343. Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye (Traditional Irish)

A traditional Irish anti-recruiting song. It is sometimes thought to be a parody of the popular American song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again", but this was not written until 1863, when Patrick Gilmore wrote it (under the pseudonym, Louis Lambert) for his sister, Annie, who was missing her fiance, John O' Rouke.
This great anti-war song has been recorded by Joan Baez, The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, Dropkick Murphys and many others.
Lyrics and chords:
Em .......................................................... D
While going the road to sweet Athy, haroo, haroo
........... Em ............................................. G ....... B7
While going the road to sweet Athy, haroo, haroo
.......... Em .......................... D
While going the road to sweet Athy,
..... C ................................ B7
A stick in my hand and a tear in my eye,
.... Em ..... D ....... C .......... B7
A doleful damsel I heard cry:
Em ................. D Em
Johnny, I hardly knew ye.
Wi' ye drums and guns and guns and drums, haroo, haroo,
Wi' ye drums and guns and guns and drums, haroo, haroo,
Wi' ye drums and guns and guns and drums,
The enemy nearly slew ye,
My darling dear you look so queer,
Johnny, I hardly knew ye.
Where are the eyes that looked so mild…
When my poor heart you first beguiled?
Why did you skedaddle from me and the child?
Johnny, I hardly knew ye.
Where are your legs that used to run…
When first you went to carry a gun?
Indeed your dancing days are done.
Johnny, I hardly knew ye.
It’s glad I am to see ye home…
All from the island of Sulloon
So low in the flesh, so high in the bone
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye.
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg…
Ye're an armless, boneless, chickenless egg
Ye'll have to put by a bowl to beg
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye.
They're rolling out the guns again…
But they'll never take our sons again
No they'll never take our sons again
Johnny I'm swearing to ye.
You can see a playlist of my Irish songs here:
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Lyrics and chords of many of my songs are no longer available, as my website has expired. I am currently posting lyrics to the information panels on all my videos and those that are too long to post in full will be found here: raymondsfolkpa...