There are many versions (and titles!) of this wonderful Irish folk song. These are the lyrics used by The Limeliters.
I have been a rover, I have been a bold deceiver And now I earn my livin' with my pistol and my rapier I don't know what I've stolen, but 'twould make a pretty penny And now I've lost it all to my darlin' sportin' Jenny Musha rig um du rum da Whack fol the daddy-o Whack fol the daddy-o There's whiskey in the jar I robbed Colonel Farrell up on Gilgarry Mountain I took the gold to Jenny just to help me with the countin' But Jenny called the guards, Lord, I've never saw so many I almost lost my freedom with my darlin' sportin' Jenny Musha rig um du rum da Whack fol the daddy-o Whack fol the daddy-o There's whiskey in the jar I'd like to find me brother, he's the one that's in the army I don't know where he's stationed, be it Cork or in Kilarney Together we'd go rovin' o'er the mountains of Kilkenny I'd swear he'd treat me fairer than my darlin' sportin' Jenny Musha rig um du rum da Whack fol the daddy-o Whack fol the daddy-o There's whiskey in the jar 'Twas early in the morning at the barracks of Kilarney My brother took his leave but he didn't tell the army Our horses, they were speedy, 'twas all over but the shoutin' Now we make our livin' up on Gilgarry Mountain Musha rig um du rum da Whack fol the daddy-o Whack fol the daddy-o There's whiskey in the jar Musha rig um du rum da Whack fol the daddy-o Whack fol the daddy-o There's whiskey in the jar
Thanks to Jim Griffin for transcribing these lyrics for our website!
Last update: March 12, 2000