Story Behind The Song

This song was written in the early 19th century to discourage young Irish men from going to fight for the East India Company, whose soldiers were dying in places like Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

Song Description

A young woman is grief-stricken and horrified to see her beau return gravely wounded from fighting in an imperialist war, but she vows to love him anyway.

Lyrics

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.

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

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

Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your legs that used to run
When you went for to carry a gun
Indeed your dancing days are done
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye.

It grieved my heart to see you sail, hurroo, hurroo
It grieved my heart to see you sail, hurroo, hurroo
It grieved my heart to see you sail
Though from my heart you took leg-bail
Like a cod, you're doubled up head and tail
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye.

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 put with a bowl out to beg
Oh 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 Sulloon
So low in flesh, so high in bone
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye.

But sad as it is to see you so, hurroo, hurroo,
But sad as it is to see you so, hurroo, hurroo,
But sad as it is to see you so,
And to think of you now as an object of woe,
Your Peggy'll still keep you on as her beau,
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye.

Playlist Creator	Playlist Name	Date Added
Banna Beag Mall	Celtic Tunes	7/31/2009