There are two kinds of people when it comes to singing songs you only kind of know the words to. Those who stop, and those who persevere.
Below are the lyrics to the old Irish song, “Whiskey In The Jar,” as sung by me yesterday, in proper, Irish stubborn refusal to give up.
Here’s the original song, for reference and/or musical accompaniment:
As I was going over the purple Kerry mountains, I saw captain Farrell, and his money he was countin’ I first produced my pistol, and then produced my rapier I said, “Stand and deliver!” and then I shot him with both barrels. I wonder what the point was, of sayin’ “stand and deliver” If I was just going to shoot him anyway. I suppose that’s neither here nor there now. And what kind of pistol has two barrels anyway? I said hakuna matata ofay. Whack for the daddy-o, whack for the daddy-o, there’s whiskey in the jar-o. I took all of his money, and I brought it home to Bridget. Or maybe her name is Molly. Could be Jenny maybe? Because that does rhyme more with “money” I might just be thinkin’ of that joke about Irish foreplay. She swore that she loved me, and never would she leave me But the devil take that woman! For you know she tricked me easy. Feelin’ drunk and weary, I went to Molly’s chamber. And, yeah, okay, it’s definitely Molly not Bridget. For about six or maybe seven, in walked captain Farrell Even though I thought I shot him, so how’s that work? Maybe there’s two captain Farrell’s? But that seems pretty unlikely. Probably I didn’t shoot him before, but now I definitely will. I said oompa loompa loofah. Whack for the daddy-o, whack for the daddy-o, there’s whiskey in the jar-o. Some men like the fishin’, some men like the fowlin’. Some men like to hear, to hear the cannonball a-roarin’. Me, I like sleepin’. Especially in Molly’s chambers. But here I am in prison! And there’s definitely one more line, yeah! I said-a honky tonk beyoncé. Whack for the daddy-o, whack for the daddy-o, there’s whiskey in the jar-no wait the last line is something about a ball and chain!
*
The Byronic Man 
September 9, 2013 at 3:49 am
I enjoyed the Pogues with Toothless Shane MacGowan’s braying and of course who’s better than Metallica? But you forgot the most important clip of all: Your spirited rendition. I’ll be back later in the day and I’d better see an update or I’m going to ask for my money back.
September 9, 2013 at 7:31 pm
It’s part of my teaser: the lyrics are free. The performance is pay-per-view.
September 9, 2013 at 3:58 am
Hahaha. I used to hear that song a lot as a child and had to do a lot of Irish-sounding la-la-la-ing. Your adlibs are much more entertaining.
September 9, 2013 at 7:32 pm
The trick is slurring.
September 9, 2013 at 4:00 am
I’m pretty sure Beyonce is a traditional Irish word for cookies. Maybe I made that up.
September 9, 2013 at 7:33 pm
It’s certainly Gaelic, though.
September 9, 2013 at 4:01 am
Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
September 9, 2013 at 4:20 am
Can you do the Macarena? Pretty please. Pretty pretty.
September 9, 2013 at 7:35 pm
My Macarena would probably end up looking suspiciously like The Time Warp. I can do a mean breakdance, though.
September 9, 2013 at 6:06 am
I see you’re launching a new career. Where’s my autographed CD?
September 9, 2013 at 7:36 pm
I’m planning to be one of those horrible, douchebag celebrity singers who treats his fans like crap. You know… whaddya call ’em… “all of them.”
September 10, 2013 at 3:53 am
“Bieber.”
September 9, 2013 at 6:35 am
Haha… and I assume you sang it louder and with more feeling so that people would assume those are the actual lyrics, right?
Tho I must protest that you didn’t post the classic rendition from Thin Lizzy. Aren’t you old like me?
September 9, 2013 at 7:37 pm
I am old – I’ve even seen the Thin Lizzy statue in Dublin. But I couldn’t pass up The Pogues.
September 9, 2013 at 9:10 pm
Yeah, I’m a fan too. Did you see Straight to Hell, the spaghetti western with them, Joe Strummer, Elvis Costello, and others? As much I loved all of the above’s music, I remember not digging the movie… May have to revisit that one.
September 9, 2013 at 8:48 am
I can so relate to this Irish tune. All that ditty, ditty, la, la, I grew up with as a McCartan.
September 9, 2013 at 8:59 am
I recognized it immediately from Metallica’s version. And yes, I think you nailed it. That is exactly what they say.
September 9, 2013 at 7:39 pm
That’s the one that always pops in to my head first, too.
September 9, 2013 at 9:17 am
Isn’t the whole point of these old Irish songs is that they be sung fast while drunk? And listened to by those who have had a wee bit too much of the drink as well… That way, as long as the music continues ans someone is singing something in the microphone, everyone is happy. You made everyone happy, right? Your work there was done! 🙂 Whack-oh you daddy-oh!
September 9, 2013 at 7:37 pm
Yeah, that first version on here is ridiculously fast. “Just roll with it, laddies!” seems to be the idea.
September 10, 2013 at 6:37 am
Not a bad life philosophy, come to think of it. Who cares if you get some words wrong as long as everyone is happy, right?
September 9, 2013 at 9:53 am
A honky tonk Beyonce? Yes, please.
I love The Pogues and The Dubliners and it’s great to see them in one video.
September 9, 2013 at 7:42 pm
The Pogues without Shane MacGowan is so disappointing, but I also understand them getting tired of him getting through one song, passing out, and them having to do the rest.
September 9, 2013 at 11:11 am
Of all the wonderful things that are Byronic in the Jar-o, “a honky tonk beyonce'” is most certainly my favorite.
September 9, 2013 at 7:45 pm
Oh, good. I’ll stick with that, then.
September 9, 2013 at 12:45 pm
Beyonce is the new “blah” — sub it in whenever you don’t know the right word. It works in any situation.
September 9, 2013 at 7:42 pm
“Oh, nothing in particular’s the matter. Just kind of have the beyonce’s.”
Sounds good to me.
September 9, 2013 at 4:24 pm
Can you do The Rocky Road to Dublin next?
September 9, 2013 at 7:45 pm
Maybe second encore.
September 9, 2013 at 6:36 pm
I think “Honky Tonk Beyonce” might be my next stripper name.
September 9, 2013 at 7:39 pm
There’s a mash-up of “Honky Tonk Woman” and “Single Ladies” just waiting to happen.
September 9, 2013 at 8:35 pm
With a “Fat Bottom Girls” riff.
September 10, 2013 at 6:10 am
I’m pretty sure there are as many variations of this as there are jars drank to get to the point were one attempts to sing this one. It’s lots of fun being Irish enough to give it a go. I’m thinking you did a fine job, Lad, a fine job!
September 15, 2013 at 8:15 pm
Lyrics to Celtic tunes are mere suggestions. A lot of blarney don’t you know it.