St. Patrick’s Day Songs – The Jersey City Resistance Choir

Celebrate in song with us for St. Patrick's Day.

Lyrics below.

Bog Down in the Valley (Rattlin' Bog) Irish Folk Song c. 1800s
Drunken Sailor Traditional Sea Shanty Connecticut c. 1830s
Molly Malone Late-Victorian Cockney Style Ballad Boston pub. 1876
Parting Glass Traditional Scottish Song c. early 1600s
Rocky Road to Dublin Irish Folk Song c. 1800s
Take Me Home, Country Roads Much-loved song 1971
Wellerman New Zealand Folk Song - Sea Shanty c. 1860s
Whiskey in a Jar Irish Folk Song c. 1650s
Wild Rover English-language Folk Song c.1500s

Bog Down in the Valley (Rattlin' Bog)

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

On that bog there stands a tree
Rare tree, a rattlin' tree
Tree on the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

On that tree there was a branch
Rare branch, a rattlin' branch
Branch on the tree
And the tree on the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

On that branch there was a twig
Rare twig, a rattlin' twig
Twig on the branch
And the branch on the tree
And the tree on the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

On that twig there was a leaf
Rare leaf, a rattlin' leaf
Leaf on the twig
And the twig on the branch
And the branch on the tree
And the tree on the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

On that leaf there was a nest
Rare nest, a rattlin' nest
Nest on the leaf
And the leaf on the twig
And the twig on the branch
And the branch on the tree
And the tree on the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

On that nest there was an egg
Rare egg, a rattlin' egg
Egg on the nest
And the nest on the leaf
And the leaf on the twig
And the twig on the branch
And the branch on the tree
And the tree on the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

On that egg there was a bird
Rare bird, a rattlin' bird
Bird on the egg
And the egg on the nest
And the nest on the leaf
And the leaf on the twig
And the twig on the branch
And the branch on the tree
And the tree on the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

From that bird there falls a feather
Rare feather, a falling feather
Feather of the bird
And the bird on the egg
And the egg on the nest
And the nest on the leaf
And the leaf on the twig
And the twig on the branch
And the branch on the tree
And the tree on the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

From that feather was made a bed
Rare bed, a rattlin' bed
Bed from the feather
And the feather of the bird
And the bird on the egg
And the egg on the nest
And the nest on the leaf
And the leaf on the twig
And the twig on the branch
And the branch on the tree
And the tree on the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

On that bed there lies a maid
Rare maid, a rattlin' maid
Maid on the bed
And the bed from the feather
And the feather of the bird
And the bird on the egg
And the egg on the nest
And the nest on the leaf
And the leaf on the twig
And the twig on the branch
And the branch on the tree
And the tree on the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

On that maid there lies a lad
Rare lad, a rattlin' lad
Lad on the maid
And the maid on the bed
And the bed from the feather
And the feather of the bird
And the bird on the egg
And the egg on the nest
And the nest on the leaf
And the leaf on the twig
And the twig on the branch
And the branch on the tree
And the tree on the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

On that lad there was her dad
Rare dad, an angry dad
Dad on the lad
And the lad on the maid
And the maid on the bed
And the bed from the feather
And the feather of the bird
And the bird on the egg
And the egg on the nest
And the nest on the leaf
And the leaf on the twig
And the twig on the branch
And the branch on the tree
And the tree on the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

On her dad there was a gun
Rare gun, a rattlin' gun
Gun on the dad
And the dad on the lad
And the lad on the maid
And the maid on the bed
And the bed from the feather
And the feather of the bird
And the bird on the egg
And the egg on the nest
And the nest on the leaf
And the leaf on the twig
And the twig on the branch
And the branch on the tree
And the tree on the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

From the gun there was a shot
Rare shot, a rattlin' shot
Shot from the gun
And the gun on the dad
And the dad on the lad
And the lad on the maid
And the maid on the bed
And the bed from the feather
And the feather of the bird
And the bird on the egg
And the egg on the nest
And the nest on the leaf
And the leaf on the twig
And the twig on the branch
And the branch on the tree
And the tree on the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

From that shot there came a bullet
Rare bullet, a rattlin' bullet
Bullet from the shot
And the shot from the gun
And the gun on the dad
And the dad on the lad
And the lad on the maid
And the maid on the bed
And the bed from the feather
And the feather of the bird
And the bird on the egg
And the egg on the nest
And the nest on the leaf
And the leaf on the twig
And the twig on the branch
And the branch on the tree
And the tree on the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

Due to the bullet there was a corps
Rare corps, a rottin' corps
Corps from the bullet
And the bullet from the shot
And the shot from the gun
And the gun on the dad
And the dad on the lad
And the lad on the maid
And the maid on the bed
And the bed from the feather
And the feather of the bird
And the bird on the egg
And the egg on the nest
And the nest on the leaf
And the leaf on the twig
And the twig on the branch
And the branch on the tree
And the tree on the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

For the corps was made a grave
Rare grave, a rattlin' grave
Grave for the corps
And the corps from the bullet
And the bullet from the shot
And the shot from the gun
And the gun on the dad
And the dad on the lad
And the lad on the maid
And the maid on the bed
And the bed from the feather
And the feather of the bird
And the bird on the egg
And the egg on the nest
And the nest on the leaf
And the leaf on the twig
And the twig on the branch
And the branch on the tree
And the tree on the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

----------SLOW DOWN--------

Oh that grave was in a bog
Rare bog, a rattlin' bog
In the bog down in the valley-o

Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o
Oh-Ro, a rattlin' bog, a bog down in the valley-o

Drunken Sailor

What will we do with a drunken sailor? (x3)
Early in the morning!

CHORUS:
Way hay and up she rises (x3)
Early in the morning!

Shave his belly with a rusty razor (x3)
Early in the morning!

CHORUS

Put him in a long boat till his sober (x3)
Early in the morning!

CHORUS

Stick him in a scupper with a hosepipe bottom (x3)
Early in the morning!

CHORUS

Put him in the bed with the captains daughter (x3)
Early in the morning!

CHORUS
That's what we do with a drunken sailor (x3)
Early in the morning!

CHORUS (x2)

Molly Malone

In Dublin's fair city
Where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheeled her wheelbarrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!"

Alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh"

She was a fishmonger
And sure 'twas no wonder
For so were her father and mother before
And they both wheeled their barrows
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh

Alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh

She died of a fever
And no one could save her
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone
But her ghost wheels her barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh

Alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh (x2)

Parting Glass

Of all the money that e’er I had, I spent it in good company.
And all the harm that e’er I done, Alas it was to none but me.
And all I’ve done, for want of wit To memory now I can’t recall;
So fill to me the parting glass, Good night and joy be with you all.

Oh all the comrades that e’er I had, They’re sorry for my going away.
And all the sweethearts that e’er I had, They’d wish me one more day to stay.
But since it falls unto my lot, That I should rise and you should not.
I’ll gently rise and softly call, Good night and joy be with you all.

But since it falls unto my lot, That I should rise and you should not.
I’ll gently rise and softly call, Good night and joy be with you all.

Good night and joy be with you all.

Rocky Road to Dublin

While in the merry month of May from me home I started,
Left the girls of Tuam so sad and broken hearted,
Saluted father dear, kissed me darling mother,
Drank a pint of beer, me grief and tears to smother,
Then off to reap the corn, leave where I was born,
Cut a stout black thorn to banish ghosts and goblins;
Bought a pair of brogues rattling o'er the bogs
And fright'ning all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin.

One, two, three four, five,
Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road
all the way to Dublin, Whack follol de rah !

In Mullingar that night I rested limbs so weary,
Started by daylight next morning blithe and early,
Took a drop of pure to keep me heart from sinking;
Thats a Paddy's cure whenever he's on drinking.
See the lassies smile, laughing all the while
At me curious style, 'twould set your heart a bubblin'
Asked me was I hired, wages I required,
I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin.

One, two, three four, five,
Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road
all the way to Dublin, Whack follol de rah !

In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity
To be soon deprived a view of that fine city.
So then I took a stroll, all among the quality;
Me bundle it was stole, all in a neat locality.
Something crossed me mind, when I looked behind,
No bundle could I find upon me stick a wobblin'
Enquiring for the rogue, they said me Connaught brogue
Wasn't much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin.

One, two, three four, five,
Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road
all the way to Dublin, Whack follol de rah !

From there I got away, me spirits never falling,
Landed on the quay, just as the ship was sailing.
The Captain at me roared, said that no room had he;
When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy.
Down among the pigs, played some hearty rigs,
Danced some hearty jigs, the water round me bubbling;
When off Holyhead I wished meself was dead,
Or better for instead on the rocky road to Dublin.

One, two, three four, five,
Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road
all the way to Dublin, Whack follol de rah !

Well the boys of Liverpool, when we safely landed,
Called meself a fool, I could no longer stand it.
Blood began to boil, temper I was losing;
Poor old Erin's Isle they began abusing.
"Hurrah me soul" says I, me Shillelagh I let fly.
Some Galway boys were nigh and saw I was a hobble in,
With a loud "hurray !" joined in the affray.
We quitely cleared the way for the rocky road to Dublin.

One, two, three four, five,
Hunt the Hare and turn her down
the rocky road and all the way to Dublin,
Whack follol de rah !

Take Me Home, Country Roads

Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, growin' like a breeze

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads

All my memories gather 'round her
Miner's lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads
I hear her voice in the mornin' hour, she calls me
The radio reminds me of my home far away
Drivin' down the road, I get a feelin'
That I should've been home yesterday, yesterday

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads

Take me home, (down) country roads

Wellerman

There once was a ship that put to sea
The name of the ship was the Billy of Tea
The winds blew up, her bow dipped down
Oh blow, my bully boys, blow. HUH!

CHORUS (A):
Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguing is done
We'll take our leave and go

She'd not been two weeks from shore
When down on her a right whale bore
The captain called all hands and swore
He'd take that whale in tow (huh)

Before the boat had hit the water
The whale’s tail came up and caught her
All hands to the side harpooned and fought her
She dived down below. HUH!

CHORUS (B)

No line was cut no whale was freed
The Captain’s mind was not of greed,
But he belonged to the whaleman’s creed
She took that ship in tow.

For forty days or even more,
The line went slack then tight once more,
All boats were lost, there were only four,
And still the whale did go. HUH!

CHORUS (A)

LAST VERSE: (slow, in freetime - stop footstomps if doing them)
The line was cut, the whale was freed,
The captains’s mind was not of greed,
But he belonged to the whaleman’s creed,
And he let that whale go. HUH! (return to regular time)

CHORUS (B)

CHORUS (A)

Whiskey in a Jar

As I was a goin' over the far famed Kerry mountains
I met with captain Farrell and his money he was counting
I first produced me pistol and I then produced me rapier
Saying "Stand and deliver" for he were a bold deceiver

CHORUS:
Mush-a ring dumb-a do dumb-a da
Whack fall the daddy-o, whack fall the daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar

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

CHORUS

I went unto my chamber, all for to take a slumber
I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure it was no wonder
But Jenny drew me charges and she filled them up with water
Then sent for captain Farrell to be ready for the slaughter

CHORUS

'Twas early in the morning, before I rose to travel
Up comes a band of footmen and likewise captain Farrell
I first produced me pistol for she'd stolen away my rapier
I couldn't shoot the water, so a prisoner I was taken

CHORUS

There's some take delight in the carriages a rollin'
And others take delight in the hurly and the bowling
But I take delight in the juice of the barley
And courting pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early

CHORUS

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 roamin' through Kilkenney
And I'm sure he'll treat me better than my own me sportin' Jenny

CHORUS (x2)

Wild Rover

I've been a Wild Rover for many's the Year
And I spend all my money on Whiskey and Beer
And now I'm returning with Gold in great store
And I never will play the Wild Rover no more

And it's no, nay, never
no, nay, never no more
will I play the Wild Rover
no, never no more

I went into an alehouse I used to frequent
And I told my Landlady my Money was spent
I asked her for Credit She answered me nay
Such a Custom as yours I could have any day

And it's no, nay, never.....

I took from my pocket ten Sovereigns bright
And the Landlady's eyes opened up with delight
She said she had Whiskeys and Wines of the best
And the words that She tolt me were only in jest

And it's no, nay, never.....

I went home to my Parents confest what I'd done
And I asked them to pardon their prodigal son
And when they'd caressed me as oft times before
I never will play the Wild Rover no more

And it's no, nay, never..... (x2)