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 fabulous person

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.

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.

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.

They’re rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo

They’re rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo

They’re rolling out the guns again

But they never will take our sons again

No they never will take our sons again

Johnny I’m swearing to ye.