The Rocky Road to Dublin

Dropkick Murphys

In the merry month of June from my home I started left the girls
Of Taum nearly brokenhearted saluted me father dear, kissed
Me darling mother drank a pint of beer, my grief and tears to
Smother then off to reap the corn, leave where I was born cut
A stout blackthorn to banish ghosts and goblin, brand-new
Pair of brogues, rattling o'er the bogs frightening all the dogs
On the rocky road to Dublin.

In Mullingar last night, I rested limbs so weary started by
Daylight next morning bright and early took a drop of the pure
To keep me heart from sinking that's the daddy's cure when
He's on the drinking see the lassies smile, laughing all the
While at me darling style, would set your heart a-bubblin'
Asked me was I hired, wages I required 'til I was almost tired
Of the rocky road to Dublin

Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road and all the
Way to Dublin, whack-fol-la-de-da!

In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity to be so soon
Deprived a view of that fine city decided to take a stroll all
Among the quality bundle, it was stole in that neat locality
Something crossed my mind when I looked behind no bundle
Could I find upon me stick a-wobblin' crying for a rogue said
Me connaught brogue wasn't much in-vogue on the rocky road
To Dublin

From there I got away, me spirits never failing landed on the
Quay just as the ship was sailing captain at me roared, said
That no room had he then I jumped aboard a cabin found for
Daddy down among the pigs, played some funny rigs, danced
Some hearty jigs, the water 'round me bubblin' off to holly head
Wished myself was dead or better far instead on the rocky
Road to Dublin

The boys in Liverpool, when we safely landed called myself a
Fool, I could no longer stand it blood began to boil, temper
I was losing poor old Erin's Isle they began abusing hooray
Me soul, says I, let the shellaillagh fly some Galway boys
Were nigh, saw I was a-hobblin' with a loud array, they joined
Me in the fray and soon we cleared the way on the rocky road
To Dublin


Lyrics submitted by oofus

The Rocky Road to Dublin Lyrics as written by Kenneth W. Casey Alexander Barr

Lyrics © SPIRIT TWO SMA

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The Rocky Road to Dublin song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment
    no one else commented on this song even though it kicks ass so i think i will thats all i have to say
    nazipunksfuckoffon July 20, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    my favorite verions is the dubliners'.
    goodbaron June 20, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    i think that this song really has a great kick to it...u can dance and have fun w/ it and do wutever, it's a good time song and it's kicks ass! SMILE
    duddettteon August 19, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    yeah, it has a cool kinda feel to it, rhythmically it has a strange progression, but it is cool. It really is a fun kinda song, and lyrically, I think it's about this guy that travels hard all the way to Dublin, but when he gets there it is shitty, so he comes back and gets made fun off, so a drunken brawl ensues...I could be wrong, but it's a cool song nonetheless.
    Madcappunkon October 14, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    ql song, very quick, it leaves you with some feeling I can't describe. Ure like on speed or smthn :) thumbs up!
    _MissVicious_on April 10, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    this version is great, but The Chieftains do a version with The Rolling Stones that blows this one away.
    AirCav1stOfThe9thon April 24, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I've heard a "traditional" version of this song and compared to the DKM one, it is crap. It's way slower and doesn't get the same beat going.
    Dropkick_Roveron May 05, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Madcap, you're slightly off. He leaves Tuam (in the west) to look for work in Dublin. When he gets there, he's not welcome (because Dublin people traditionally don't like anybody from outside the city) and so he jumps on a boat going to England. When he gets to Liverpool (in England, not Galway), a bunch of English guys start slagging him for begin Irish, so he gets annoyed and starts into them with his shillelagh. A bunch of other Irish guys (from Galway, where Tuam is) see he's in trouble and join in the fight. Wherever the guy goes, he's not welcome and he has to fight his way through life. Very Irish. One other thing, for some reason the lyrics here say "daddy" instead of "Paddy". What's that about? Maybe it's not widely known that Irish are derisively referred to as Paddies? It's because we're all called Patrick, apparently. Similar to the American "Yankee", I suppose. And, Rover, I like the original. If you hear it sung well it can be just as fast as the DKM version. The main difference is that there's no punk instruments in the background (in fact, the best version I heard was sung with just a bodhran in the background. BTW, for anybody unfamiliar with Irish music in the audience, a Bodhran is a type of drum. Google it.)
    tronakon May 06, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    if you listen to the song carefully you can hear that it DOES say " Paddys Cure"
    girlfridayon March 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    it's pretty obvious that it says paddy both times (cabin found for paddy/that's the paddy's cure) and it is a derisive word for the irish, but I know a lot of irish and irish-americans who use it in jest, much like any other ethnic group uses derisve words in closed circles as loving terms. for example, every time i go to the bar, the bar-tender and I take a shot "for paddy," although I must say I'm a bit bewildered by the substitution of D's for T's, although I'm sure it has something to do with the original gaelic spelling
    CHOOSE BRONZEon March 09, 2006   Link

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