“Rocky Road To Dublin”
This tune is a slip-jig (9/8) with the exception of the line “on the rocky road to Dublin” occurring near the end of each verse. This one-measure line is in 12/8 so bear that in mind when trying to play along with a recording (or percussionist).
The C-chords in parentheses are optional but add a certain pizzazz, in my opinion. The chords in parentheses located above the “one, two, three, four, five” are normally not played to add emphasis to the hook line but I added them for reference.
Also, the A-chord can be replaced with a D-chord if the player feels that three chords is excessive.
To my ears, it sounds better to slack tune the guitar a whole-step and use the Em fingering in stead of Dm, D in stead C, and Bm in stead of Am.
One last thing: You’re playing it too slow.
Dm (C) Dm
In the merry month of May from my home I started,
Dm (C) Dm C
Left the girls of Tuam-nearly broken-hearted,
Dm (C) Dm
Saluted Father dear, kissed my darlin' Mother,
Dm (C) Dm C
Drank a pint of beer my grief and tears to smother,
Dm C Dm C
Then off to reap the corn, and leave where I was born,
Dm C C
I cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghost and goblin,
Dm C Dm C
In a brand-new pair of brogues I rattled o'er the bogs,
Dm C C
And frightened all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin.
(A) (C) (Dm)
One, two, three, four five
Chorus:
Dm
hunt the hare and turn her, Down the rocky road
C Am C Dm
and all the ways to Dublin, Whack fol-lol-de-ra.
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/t/traditional/rocky_road_to_dublin_crd.html ]
Dm (C) Dm
In Mullingar that night I rested limbs so weary,
Dm (C) Dm C
Started by daylight next morning light and airy,
Dm (C) Dm
Took a drop of the pure, to keep my heart from sinking,
Dm (C) Dm C
That's an Paddy’d cure, whene'er he's on for drinking,
Dm C Dm C
To see the lasses smile, laughing all the while,
Dm C C
At me curious style, 'twould set your heart a-bubbling,
Dm C Dm C
They ax'd if I was hired, the wages I required,
Dm C C
Till I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin.
(A) (C) (Dm)
One, two, three, four five
Chorus
Dm (C) Dm
In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity,
Dm (C) Dm C
To be so soon deprived a view of that fine city,
Dm (C) Dm
Then I took a stroll out among the quality,
Dm (C) Dm C
My bundle it was stole in a neat locality;
Dm C Dm C
Something crossed me mind, then I looked behind,
Dm C C
No bundle could I find upon me stick a-wobblin',
Dm C Dm C
Enquiring for the rogue, they said me Connaught brogue,
Dm C C
Wasn't much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin.
(A) (C) (Dm)
One, two, three, four five
Chorus
Dm (C) Dm
From there I got away me spirits never failing,
Dm (C) Dm C
Landed on the quay as the ship was sailing,
Dm (C) Dm
Captain at me roared, said that no room had he,
Dm (C) Dm C
When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy,
Dm C Dm C
Down among the pigs, I played some funny rigs,
Dm C C
Danced some hearty jigs, the water round me bubblin',
Dm C Dm C
When off to Holyhead I wished meself was dead,
Dm C C
Or better far, instead, on the rocky road to Dublin.
(A) (C) (Dm)
One, two, three, four five
Chorus
Dm (C) Dm
The boys of Liverpool, when we safely landed,
Dm (C) Dm C
Called meself a fool, I could no longer stand it;
Dm (C) Dm
Me blood began to boil, temper I was losin',
Dm (C) Dm C
Poor old Erin's isle they began abusin',
Dm C Dm C
"Hurrah my soul!" says I, let my shillelagh fly,
Dm C C
Some Galway boys came by, saw I was a hobblein’,
Dm C Dm C
Then with a loud Hurray, they joined in the affray,
Dm C C
We quickly cleared the way, for the rocky road to Dublin.
(A) (C) (Dm)
One, two, three, four five
Chorus
