Whiskey In The Jar – English Lyrics

• By: Bryan Adams
• Album: Shine A Light

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic journey with Bryan Adams's captivating rendition of "Whiskey In The Jar." This song, rooted in centuries of Irish storytelling, offers a rich exposure to idiomatic expressions and narrative structures common in English ballads. Its clear, acoustic delivery provides an excellent opportunity to focus on pronunciation and vocabulary related to folk tales and daily life, making it a unique and accessible piece for language learners.

[English]

As I was goin' over the Cork and Kerry mountains

I saw Captain Farrell and his money he was countin'

I first produced my pistol and then produced my rapier

I said stand o'er and deliver or the devil he may take ya

Musha ring dumb a do dumb 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 for you know she tricked me easy

Musha ring dumb a do dumb 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 money with me and I never knew the danger

About six or maybe seven in walked Captain Farrell

I jumped up, fired off my pistols and I shot him with both barrels

Musha ring dumb a do dumb a da

Whack for my daddy-o

Whack for my daddy-o

There's whiskey in the jar-o

Now some men like the fishin' and some men like the fowlin'

And some men like to hear the sound of a cannon ball 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

Oh, musha ring dumb a do dumb a da

Whack for my daddy-o

Whack for my daddy-o

There's whiskey in the jar-o

Musha ring dumb a do dumb a da

Whack for my daddy-o

Whack for my daddy-o

There's whiskey in the jar-o

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
whiskey /ˈwɪski/ A2	noun - a distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash
jar /dʒɑːr/ A1	noun - a cylindrical container, usually made of glass or pottery
captain /ˈkæptɪn/ A2	noun - the commander of a ship or a military unit
farrell /ˈfærəl/ A2	proper noun - a personal name (used for the character Captain Farrell)
money /ˈmʌni/ A1	noun - currency or coins used as a medium of exchange
pistol /ˈpɪstəl/ B2	noun - a small firearm designed to be held in one hand
rapier /rəˈpɪər/ C1	noun - a thin, sharply pointed sword used for thrusting
devil /ˈdɛvəl/ A2	noun - an evil spirit or a person regarded as wicked
molly /ˈmɒli/ A2	proper noun - a personal name (used for the heroine Molly)
prison /ˈprɪzən/ B1	noun - a place where people are confined as punishment for crimes
barrel /ˈbærəl/ B1	noun - a cylindrical container, typically made of wood or metal, for storing liquids
cannon /ˈkænən/ B2	noun - a large, heavy piece of artillery that fires projectiles
chain /tʃeɪn/ B1	noun - a series of linked metal rings used for fastening or restraining
mountain /ˈmaʊntən/ A2	noun - a large natural elevation of the earth's surface
danger /ˈdeɪndʒər/ B1	noun - the possibility of suffering harm or injury
shoot /ʃuːt/ A2	verb - to fire a weapon at a target
jump /dʒʌmp/ A1	verb - to push oneself off the ground by using the legs
fire /ˈfaɪər/ A2	verb - to discharge a firearm

Key Grammar Structures

• As I was goin' over the Cork and Kerry mountains

  ➔ Present continuous in the past

  ➔ The phrase 'was goin'' indicates an action that was ongoing in the past, highlighting the narrator's journey.

• I said stand o'er and deliver or the devil he may take ya

  ➔ Direct speech and conditional clause

  ➔ 'I said' introduces direct speech, and 'or the devil he may take ya' is a conditional threat.

• I took all of his money and it was a pretty penny

  ➔ Past simple and emphasis with 'it was'

  ➔ The past simple 'took' describes a completed action, and 'it was a pretty penny' emphasizes the amount of money.

• But the devil take that woman for you know she tricked me easy

  ➔ Subjunctive mood with 'the devil take'

  ➔ 'The devil take' is an archaic subjunctive expression used to express a curse or strong emotion.

• I jumped up, fired off my pistols and I shot him with both barrels

  ➔ Past simple with multiple actions

  ➔ The past simple is used to describe a sequence of completed actions: 'jumped up', 'fired off', and 'shot'.

• Here I am in prison, here I am with a ball and chain, yeah

  ➔ Present simple for current state

  ➔ The present simple 'am' is used to describe the narrator's current situation in prison.