Karan Casey - Johnny I hardly knew ye

Beautiful old irish tune......listen and enjoy it ^^

Credits:Traditional; arranged by Karan Casey, Donald Shaw & Niall Vallely

Lyrics: While goin' the road to sweet Athy
Hurroo hurroo
While goin' the road to sweet Athy
Hurroo hurroo
Goin' the road to sweet Athy
A stick in me hand, 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 drums and guns and drums and guns
The enemy nearly slew ye
My darling dear, you 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 you run from me and the child?
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 the gun?
Indeed, your dancing days are done
Johnny, I hardly knew ye

You haven't an arm, you haven't a leg
Hurroo hurroo
You haven't an arm, you haven't a leg
Hurroo hurroo
You haven't an arm, you haven't a leg
You're an armless, boneless, chickenless egg
You'll have to put a bowl out to beg
Johnny, I hardly knew ye

I'm happy for to see you home
Hurroo hurroo
I'm happy for to see you home
Hurroo hurroo
I'm happy for to see you home
All from the island of Ceylon
So low in flesh, so high in bone
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 drums and guns and drums and guns
The enemy nearly slew ye
My darling dear, you look so queer
Johnny, I hardly knew ye

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Karan Casey
• Johnny I hardly knew ye
• against war
• celtic woman

[TheCaerry]

karan`s voice is made out of wind, love and sun

<3 <3 <3

[Nogan]

Very touching, forwards some of the horror that the families of those going to war must have experienced - not to mention the sorrow and pity. It's a really good song.

[NBS1985]

@LifesTooShort52 This song dates from the 1820's whereas "Johnny Comes Marching Home" is from 1863 according to Wiki and they do share basic melodic material.

"The Ants Go Marching One By One" and "The Animals Went in Two by Two" both uses the tune

[LifesTooShort52]

Anybody else notice that it has the same basic tune as 'The Ants Go Marching In'? I'm sensing a connection... Maybe it's just me.

[inthephone1]

@einstein1984

This isn't a patriotic song, it's an anti-war song, It's about an Irishman fought for the East Indian company in (what is now) Sri Lanka, not his homeland. And it's from the perspective of a passerby meeting the soldier's wife, so it makes just as much sense for it to be sung by a woman.

[newsatone]

@einstein1984 In a perfect world there would be no need of war or force of will. However Karen Casey is not singing a salute to war here, she is telling of the after effects of war on those who make it home and more often than not it is the women eg. mothers, wives, sisters and daughters that are left to deal with this. To that end I think Karen Caseys tone voice and tone relay that very nicely. Good wishes. : )

[MISFORWHAT]

@MISFORWHAT war*

[MISFORWHAT]

@einstein1984 Was isn't for anyone?

[einstein1984]

@newsatone Patriotic song like this one always sound betterin a man's voice. War is not for women.

[catholicrik]

2 people dislike this ? Well i spose there is no accounting for taste!

[jaschanana]

@Princeofdeadleaves hehe

[ObeyPostulio]

such sadness an misery within the voice yet its beauty is truly astounding