Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye” is a popular Irish traditional anti-war and anti-recruiting song.
It is the basis for the American popular song “When Johnny Comes Marching Home“, as
Patrick Gilmore announced to the public that he had taken the tune for “When Johnny
Comes Marching Home” from “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye” in 1883. Although no
published version is known to pre-date the 1863 “When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Again”, the Irish song is generally dated to the early 19th century, when Irish troops
served the British East India Company. The original refers to the soldiers from Athy,
County Kildare that fought in “Sulloon” (Ceylon – now Sri Lanka) for the East India
Company. It has become a definitive anti-war song.
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 drop in me eye,
A doleful damsel I heard cry,
Johnny I hardly knew ye.
(Chorus):
With your guns and drums and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your guns and drums and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your guns and drums and drums and guns,
The enemy nearly slew ye
Oh my darling dear, Ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye.
Where are the eyes that looked so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild,
When my poor heart you first beguiled
Why did ye skidaddle from me and the child
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye
(Chorus)
Where are the legs with which you run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are the legs with which you run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are the legs with which you run,
When first you went for to carry a gun
Indeed your dancing days are done
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye
(Chorus)
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 and 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
(Chorus)
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 Saloam;
So low in flesh, so high in bone
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye
With your guns and drums and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your guns and drums and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your guns and drums and drums and guns,
The enemy never slew ye
Oh my darling dear, Ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye.
