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Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye lyrics

The Irish Rovers

While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
While goin' the road to sweet Athy
A stick in me hand and a drop in me eye
A doleful damsel I heard cry,
Johnny I hardly knew ye.

[Chorus]
With your drums and guns and guns and drums, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and guns and drums, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and guns and drums
The enemy nearly slew ye
Oh darling dear, Ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye.

Where are the eyes that looked so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild
When my poor heart you first beguiled
Why did ye run from me and the child
Johnny, I hardly knew ye.

[Chorus]

Where are the legs with which you run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are the 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
Johnny, I hardly knew ye.

[Chorus]

Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg
Ye're an armless, boneless, chickenless egg
Ye'll have to be left with a bowl to beg
Johnny I hardly knew ye.

[Chorus]
With your drums and guns and guns and drums, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and guns and drums, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and guns and drums
The enemy nearly slew ye
Oh my darling dear, Ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye.

I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
I'm happy for to see ye home
All from the island of Ceylon
So low in the flesh, so high in the bone
Johnny I hardly knew ye.

[Chorus]

They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
They're rolling out the guns again
But they never will take my sons again
No they'll never take my sons again
Johnny I'm swearing to ye.

Chorus

Song Details

Irish Rovers
The Irish Rovers at Wikipedia

Lyrics: Joseph B. Geoghegan

Music: Adapted to the tune of 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home'... more

Date: 1867

Other Titles: Johnny We Hardly Knew Ye OR Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya

Category: Anti-war

Covers: The Irish Rovers (featured), Dropkick Murphys, Luxon, The Clancy Brothers, De Dannan, The Tossers, Brendan O'Dowda, Maureen O'Hara...

Album: The Irish Rovers 50 Years - Vol. 2 - (March 1, 2014).

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