Whiskey in the Jar – English Lyrics

• By: Metallica

Lyrics & Translation

Exploring 'Whiskey in the Jar' is a fantastic way to understand the evolution of traditional folk language into modern rock. Listeners can learn colloquial storytelling techniques and the structure of traditional ballads while enjoying a masterclass in heavy metal arrangement.

[English]

[cheering]

>> So, uh

There's a certain song that we have to

play or else we don't get out of this

town alive. All right?

>> [music]

>> Is that it?

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

>> That's not it.

>> [cheering]

>> It's uh It says a different song right

here.

I hope they like this one. I don't know.

It's pretty good.

It's a pretty good song. Let's go.

>> [cheering]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

>> I took [music] all

of

I took all his

>> [music]

>> And I brought him home

>> [music]

>> She swore

more than she loved me.

>> [music]

>> Never

would she leave me.

If the devil

take that woman.

Yeah, you know she tricked me.

>> [music]

>> Good

as gold.

Now I'll give him the devil.

Black ball [music] and

Black ball and

>> [music]

>> Whiskey in the jar-o.

And they stopped

>> [music]

>> the singing.

>> [music]

[music]

>> Being drunk

and with fury.

>> [music]

>> Went to

Molly's chambers.

>> [music]

>> Taking her

money with her.

But I never

knew

>> [music]

>> the dangers.

For out of

six maybe seven.

Ooh yeah, IT WAS BACK

>> [music]

>> TO ME.

I jumped up by my pistols.

And I shot her up with

>> [music]

>> four barrels.

>> [music]

>> Black ball and

Whiskey [music] in the jar-o.

Beautiful.

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

>> YOU STILL ALIVE?

>> [music]

[singing]

>> I [music] LOVE TO HEAR DUBLIN SO LOUD.

>> [music]

[music]

>> WELL, here I am in prison.

>> [music]

[music]

>> Whiskey in the jar.

Beautiful. [music]

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

>> All you beautiful people, thank you.

Thank you for that song, by the way.

And thank you for

We miss you.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Whiskey /ˈwɪski/ B2	noun - A strong alcoholic spirit distilled from malted grain.
Jar /dʒɑːr/ A2	noun - A cylindrical container made of glass or clay.
Devil /ˈdɛvəl/ B1	noun - A supernatural being typically associated with evil.
Fury /ˈfjʊəri/ C1	noun - Wild or violent anger.
Chamber /ˈtʃeɪmbər/ B2	noun - A private room, especially a bedroom.
Danger /ˈdeɪndʒər/ A2	noun - The possibility of suffering harm or injury.
Pistol /ˈpɪstəl/ B2	noun - A small firearm designed to be held in one hand.
Barrel /ˈbærəl/ B2	noun - The long metal tube of a gun.
Prison /ˈprɪzən/ A2	noun - A building where people are legally held as a punishment.
Drunk /drʌŋk/ A2	adjective - Affected by alcohol to the extent of losing control.
Swore /swɔːr/ B1	verb - To make a solemn statement or promise.
Trick /trɪk/ A2	verb - To deceive or outwit someone.
Alive /əˈlaɪv/ A2	adjective - Living, not dead.
Beautiful /ˈbjuːtɪfəl/ A1	adjective - Pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically.
Loud /laʊd/ A2	adjective - Producing or capable of producing much noise.

Key Grammar Structures

• There's a certain song that we have to play or else we don't get out of this town alive.

  ➔ Relative clauses with 'that' and conditional structure

  ➔ The structure 'or else' acts as a conditional, implying: if we don't play it, we won't survive.

• She swore more than she loved me.

  ➔ Comparative structure (more than)

  ➔ Used to compare the intensity of two actions: 'swearing' vs 'loving'.

• Never would she leave me.

  ➔ Negative inversion for emphasis

  ➔ The subject and auxiliary verb are inverted after 'Never' to strongly emphasize the impossibility.

• If the devil take that woman.

  ➔ Subjunctive mood

  ➔ The use of 'take' instead of 'takes' indicates a wish or curse (archaic/literary form).

• Now I'll give him the devil.

  ➔ Idiomatic expression (future tense)

  ➔ To 'give someone the devil' means to punish, scold, or cause someone trouble.

• I jumped up by my pistols.

  ➔ Prepositional usage in action

  ➔ Using 'by' to denote the means or the association with an object while performing the action.

• I shot her up with four barrels.

  ➔ Phrasal verb (shot up) + Prepositional phrase

  ➔ 'Shot up' implies shooting someone aggressively or multiple times.

• I love to hear Dublin so loud.

  ➔ Infinitive as direct object + Adverb of degree

  ➔ 'To hear' is the infinitive acting as the object of 'love'; 'so' modifies the adjective 'loud'.