The Irish Rover Lyrics
The Drunken BodhránsMusic Video
The Irish Rover
On the fourth of July, eighteen-hundred and six
We set sail from the sweet Cobh of Cork
We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks
For the grand City Hall in New York
'Twas a wonderful craft, she was rigged fore and aft
And oh, how the wild wind drove her
She stood several blasts, she had twenty-seven masts
And they called her The Irish Rover
We had one million bags of the best Sligo rags
We had two million barrels of stone
We had three million sides of blind horses hides
We had four million barrels of bones
We had five million hogs, six million dogs
Seven million barrels of porter
We had eight million bales of old nanny goats' tails
In the hold of the Irish Rover
There was ould Mickey Coote who played hard on his flute
When the ladies lined up for a set
He was tooting with skill for each sparkling quadrille
Till the dancers were fluthered and bet
With his smart witty talk, he was cock of the walk
And he rolled the dames under and over
They all knew at a glance when he took up his stance
That he sailed in The Irish Rover
There was Barney McGee from the banks of the Lee
There was Hogan from County Tyrone
There was Johnny McGurk who was scared stiff of work
And a man from Westmeath called Malone
There was Slugger O'Toole who was drunk as a rule
And fighting Bill Tracy from Dover
And your man, Mick McCann from the banks of the Bann
Was the skipper on the Irish Rover
For a sailor it's always a bother in life
It's so lonesome by night and by day
That he longs for the shore and a charming young whore
Who will melt all his troubles away
Oh, the noise and the rout swillin' poitín and stout
For him soon is done and over
Of the love of a maid, he is never afraid
An old salt from the Irish Rover
We had sailed seven years when the measles broke out
And the ship lost its way in the fog
And that whale of a crew was reduced down to two
Just meself and the Captain's old dog
Then the ship struck a rock, oh Lord! What a shock
The boat it was turned right over
Turned nine times around and the poor old dog was drowned
I'm the last of The Irish Rover
I'm the last of The Irish Rover
Song Details
✍️ Songwriter: Traditional
📝Song Brief:
The Irish Rover is a well‑loved traditional ballad that blends humour, imagination, and the tall‑tale tradition of Irish storytelling. The song describes a magnificent ship with an enormous crew and an impossible cargo, each detail more exaggerated than the last. As the voyage unfolds, the ship meets a dramatic and often comical end, leaving the narrator as the lone survivor. Handed down through generations, the song has appeared in many versions, each adding its own touches of wit and embellishment. Its lively narrative and memorable chorus have made it a favourite in sessions and recordings, celebrated for its good‑natured fun and its place in the wider tradition of Irish maritime folklore.
- Cobh of Cork
A harbour town in County Cork, formerly known as Queenstown. It was a major port for sailors, emigrants, and merchant ships, and appears frequently in maritime songs and stories. - She was rigged fore and aft
A description of a ship whose sails are arranged along the line of the keel rather than across it. This type of rigging was common on smaller or more manoeuvrable vessels. - Sparkling quadrille
A quadrille is a set dance performed by four couples in a square formation. “Sparkling” suggests a lively, energetic version of the dance, often accompanied by spirited music. - fluthered and bet
“Fluthered” is Irish slang for very drunk; “bet” means exhausted or worn out. Together, the phrase describes dancers who kept going until they were both tired and well‑soaked in drink. - He was cock of the walk
An expression meaning someone who is confident, boastful, or sees himself as the most important person in the group. It often carries a humorous tone. - The noise and the rout swillin’ poitín and stout
“Rout” means a noisy gathering or commotion. “Swillin’” means drinking freely. Poitín is a strong traditional Irish spirit, and stout is a dark beer. The phrase paints a picture of a lively, boisterous celebration. - Old salt
A seasoned sailor with long experience at sea. The term is often used affectionately to describe someone familiar with maritime life and its stories.
🍀 Genre: Traditional Irish Folk Song
👥 Covers: The Dubliners & The Pogues, The Dubliners, The Irish Rovers, Fiddler's Green, The High Kings.
🎤 Featured Artists: The Drunken Bodhráns
💿 Single: The Irish Rover
Released: 15 December 2025
Format: Digital download / Streaming
Label: Tysse Records
