The Irish Rover

"The Irish Rover" is a traditional Irish song about a magnificent sailing ship that reaches an unfortunate end. It has been recorded by numerous artists, some of whom have made changes to the lyrics.

Original lyrics

:"In the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and six,":"We set sail from the sweet cove of Cork":"We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks":"For the grand City Hall in New York":"'Twas a wonderful craft, she was rigged 'fore and aft":"And how the wild winds drove her":"She 'stood several blasts, she had twenty-seven masts":"And they called her the Irish Rover"

:"There was Barney McGee from the banks of the Lee":"There was Hogan from County Tyrone":"There was Johnny McGurk who was scared stiff of work":"And a man from Westmeath called Malone":"There was Slugger O'Toole who was drunk as a rule":"And fighting Bill Tracy from Dover":"And your man Mick McCann, from the banks of the Bann":"Was the skipper on the Irish Rover"

:"We had one million bags of the best Sligo rags":"We had two million barrels of stones":"We had three million sides of old blind horses' hides":"We had four million barrels of bones":"We had five million hogs and six million dogs":"And seven million barrels of porter":"We had eight million bales of old nanny goats' tails":"In the hold of the Irish Rover"

:"We had sailed seven years when the measles broke out":"And our ship lost her way in the fog":"And the whole of the crew was reduced down to two":" 'Twas meself and the captain's old dog":"Then the ship struck a rock; oh Lord what a shock":"The bulkhead was turned right over":"We turned nine times around - then the poor old dog was drowned":"Now I'm the last of the Irish Rover"

Variations

The Irish Rovers sang the song with a slightly different final verse due to being a group:

:"...And the crew left alive were reduced down to five":"Just ourselves and the captain's old dog":"Then the ship struck a rock; oh, Lord, what a shock":"We nearly tumbled over":"Turned nine times around, and the poor old dog was drowned":"We're the last of the Irish Rover"

The Irish Rovers also sang a different third line in the first verse:

:"Down below in the hold was a cargo of bricks"

Bounding Main sings the song with a slightly different first verse:

:"In the year of our Lord fifteen hundred and six":"We set sail from the cold bay of Cork":"We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks":"For that grand city hall down in York":"An elegant craft she was rigged fore and aft":"And how the trade winds drove her":"She had twenty-three masts and she stood several blasts":"And they called her the Irish Rover"

The version sung by The Pogues and The Dubliners has two verses that are not part of the traditional version.

:"There was awl Mickey Coote":"Who played hard on his flute":"When the ladies lined up for a set":"He was tootin' with skill":"For each sparkling quadrille":"Though the dancers were fluther'd and bet":"With his smart witty talk":"He was cock of the walk":"And he rolled the dames under and over":"They all knew at a glance":"When he took up his stance":"That he sailed in The Irish Rover"

:"For a sailor it's always a bother in life":"It's so lonesome by night and day":"That he longs for the shore":"And a charming young whore:"Who will melt all his troubles away":"Oh, the noise and the rout":"Swillin' poitin and stout":"For him soon the torment's over":"Of the love of a maid":"He is never afraid":"An old salt from the Irish Rover"

There are also some slight variations in The Pogues' version:

First verse, first line:

"On the Fourth of July, Eighteen Hundred and Six"

First verse, fifth line:

"'Twas a wonderful craft, she was rigged fore-and-aft"

First verse, second-last line:

:"She stood several blasts, she had twenty-seven masts"

The Irish Descendants sing a chorus in between verses:

:"So, fare thee well, my pretty little girl":"I must sail away":"Fare thee well, my pretty little girl":"I must sail away"

References

In issue 26 of Preacher, when Cassidy describes his drinking buddies in New York, the names are all taken from the Irish Rover.

In the July/August 2006 issue of Analog Science Fiction and Fact, there is a story by Michael Flynn called Sand and Iron where all the character names appear to be taken from the Irish Rover.