In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
In the merry month of May
From my home I started
Left the girls of Tuam
Nearly broken hearted
Saluted father dear
Kissed my darlin' mother
Drank a pint of beer
My grief and tears to smother
Then off to reap the corn
And leave where I was born
I cut a stout blackthorn
To banish ghost and goblin
In a brand new pair of brogues
I rattled o'er the bogs
And frightened all the dogs
On the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four five
Hunt the hare and turn her
Down the rocky road
And all the ways to Dublin
Whack-fol-lol-de-ra
In Mullingar that night
I rested limbs so weary
Started by daylight
Next mornin' light and airy
Took a drop of the pure
To keep my heart from sinkin'
That's an Irishman's cure
Whene'er he's on for drinking
To see the lasses smile
Laughing all the while
At my curious style
'Twould set your heart a-bubbling
They ax'd if I was hired
The wages I required
Till 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
And all the ways to Dublin
Whack-fol-lol-de-ra
In Dublin next arrived
I thought it such a pity
To be so soon deprived
A view of that fine city
Then I took a stroll
All among the quality
My bundle it was stole
In a neat locality
Something crossed my mind
Then I looked behind
No bundle could I find
Upon my stick a wobblin'
Enquirin' for the rogue
They said my Connacht 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
And all the ways to Dublin
Whack-fol-lol-de-ra
From there I got away
My spirits never failin'
Landed on the quay
As the ship was sailing
Captain at me roared
Said that no room had he
When I jumped aboard
A cabin found for Paddy
Down among the pigs
I played some funny rigs
Danced some hearty jigs
The water round me bubblin',
When off Holyhead
I wished myself was dead
Or better far instead
On the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four five
Hunt the hare and turn her
Down the rocky road
And all the ways to Dublin
Whack-fol-lol-de-ra
The boys of Liverpool
When we safely landed
Called myself a fool
I could no longer stand it
Blood began to boil
Temper I was losing
Poor ould Erin's isle
They began abusin'
"Hurrah my soul," sez I
My shillelagh I let fly
Some Galway boys were by
Saw I was a hobble in
Then with a loud hurray
They joined in the affray
We quickly 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 ways to Dublin
Whack-fol-lol-de-ra
From my home I started
Left the girls of Tuam
Nearly broken hearted
Saluted father dear
Kissed my darlin' mother
Drank a pint of beer
My grief and tears to smother
Then off to reap the corn
And leave where I was born
I cut a stout blackthorn
To banish ghost and goblin
In a brand new pair of brogues
I rattled o'er the bogs
And frightened all the dogs
On the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four five
Hunt the hare and turn her
Down the rocky road
And all the ways to Dublin
Whack-fol-lol-de-ra
In Mullingar that night
I rested limbs so weary
Started by daylight
Next mornin' light and airy
Took a drop of the pure
To keep my heart from sinkin'
That's an Irishman's cure
Whene'er he's on for drinking
To see the lasses smile
Laughing all the while
At my curious style
'Twould set your heart a-bubbling
They ax'd if I was hired
The wages I required
Till 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
And all the ways to Dublin
Whack-fol-lol-de-ra
In Dublin next arrived
I thought it such a pity
To be so soon deprived
A view of that fine city
Then I took a stroll
All among the quality
My bundle it was stole
In a neat locality
Something crossed my mind
Then I looked behind
No bundle could I find
Upon my stick a wobblin'
Enquirin' for the rogue
They said my Connacht 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
And all the ways to Dublin
Whack-fol-lol-de-ra
From there I got away
My spirits never failin'
Landed on the quay
As the ship was sailing
Captain at me roared
Said that no room had he
When I jumped aboard
A cabin found for Paddy
Down among the pigs
I played some funny rigs
Danced some hearty jigs
The water round me bubblin',
When off Holyhead
I wished myself was dead
Or better far instead
On the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four five
Hunt the hare and turn her
Down the rocky road
And all the ways to Dublin
Whack-fol-lol-de-ra
The boys of Liverpool
When we safely landed
Called myself a fool
I could no longer stand it
Blood began to boil
Temper I was losing
Poor ould Erin's isle
They began abusin'
"Hurrah my soul," sez I
My shillelagh I let fly
Some Galway boys were by
Saw I was a hobble in
Then with a loud hurray
They joined in the affray
We quickly 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 ways to Dublin
Whack-fol-lol-de-ra
Lyrics submitted by DallasLeigh
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