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 mountainsI 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 |
|---|---|
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whiskey /ˈwɪski/ A2 |
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jar /dʒɑːr/ A1 |
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captain /ˈkæptɪn/ A2 |
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farrell /ˈfærəl/ A2 |
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money /ˈmʌni/ A1 |
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pistol /ˈpɪstəl/ B2 |
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rapier /rəˈpɪər/ C1 |
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devil /ˈdɛvəl/ A2 |
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molly /ˈmɒli/ A2 |
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prison /ˈprɪzən/ B1 |
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barrel /ˈbærəl/ B1 |
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cannon /ˈkænən/ B2 |
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chain /tʃeɪn/ B1 |
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mountain /ˈmaʊntən/ A2 |
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danger /ˈdeɪndʒər/ B1 |
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shoot /ʃuːt/ A2 |
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jump /dʒʌmp/ A1 |
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fire /ˈfaɪər/ A2 |
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“whiskey, jar, captain” – got them all figured out?
⚡ Dive into vocabulary challenges in the app and lock in your knowledge right after jamming to "Whiskey In The Jar"
Key Grammar Structures
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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'.
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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.
