(There’s) Whiskey in the Jar

They put me into jail with a judge all a writin’
For robbing Captain Farrell on the far fam’d Kerry Mountains
But they didn’t take me fists so I knocked the jailer down
And bid a farewell to this tight fisted town

Was early in the morning at the barracks of Kilarney
My brother took his leave but he didn’t ask the army
Our horses they were speedy, ’twas all over but the shoutin’
Now we wait for Farrell upon that Kerry Mountain
–from The Limeliters 1961 album, Sing Out!

From the Broadsides Ballads Online from the Bodleian Libraries (Johnson Ballads 612A)

I am a young fellow that never yet was daunted
And oftentimes had money, but seldom it was wanted
For robbing for gold, it was my own folly
Paying for good liquor to treat deceitful Molly
Musha ring a ding a ra

As I was going over Calvert mountains
I met with Captain Everet, his money he was counting
First I drew my pistol, and then I drew my rapier
Stand and deliver, for I am your bold deceiver
Musha ring a ding a ra

Oh! When I got his money, it was a pretty penny
I put it in my pocket and took it home to Molly
When she swore by what was good, that she never would deceive me
But the devil take the women, for they never can be easy
Musha ring a ding a ra

Being both wet and weary, I went to Molly’s chamber
I went to Molly’s chamber for to have a slumber
When she flew unto my pistols and she loaded them with water
I was dragged out of my bed just like a lamb to the slaughter
Musha ring a ding a ra

It was early next morning, between six and seven
Surrounded by policemen, and likewise Captain Everet
I fired off my pistols and powder, but was mistaken
I fired off the water and a prisoner I was taken
Musha ring a ding a ra

There’s some take delight in fishing and fowling
Whilst others take delight in hearing cannons roaring
But I take delight in being brisk and jolly
And in paying for good liquor to treat deceitful Molly
Musha ring a ding a ra

Oh! I have got two brothers, and they are in the army
One is in Cork, and the other in Killarney
If I had them here tonight, oh, wouldn’t I make them jolly
I would rather have them here than you, deceitful Molly
Musha ring a ding a ra

It was early next morning, between six and seven
Itr was up against my cell door and the turnkey he was bawling
When I out with my shackles and knocked the turnkey down
And I made my escape out of fair Philip’s Town
Musha ring a ding a ra

Found in John Meredith & Hugh Anderson’s Folk Songs of Australia and the Men and Women Who Sang Them  from the singing of Mrs. Mary Byrnes.

As I was a-crossin’ the Abercrombie Mountains
I met Sir Frederick Pottinger, and his money he was countin’
I first drew my blunderbuss and then I drew me sabre
Saying, “Stand and deliver all, for I’m your bold deceiver”

With me musha-ringa-dah,
Ri-tooral-addio
There’s whiskey in the jar

I robbed him of his money; it was a pretty penny
I robbed him of it all and I took it home to Molly
I took it home to Molly and I thought she’d ne’re deceive me9
Ah, the devil’s in the wimmin for they never can be aisy

With me musha-ringa-dah,
Ri-tooral-addio
There’s whiskey in the jar

I’ve got two brothers who both are in the army
One is in Cork and another in Killarney
If they were here tonight and all so free and jolly
Tossing off another glass to my deceitful Molly

With me musha-ringa-dah,
Ri-tooral-addio
There’s whiskey in the jar

Found in Anne Warner’s book Traditional American Folk Songs from the Anne & Frank Warner Collection from the singing of Lean Bourne Fish, 1941.

As I was goin’ over Gilgarrah Mountain
I met Colonel Pepper and his money he was counting
I rattled my pistols and drew forth my saber
“Stand and deliver, for I am a bold deceiver”

Musha ringum durum da,
Wack fol the daddy o,
Wack fol the daddy o,
There’s whiskey in the jar.

Them shiny golden coins sure did look bright and jolly
I took the money home, and I gave it to my Molly
She promised and vowed she never would deceive me
But the Devil’s in the women and they never can be easy

Musha ringum durum da,
Wack fol the daddy o,
Wack fol the daddy o,
There’s whiskey in the jar.

I returned to my cave in Gilgarrah Mountain
And left my sweetheart Molly the money a-counting
As I was soundly sleeping, the divil sure may take her
She fired off my pistols and she loaded them with pepper

Musha ringum durum da,
Wack fol the daddy o,
Wack fol the daddy o,
There’s whiskey in the jar.

She told Colonel Pepper where I was a-hiding
And led them to my cave right early in the morning
O Molly, you’ve deceived me, although I loved you dearly
But you never cared for me; I can see it bright and clearly

Musha ringum durum da,
Wack fol the daddy o,
Wack fol the daddy o,
There’s whiskey in the jar.

Now I awakened between six and seven
Guards were around me in numbers odd and even
I flew to my pistols, but alas I was mistaken
For I fired off my pistols and a prisoner I was taken

Musha ringum durum da,
Wack fol the daddy o,
Wack fol the daddy o,
There’s whiskey in the jar.

They put me into jail, without a judge or writing
For robbing Colonel Pepper up on Gilgarrah Mountain
But they didn’t take me fists, so I knocked the sentry down
And I bid a long farewell to the jail in Sligo town

Musha ringum durum da,
Wack fol the daddy o,
Wack fol the daddy o,
There’s whiskey in the jar.

Now some takes delight in the fishing and bowling
Others takes delight in the carriages a-rolling
But I takes delight in the fruit of the barley
Courting pretty girls in the morning so early

Musha ringum durum da,
Wack fol the daddy o,
Wack fol the daddy o,
There’s whiskey in the jar.

From the singing of Sarah Gunning from Elys Branch, Knox County, Kentucky on her album Girl of Constant Sorrow

As I was a-going across King’s Mountain
I met Captain Devin, and his money he was counting
First I pulled my pistol, and then I pulled my saber
Saying, “Stand and deliver, for I am your bold deciever”

With your musha-ringa-row
And right to my loddy
Right to my loddy
Oh, there’s whiskey in the jar

I picked up his gold, feeling gay and jolly,
I picked up his gold took it home to Loddy
Told her all about it, thought she never would decieve me
But the devil’s in the women and they never can be easy

With your musha-ringa-row
And right to my loddy
Right to my loddy
Oh, there’s whiskey in the jar

I went to Molly’s chamber for to take a slumber
I went to Molly’s chamber, cold hungry
Laid down to take a nap, not thinking any matter
She discharged both my pistols and filled them full of water

With your musha-ringa-row
And right to my loddy
Right to my loddy
Oh, there’s whiskey in the jar

Next morning very early, between six and seven
There I was surrounded for killing Captain Devin
Reached for my pistols but found I was mistaken
For my pistols was discharged and a prisoner I was taken

With your musha-ringa-row
And right to my loddy
Right to my loddy
Oh, there’s whiskey in the jar

Read more in the LP’s liner notes.
Published in Charles W. Darlin’s The New American Songster: Traditional Ballads and Songs of North America (1983)

Transcribed from the singing of Ward H. Ford recorded by Sidney Robertson Cowell in Central Valley, California on December 25, 1938 (AFS 4196 B2; B3)

As McAllister was walking up the Pleasant mountain
He spied two merchants whose money they were counting
He walked up to them, said, “Stand still my honeys
Now you needn’t be alarmed for all I want’s your money
Diddly dum, diddly dum dum dum da-lo dee loo diddly dum

As McAllister was walking up the gallows ladder
He called for his Irish coat, his cap, and his feather
Saying, “I have robbed many, though I haven’t killed any
Now, I think it is a shame to be hung for stealing money”
Diddly dum, diddly dum dum dum da-lo dee loo diddly dum

From a British broadside c. 1850-1855 (Harding B 11 [980])

I am a sporting hero, I never yet have daunted
In treating of pretty girls at places where I haunted
In rum, gin, and barley, I would spend all of my store
And when that is done I would boldly rob for more

Mush a ring a ding a da, ri too ral la
Ri too ral laddo O, there’s whiskey in the bar

As I was crossing over the Mulberry Mountain
I met with Col. Pepper whose money he was countin’
It’s first I drew my pistol, my broadsword and rapier
Saying, “stand and deliver, for I am your deciever”

Mush a ring a ding a da, ri too ral la
Ri too ral laddo O, there’s whiskey in the bar

I picked up the money it was a pretty penny
I took it home to Molly, for she had not away
I took it home to Molly, she swore she’d ne’er decieve me
But the devil’s in the women for they never can be easy

Mush a ring a ding a da, ri too ral la
Ri too ral laddo O, there’s whiskey in the bar

I being wet and weary and for to take a slumber
I laid myself down all in my Molly’s chamber
She unloaded my pistols and loaded them with water
I was taken like a lamb going to the slaughter

Mush a ring a ding a da, ri too ral la
Ri too ral laddo O, there’s whiskey in the bar

Early in the morning between six and seven
The strong guards surrounded me, likewise Capt. Nevin
I flew to my pistols but I found I was mistaken
When I fired off the water, I was a prisoner taken

Mush a ring a ding a da, ri too ral la
Ri too ral laddo O, there’s whiskey in the bar

I stood in the hall while the turnkeys were rolling
I stood in the hall while the names they were calling
I drew up my metal bolts and knocked the sentry down
And made good my way out of Melbrow town

Mush a ring a ding a da, ri too ral la
Ri too ral laddo O, there’s whiskey in the bar

I have got two brothers and they are in the army
The one is in Cork and the other in Kilkenny
If I had them ‘ere tonight, I would be brisk and jolly
I would rather have ‘em ‘ere than you, decietful Molly

Mush a ring a ding a da, ri too ral la
Ri too ral laddo O, there’s whiskey in the bar

Some take great delight in their fishing and their fowling
And others take delight in their carriage rolling
But I take great delight in being brisk and jolly
Filling up strong liquors for you, decietful Molly

Mush a ring a ding a da, ri too ral la
Ri too ral laddo O, there’s whiskey in the bar

From the singing of Mrs. Allie Long Parker, Eureka Springs, Arkansas on April 14, 1958 (MFH #568)

One morning very early
Just as the day was dawning
I saw the Captain setting
And a countin’ out his money
With a ringle, jingle, ling

I robbed him of his money
Which was ten-thousand dollars
I put it in my pocket
An’ I took it home to Molly
With a ringle, jingle, ling

They put me to rest
Way up in Molly’s chamber
They took my pistol from me
And they folled ’em up with water
With a ringle, jingle, ling

I went to fire my pistols
I found they was mistaken
A company surrounded me
A prisoner I was taken
With a ringle, jingle, ling

She swore by her life
She never would deceive me
The devil take the women
For their tongues are never easy
With a ringle, jingle, ling

I have two brothers
Enlisted in the army
One of them’s in jail
And the others in Care-line-y
With a ringle, jingle, ling

Their way off down yonder
And you are here close by me
I’d drather be with them tonight
Than you my sportin’ Molly
With a ringle, jingle, ling

A Civil War-era patriotic rewrite by Irish volunteers. Sourced from this broadside.

I am a modern hairo: my name is Patrick Kearney
Not long ago, I landed from the bogs of sweet Killarney
I used to cry out: Soap fat! bekase that was my trade, sir,
Till I ‘listed for a Soger-boy wid Corcoran’s brigade, sir

For to fight for Uncle Sam
He’ll lade us to glory, O!
He’ll lade us to glory, O!
To save the Stripes and Stars

Ora, once in regimentals, my mind it did bewildher
I bid goodbye to Biddy dear, and all the darling childher
Whoo! Says I, the Irish Volunteers the divil a one afraid is
Bekase we’ve got the soger bould, McClellan, for to lade us

For to fight for Uncle Sam
He’ll lade us to glory, O!
He’ll lade us to glory, O!
To save the Stripes and Stars

We soon got into battle: we made a charge of bay’nets
The Rebel blaggards soon gave way: they fell as thick as paynuts
Och hone! The slaughter that we made, bedad, it was delighting!
For the Irish lads in action are the divil’s boys for fighting

For to fight for Uncle Sam
He’ll lade us to glory, O!
He’ll lade us to glory, O!
To save the Stripes and Stars

Och, sure, we never will give in, in any sort of manner
Until the South comes back again, beneath the Starry Banner
And if John Bull should interfere, he’d suffer for it truly
For soon the Irish Volunteers would give him Ballyhooly

For to fight for Uncle Sam
He’ll lade us to glory, O!
He’ll lade us to glory, O!
To save the Stripes and Stars

And now before I end my song, this free advice I’ll tender
We soon will use the Rebels up and make them all surrender
And once again, the Stars and Strips will to the breeze be swellin’
If Uncle Abe will give us back our darling boy McClellan

For to fight for Uncle Sam
He’ll lade us to glory, O!
He’ll lade us to glory, O!
To save the Stripes and Stars