10 Best Irish Funeral Songs and Hymns

Of all the money that e'er I had
I spent it in good company
And all the harm I've ever done
Alas, it was to none but me
And all I've done for want of wit
To memory now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

Oh, all the comrades that e'er I had
They're sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
They'd wish me one more day to stay
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and I'll softly call
Good night and joy be with you all

A man may drink and not be drunk
A man may fight and not be slain
A man may court a pretty girl
And perhaps be welcomed back again
But since it has so ordered been
By a time to rise and a time to fall
Come fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

I wish I was in Carrickfergus
Only for nights in Ballygran
I would swim over the deepest ocean
The deepest ocean for my love to find

But the sea is wide, and I cannot swim over
And neither have I wings to fly
I wish I had a handsome boatman
To ferry me over, my love and I

My childhood days bring back sad reflections
Of happy times I spent so long ago
My boyhood friends and my own relations
Have all passed on now like the melting snow

But I'll spend my days in endless roving
Soft is the grass and shore my bed
My eyes are dimmed, my dark hair is turning
To silver threads upon my head

I'll spend my days in endless roving
Soft is the grass and shore my bed
My eyes are dimmed, my dark hair is turning
To silver threads upon my head

I wish I was in Carrickfergus
Only for nights in Ballygran
I would swim over the deepest ocean
The deepest ocean for my love to find

By a lonely prison wall
I heard a young girl calling
"Michael, they have taken you away
For you stole Trevelyan's corn
So the young might see the morn
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay"

Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry

By a lonely prison wall
I heard a young man calling
"Nothing matters, Mary, when you're free
Against the famine and the crown
I rebelled, they cut me down
Now you must raise our child with dignity"

Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry

By a lonely harbor wall
She watched the last star falling
As that prison ship sailed out against the sky
Sure she'll wait and hope and pray
For her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry

Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry

As I was going over the Cork and Kerry mountains
I saw Captain Farrell and his money, he was counting
I first produced my pistol and then produced my rapier
I said, "Stand and deliver or the devil he may take ya"

Musha ring dum a doo dum a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar-o

I took all of his money and it was a pretty penny
I took all of his money and I brought it home to Molly
She swore that she'd love me, never would she leave me
But the devil take that woman, yeah, for you know she tricked me easy

Musha ring dum a doo dum a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar-o

Being drunk and weary, I went to Molly's chamber
Takin' my Molly with me, but I never knew the danger
For about six or maybe seven, yeah, in walked Captain Farrell
I jumped up, fired off my pistols and I shot him with both barrels

Musha ring dum a doo dum a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar-o

Now some men like a fishin' and some men like the fowlin'
And some men like to hear, to hear the cannonball a-roarin'
Me, I like sleepin', specially in my Molly's chamber
But here I am in prison, here I am with a ball and chain, yeah

Musha ring dum a doo dum a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar-o

In Dublin's fair city, where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheeled her wheelbarrow through streets broad and narrow
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!"

Alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!"

She was a fishmonger, but sure 'twas no wonder
For so were her father and mother before
And they each wheeled their barrow through streets broad and narrow
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!"

Alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!"

She died of a fever and no one could save her
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone
But her ghost wheels her barrow through streets broad and narrow
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!"

Alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!"

I've been a wild rover for many a year
And I spent all my money on whiskey and beer
And now I'm returning with gold in great store
And I never will play the wild rover no more

And it's no, nay, never
No, nay, never, no more
Will I play the wild rover
No, never, no more

I went into an alehouse I used to frequent
And I told the landlady my money was spent
I asked her for credit, she answered me, "Nay
Such a custom as yours, I can have any day"

And it's no, nay, never
No, nay, never, no more
Will I play the wild rover
No, never, no more

I took from my pocket ten sovereigns bright
And the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight
She said, "I have whiskey and wines of the best
And the words that you told me were only in jest"

And it's no, nay, never
No, nay, never, no more
Will I play the wild rover
No, never, no more

I'll go home to my parents, confess what I've done
And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son
And if they caress me as oft times before
Then I never will play the wild rover no more

And it's no, nay, never
No, nay, never, no more
Will I play the wild rover
No, never, no more

As down the glen one Easter morn
To a city fair rode I
There armed lines of marching men
In squadrons passed me by
No fife did hum, no battle drum
Did sound its loud tattoo
But the Angelus bell o'er the Liffey's swell
Rang out through the foggy dew

Right proudly high over Dublin town
They hung out the flag of war
'Twas better to die 'neath an Irish sky
Than at Sulva or Sud El Bar
And from the plains of Royal Meath
Strong men came hurrying through
While Britannia's Huns with their long-range guns
Sailed in through the foggy dew

'Twas England bade our wild geese go
That small nations might be free
But their lonely graves are by Suvla's waves
Or the shore of the Great North Sea
Oh, had they died by Pearse's side
Or fought with Cathal Brugha
Their names we will keep where the fenians sleep
'Neath the shroud of the foggy dew

But the bravest fell, and the solemn bell
Rang mournfully and clear
For those who died that Eastertide
In the springing of the year
And the world did gaze, in deep amaze
At those fearless men, but few
Who bore the fight that freedom's light
Might shine through the foggy dew

In the merry month of June, from me home I started
Left the girls of Tuam, so sad and broken-hearted
Saluted Father dear, kissed me darlin' mother
Drank a pint of beer, me grief and tears to smother
Then off to reap the corn, leave where I was born
Cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghosts and goblins
Bought a pair of brogues rattlin' o'er the bogs
Frightened all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin

One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road
All the way to Dublin, whack-fol-lol-de-ra

In Mullingar that night, I rested limbs so weary
Started by daylight, me spirits bright and airy
Took a drop of the pure to keep me heart from sinkin'
That's the Paddy's cure, whenever he's on for drinkin'
See the lassies smile, laughin' all the while
At me curious style, 'twould set your heart a-bubblin'
Asked if I was hired, wages I required
'Til I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin

One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road
All the way to Dublin, whack-fol-lol-de-ra

In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity
To be so soon deprived of a view of that fine city
Then I took a stroll, all among the quality
Me bundle it was stole in a neat locality
Something crossed me mind, when I looked behind
No bundle could I find upon me stick a-wobblin'
Enquirin' for the rogue, they said me Connaught brogue
Wasn't much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin

One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road
All the way to Dublin, whack-fol-lol-de-ra

From there, I got away, me spirits never failing
Landed on the quay just as the ship was sailing
Captain at me roared, said that no room had he
When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy
Down among the pigs, I played some funny rigs
Danced some hearty jigs, the water 'round me bubblin'
When off Holyhead, wished meself was dead
Or better far instead on the rocky road to Dublin

One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road
All the way to Dublin, whack-fol-lol-de-ra

The

Well, I took a stroll on the old long walk
Of a day -I-ay-I-ay
I met a little girl and we stopped to talk
Of a fine soft day -I-ay-I-ay
And I ask you, friend, what's a fella to do
'Cause her hair was black and her eyes were blue
And I knew right then I'd be takin' a whirl
'Round the Salthill Prom with a Galway girl

We were halfway there when the rain came down
Of a day -I-ay-I-ay
And she asked me up to her flat downtown
Of a fine soft day -I-ay-I-ay
And I ask you, friend, what's a fella to do
'Cause her hair was black and her eyes were blue
So I took her hand and I gave her a twirl
And I lost my heart to a Galway girl

When I woke up, I was all alone
With a broken heart and a ticket home
And I ask you now, tell me what would you do
If her hair was black and her eyes were blue
I've traveled around, I've been all over this world
Boys, I ain't never seen nothin' like a Galway girl

Hey!

(Outro)
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