Poetry Archives

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 my hand and a drop in my eye,
A doleful damsel I heard cry:
  “Och, Johnny, I hardly knew ye!

“With drums and guns, and guns and drums,
The enemy nearly slew ye;
My darling dear, you look so queer,
  Och, Johnny, I hardly knew ye!

“Where are your eyes that looked so mild?
      Hurroo! hurroo!
Where are your eyes that looked so mild?
      Hurroo! hurroo!
Where are your eyes that looked so mild,
When my poor heart you first beguiled?
Why did you run from me and the child?
  Och, Johnny, I hardly knew ye!
    With drums, etc.

“Where are the legs with which you run?
      Hurroo! hurroo!
Where are thy legs with which you run?
      Hurroo! hurroo!
Where are the legs with which you run
When first you went to carry a gun?
Indeed, your dancing days are done!
  Och, Johnny, I hardly knew ye!
    With drums, etc.

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,
  Och, Johnny, I hardly knew ye!
    With drums, etc.

“You haven’t an arm and you haven’t a leg,
      Hurroo! hurroo!
You haven’t an arm and you haven’t a leg,
      Hurroo! hurroo!
You haven’t an arm and you haven’t a leg,
You’re an eyeless, noseless, chickenless egg;
You’ll have to be put with a bowl to beg:
  Och, Johnny, I hardly knew ye!
    With drums, etc.

“I’m happy for to see you home,
      Hurroo! hurroo!
I’m happy for to see you home,
      Hurroo! hurroo!
I’m happy for to see you home,
All from the Island of Sulloon;
So low in flesh, so high in bone;
  Och, Johnny, I hardly knew ye!
    With drums, etc.

“But sad it is to see you so,
    Hurroo! hurroo!
But sad it is to see you so,
    Hurroo! hurroo!
But sad it is to see you so,
And to think of you now as an object of woe,
Your Peggy’ll still keep you on as her beau;
  Och, Johnny, I hardly knew ye!

With drums and guns, and guns and drums,
The enemy nearly slew ye;
My darling dear, you look so queer,
  Och, Johnny, I hardly knew ye.