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
Lyrics: Joseph B. Geoghegan
Music: Adapted to the tune of 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home'... learn more
Date: 1867
Other Titles: Johnny We Hardly Knew Ye, Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya
Brief: The song is a monologue by an Irish woman who meets her former lover on the road to Athy, which is located in County Kildare, Ireland. After their illegitimate child was born, the lover ran away and became a soldier. He was badly disfigured, losing his legs, his arms, his eyes and, in some versions, his nose, in fighting on the island of "Sulloon", or Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka), and will have to be put in a bowl to beg.
The woman is initially shocked by his appearance, but she eventually recognizes him and begins to reminisce about their time together. She tells him that she has never forgotten him, even though he left her and their child. She also tells him that she is sorry for what happened to him, and that she wishes things could have been different.
The song ends with the woman saying goodbye to Johnny and wishing him peace.
The song is often interpreted as a commentary on the futility of war. The woman's lover is left horribly disfigured and unable to work, all because he was sent to fight in a war. The song suggests that war is not worth the cost, and that it often leaves people broken and scarred. It is a reminder of the human cost of war, and the importance of peace.
Category: Anti-war
Covers: The Irish Rovers (featured), Dropkick Murphys, Luxon, The Clancy Brothers, De Dannan, The Dubliners, The Tossers, Brendan O'Dowda, Maureen O'Hara...
Album: The Irish Rovers 50 Years - Vol. 2 - (March 1, 2014).
