JOHNNY I HARDLY KNEW YE
(Traditional - Irish)
Recorded by: Mary Black, Da Danaan; Paddy Schmidt.


While going the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
While going the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
While going 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 queer
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

It grieved my heart to see you sail, hurroo, hurroo
It grieved my heart to see you sail, hurroo, hurroo
It grieved my heart to see you sail
Though from my heart you took leg-bail 
Like a cod you're doubled-up head and tail 
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 queer
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

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 (**sometimes sung as 'Ceylon),
So low in flesh, so high in bone
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye

But sad as it is to see you so, hurroo, hurroo 
But sad as it is to see you so, hurroo, hurroo 
But sad as it is to see you so, 
And I think of you now as an object of woe 
Your Peggy'll still keep ye on as her beau, 
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 never slew ye
Oh my darling dear, ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye.