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 tear in me eye
A doleful damsel I heard cry,
Johnny I hardly knew ye
With your drums and guns and drums and guns (x3)
The enemy nearly slew ye
Oh my darling dear, ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye
Where are your eyes that looked so mild (x3)
When my heart you so beguiled
Why did ye skeddadle from me and the child,
Johnny, I hardly knew ye
Where are your legs that used to run (x3)
When you went for to carry a gun
Indeed your dancing days are done,
Johnny, I hardly knew ye
Ye haven’t an arm, ye haven’t a leg (x3)
Ye’re an armless, boneless, chickenless egg
Ye’ll have to put with a bowl out to beg
Johnny I hardly knew ye
I’m happy for to see ye home (x3)
All from the island of Sulloon
So low in flesh, so high in bone
Johnny I hardly knew ye
But sad it is to see you so (x3)
And to think of you now as an object of woe
Your Peggy will still keep you on as her beau
Johnny I hardly knew ye
They’re rolling out the guns again (x3)
To fight the wars in France and Spain
But they never will take our sons again
Johnny I’m swearing to ye