Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye
(Traditional)
Performer(s): The Clancy Brothers;
and various other artists
While going the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
While going the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
While going the road to sweet Athy
A stick in me hand and a drop in me eye
A doleful damsel I heard cry
Johnny I hardly knew ye
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and drums and guns
The enemy nearly slew ye
Oh my darling dear, ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye
Where are your eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your eyes that were so mild
When my heart you so beguiled
Why did ye run from me and the child
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye
Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your legs that used to run
When you went for to carry a gun
Indeed your dancing days are done
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye
It grieved my heart to see you sail, hurroo, hurroo
It grieved my heart to see you sail, hurroo, hurroo
It grieved my heart to see you sail
Though from my heart you took leg-bail
Like a cod you're doubled-up head and tail
Johnny I hardly knew ye
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and drums and guns
The enemy nearly slew ye
Oh my darling dear, ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg
Ye're an armless, boneless, chickenless egg
Ye'll have to put with a bowl out to beg
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye
I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
I'm happy for to see ye home
All from the island of Sulloon*
So low in flesh, so high in bone
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye
But sad as it is to see you so, hurroo, hurroo
But sad as it is to see you so, hurroo, hurroo
But sad as it is to see you so
And I think of you now as an object of woe
Your Peggy'll still keep ye on as her beau
Johnny, I hardly knew ye
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and drums and guns
The enemy never slew ye
Oh my darling dear, ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye
*sometimes sung as Ceylon
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