain Farrell/ I jumped up grabbed my pistols and I shot him with both barrels." There are other differences and cool Phil Lynott guitar riffs. It was featured in the film "In the name of the father" and is probably on the soundtrack. Otherwise it is available on their greatsest hits album. Its not folk in the strict sense of the word, but the wonderful thing about folk is that it is not strict.

Slainte

Rick

Subject: RE: Gilgarry Mountain a/k/a Whiskey in the Jar
From:
Date: 30 Jun 98 - 04:28 PM

I strongly recommend the version recorded on the Jerry Garcia/David Grisman CD "Shady Grove". The CD was released about a year after Jerry's death and is a collection of mostly bluegrass and "old-time" tunes with Jerry on guitar and Grisman on assorted mandolins (with the odd banjo song thrown in. "Whiskey in the Jar" is one of my favorite tunes on the CD. The booklet that comes with the album has all the song lyrics as well as some historical information about the songs. I think the lyrics are fairly consistent with some of the previous postings on this thread.

Subject: RE: Gilgarry Mountain a/k/a Whiskey in the Jar
From: leprechaun
Date: 30 Jun 98 - 01:53 AM

There was a long thread or two about this song a few months ago, but it's such a great song, it deserves several threads. In the previous accounts, somebody mentioned a version, possibly not yet extant, written from Jenny's perspective, about why she snitched him off. My favorite version, because I like the singing voice (smoother, and not as hard-driving) is on a CD, "Celtic Pride," featuring Column MacOireachtaigh and the Irish Ceili Band. It skips the verse about her filling up the charges with water, though.

Subject: RE: Gilgarry Mountain a/k/a Whiskey in the Jar
From: Bruce O.
Date: 29 Jun 98 - 01:01 PM

[From Holloway and Black's 'Later English Broadside Ballads', #90, from the Madden collection. No imprint on broadside, so as a guess it's late 18th or early 19th century.]

Patrick Flemming

Patrick Flemming was a Vallient Soldier,
He carried his Blunderbuss upon his shoulder
He cockt his Pistol and drew his Rapier,
Stand and deliver for I am the taker fal, lal,

If you're Patrick Flemming as I suppose you to be,
We are three Pedlars a ganging so free sir,
We are three Pedlars a ganging to Dublin,
Nothing at all in our Pockets but our loading.

Says Patrick Flemming prithe don't trifle,
For I am resolved Your packs for to rifle,
Here is a bank on which they may rest on,
To search them all I have a Commission.

Loath as they were to do as he commanded,
But knowing Patrick charg'd bouble-handed,
Searching their packs most carefully round,
There he did find four Hundred pound.

Oh! I have two brothers they're both in the army
The one is at Cork and the other at Kilkenny,
If they were here both blyth and bonny,
I'd rather see them than any one dear honey.

As I was going over Ruberry mountain,
Gold and silver there was counting
He thought it little I thought it better,
I took the Gold from Colonel Pepper.

My Whore she proved false and that is the reason
Or else Patrick Flemming had never been taken,
When I was asleep and knew nothing of the matter
Then she loaded my arms with Water:

Oh Patrick Flemming how often have I told you
With Swords with Pistols we would surround You,
For kissing of other mens wives brisk and merry,
as You was going to Londonderry.

Now my dear brothers i must leave You, [thee
For of my Life they will bereave me
But when he set foot upon the Ladder
He briskly called for his hat and Feather.

Now You pretty Wives of fair London City
E'er it is long I sure shall be with Ye,
So bold and so Gallant i'lle gane to ye
That halters not made that can undo me.

Subject: RE: Gilgarry Mountain a/k/a Whiskey in the Jar
From: Bert C
Date: 29 Jun 98 - 11:59 AM

I cast my vote with the "driving, forceful" school. We play it with two flat pick guitars and a resonator banjo (with metal finger picks), and we let it rip! I call it "heavy metal" (i.e. a banjo with a good tone ring).

Bert C

Subject: RE: Gilgarry Mountain a/k/a Whiskey in the Jar
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 29 Jun 98 - 07:58 AM

Bo.....

Re: "I have always played the song as a driving, forceful account by using a hard fingerpicking style"

That's the way I do it. The Limeliters' version is done like that, too. If you'll b/c me at:

[e-mail]

with your snail mail address, I might just have a copy around.

...Tiger

Subject: RE: Gilgarry Mountain a/k/a Whiskey in the Jar
From: Bojangles
Date: 28 Jun 98 - 11:49 PM

Several points come to mind: >I am awed and grateful to the contributors to this thread for being so willing to share their astute observations as well as their typing and research time. I think this is my all-time favorite site on the web. >Referece is made in several versions to the capturing soldiers gathering about our "bold deciever" in "numbers odd and even." Is this an Irish idiom for "lots" or "bunches"? >I have sung this song for 35 years (and still don't know where Sligo town is...hence it is not in my version where "I bid a fond farewell to that tight-fisted town..Musharingum duram da." etc. >I have always played the song as a driving, forceful account by using a hard fingerpicking style or Mother Maybell Carter's flatpicking style (Carter family picking) which absolutely sings on a good 12-string guitar. I guess I don't see the song as a lilting ballad as the P P & M version seems to...and the depicted singer of the song is a two-fisted highwayman...not one characteristically given to lilting ballads. Peter Stanley (Bojangles)

Klysn,bt udrtand that something the equivalnt of a state funeral was held at the time of his death underscoring the enormous affaction and regard the Irish feel for their best singers.

Subject: RE: Gilgarry Mountain a/k/a Whiskey in the Jar
From: harpgirl
Date: 28 Jun 98 - 08:59 PM

ah yes guys, the highwayman is betrayed by the woman he loves and is taken prisoner...in the Kerry Mountains...

Subject: RE: Gilgarry Mountain a/k/a Whiskey in the Jar
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 28 Jun 98 - 07:02 PM

For a couple of distinctly average renditions check out The Dublin City Ramblers who are travelling the Cork and Kerry Mountains
Whilst Luke Kelly in his live version appears to be going over "the far feinn Kerry Mountains".
According to the brief notes I have about this song there are 2 tunes (I must admit I only know the one)and that the "hero" is probably Bold Captain Freney or some other highwayman or rapparee.

Mick

Subject: RE: Gilgarry Mountain a/k/a Whiskey in the Jar
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 28 Jun 98 - 07:02 AM

Bo....

There are at least two other versions in the database. As for versions, my favorite is by the Limeliters. The Clancy's is good and the Grateful Dead did an interesting slower tempo version. Awhile back, I checked out as many versions as I could find and got these severalversions from a source I wish I could acknowledge, but it's been lost. Sorry I can't tell which is Pogues/Version. What follows is copied from original submitter

.....Tiger

Whiskey In The Jar

Since there is so much variation between how a traditional song is recorded in song books and how a band (in this case, The Pogues) chooses to interpret it, I am providing both the 'Traditional' and the 'Pogued' versions of the lyrics.

The Pogues'/Dubliners' Version

CHORUS
Musha rig um du rum da
Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar

As I was a going over Gillgarry Mountain,
I spied Colonel Farrell and his money he was countin'.
First I drew me pistol and then I drew me rapier,
Sayin' stand and deliver for I am your bold receiver.

CHORUS

I counted out his money and it made a pretty penny,
I put it in me pocket to take home to darling' Jenny.
She sighed and swore she loved me and never would deceive me
But the devil take the women for they always lie so easy.

CHORUS

I went into me chamber all for to take a slumber
To dream of gold and girls and of course it was no wonder.
Me Jenny took me charges and she filled them up with water,
Called on colonel Farrell to get ready for the slaughter.

CHORUS

'Twas early in the morning before I rose to travel,
There came a band of footmen and likewise Colonel Farrell.
I produced me pistol for she'd stole away me rapier,
But a prisoner I was taken I couldn't shoot the water.

CHORUS

If anyone can aid me to find me brother the one that's in the army,
I don't know where he's stationed in Cork or in Killarney.
Together we'd go roving o'r the mountains of Killkenney,
And I swear he'd treat me better than me darling' sporting Jenny.

CHORUS

There's some takes delight in the carriages and rolling,
Some takes delight in the hurley or the bowlin'.
But I takes delight in the juice of the barley,
And courting pretty maids in the mourning bright and early.

Gilgarry Mountain/There's Whiskey In The Jar

As I was a going over Gillgarry Mountain,
I spied Colonel Farrell and his money he was countin'.
First I drew me pistol and then I drew me rapier,
Sayin' stand and deliver for I am your bold receiver.

Well shirigim duraham da
Wack fall the daddy oh, wack fall the daddy oh
There's whiskey in the jar.

He counted out his money and it made a pretty penny,
I put it in me pocket to take home to darling' Jenny.
She sighed and swore she loved me and never would deceive me
But the devil take the women for they always lie so easy.

I went into me chamber all for to take a slumber
To dream of gold and girls and of course it was no wonder.
Me Jenny took me charges and she filled them up with water,
Called on colonel Farrell to get ready for the slaughter.

Next morning early before I rose to travel,
There came a band of footmen and likewise Colonel Farrell.
I goes to draw me pistol for she'd stole away me rapier,
but a prisoner I was taken I couldn't shoot the water.

They put me into jail with a judge all a writin'
For robbing Colonel Farrell on Gilgarry Mountain.
But they didn't take me fists so I knocked the jailer down,
And bid a farewell to this tight fisted town.

I'd like to find me brother the one that's in the army,
I don't know where he's stationed in Cork or in Killarney.
Together we'd go roving o'r the mountains of Killkenney,
And I swear he'd treat me better than me darling' sporting Jenny.

There's some takes delight in the carriages and rolling,
Some takes delight in the hurley or the bowlin'.
But I takes delight in the juice of the barley,
Courting pretty maids in the mourning oh so early.

Kilgary Mountain/Whiskey In The Jar

As I was a-walkin' 'round Kilgary Mountain
I met with Captain Pepper as his money he was countin'
I rattled my pistols and I drew forth my saber
Sayin', 'Stand and deliver, for I am the bold deceiver'

Musha rig um du rum da
Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar

The shinin' golden coins did look so bright and jolly
I took 'em with me home and I gave 'em to my Molly
She promised and she vowed that she never would deceive me
But the devil's in the women and they never can be easy
When I was awakened between six and seven
The guards were all around me in numbers odd and even
I flew to my pistols, but alas I was mistaken
For Molly's drawn my pistols and a prisoner I was taken

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

Now some take delight in fishin' and in bowlin'
And others take delight in carriages a-rollin'
But I take delight in the juice of the barley
And courtin' pretty girls in the morning so early

Traditional Arrangement copyright 1985 by The Pogues & The Dubliners

Subject: RE: Gilgarry Mountain a/k/a Whiskey in the Jar
From: mm
Date: 27 Jun 98 - 07:11 PM

"As I was going over

The Cork and Kerry mountains

I met with Captain Farrell

And his money he was counting

I first produced my pistol

And then produced my rapier

Saying 'Stand now and deliver

'For you are my bold deceiver"

Musha ring dum a doorum da

Whack Fol de Daddy O

Whack Fol de Daddy O

There's whiskey in the jar"

etc.

It's an Irish traditional ballad. Everyone has a

version of it, even the Dublin group Thin Lizzy,

headed by the late Phil Lynnott.

Subject: Gilgarry Mountain a/k/a Whiskey in the Jar
From: Peter Stanley (Bojangles)
Date: 27 Jun 98 - 06:37 PM

Could anyone advise me of: Any information about the origins of this song. The most respected set of lyrics (We have only those used by the Smothers Brothers in the database at the moment) The most notable renditions (recordings) of the song in the last 30 years or so. (The Clancy Brothers, perhaps?) I have been advised that the best rendition of the song is the recording relesed on the Peter, Paul & Mary album entitled:"A Song Will Rise" I have heard that recording and vehemently disagree with the contention that it represent the very best efforts of the folk community Peter Stanley (Bojangles)