Whack Fol the Diddle Lyrics
The Clancy BrothersMusic Video
Whack Fol the Diddle
I'll sing you a song of peace and love,
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
Of the land that reigns all lands above.
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
May peace and plenty be her share
Who kept our homes from want and care,
God bless Mother England is our prayer.
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
So we say, Hip Hooray!
Come and listen while we pray.
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
Now our fathers oft were naughty boys.
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
For pikes and guns are dangerous toys.
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
At Bearna Baol at Bunkers Hill
We made poor England cry her fill,
But ould Brittania loves us still!
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
So we say, Hip Hooray!
God bless England so we pray.
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
Now when we were savage, fierce and wild
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
She came as a mother to her child.
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
Gently raised us from the slime
And kept our hands from hellish crime,
And she sent us to Heaven in her own good time.
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
So we say, Hip Hooray!
God bless England so we pray.
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
Oh now Irishmen, forget the past!
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
And think of the day that's coming fast.
When we shall all be civilised,
Neat and clean and well-advised.
Oh won't Mother England be surprised?
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
So we say, Hip Hooray!
God bless England so we pray.
Whack fol the diddle all the di do day.
Song Details
Tommy Makem
🎶 Songwriter: Peadar Kearney - an Irish Republican and composer of numerous Irish Rebel Songs. He was born in Dublin, Dec 12, 1883 and died Nov 24, 1942.
He wrote the lyrics to A Soldier's Song in 1907 which is now the Irish National Anthem.
He was also the uncle of republican songwriters, Brendan and Dominic Behan.
Other songs by Peadar Kearney include:- Down By The Glenside (Bold Fenian Men)
- Down by the Liffey Side
- Erin Go Bragh
- Knockcroghery
- The Tri-coloured Ribbon
📝 Song Brief: An Irish Rebel song filled with sarcasm towards the British Empire in a light-hearted portrayal of events. It is sometimes referred to as God bless England.
On the surface, the lyrics appear to praise Mother England, but every verse is layered with irony, poking fun at British rule and the long, complicated history between the two nations. The song recounts battles, “civilising missions,” and supposed acts of benevolence — all delivered with exaggerated sweetness that makes the sarcasm unmistakable. Its playful refrain, “Whack fol the diddle all the di do day,” adds to the humour, giving the song the feel of a cheerful pub chorus even as it delivers pointed political commentary.
📖 Glossary:- Bearna Baol — A historic mountain pass in County Kerry, known in English as Barna Baoi or Gap of Danger. In Irish song tradition, it often symbolises resistance and the rugged terrain where Irish fighters once confronted British forces.
- Bunker’s Hill — A reference to Bunker Hill, the 1775 battle in the American War of Independence. Irish ballads sometimes invoke it to highlight moments when British forces suffered losses — used here with satirical bite to mock the idea of England’s “civilising” mission.
- Britannia — A national personification of Britain, usually depicted as a helmeted woman with shield and trident. In Irish rebel songs, “Britannia” often appears ironically — a symbol of imperial power contrasted with the lived experience of Irish people under British rule.
- Mother England — A deliberately exaggerated, ironic phrase used in satirical rebel songs. It pretends to praise England as a nurturing parent while actually highlighting oppression, hypocrisy, or colonial attitudes.
- civilised / civilising — Used sarcastically in the song to mock the idea that Ireland needed to be “civilised” by British rule. In context, it exposes the patronising language often used to justify colonialism.
🍀 Genre: Irish Rebel Song, Irish Folk Song
👥 Covers: Liam Clancy, Tommy Makem, The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, The Dubliners, The Wolfhound, Willie Brady, Philip M. Price, Studio Group.
🎤 Featured Artists: The Clancy Brothers
💿 Album: The Clancy Brothers Collection: 1956-1962
Released: Sept 16, 2013
Country: UK
Format: 2 x CD, Compilation
Label: Acrobat
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