Metallica - Whiskey In The Jar - Meaning of the song
Traditionally an Irish folk song, this was covered by The Dubliners in 1967 before Thin Lizzy rocked it up in 1972 for their breakthrough hit.
The song tells the story of a bandit in southwest Ireland who robs an English Army Officer to keep his girlfriend Molly happy after she promises to love him forever. She then betrays him and the young man is taken to jail.
Metallica recorded a popular cover of this song on their 1998 Garage, Inc. album - an outlier for them as they rarely mention girls in their songs. Other notable versions are by The Pogues, The Dubliners, U2, Pulp and Smokie. The lyrics of this song can vary from version to version, but most covers use the Thin Lizzy lyrics.
Although a massive first hit for Thin Lizzy, this was actually meant to be the B-side. The band recorded "Black Boys On The Corner" as the A-side and put the old traditional Irish Song "Whiskey In The Jar" on the B-side because they didn't have anything else. It was the record company that decided to make "Whiskey in the Jar" the A-side.
Whiskey In The Jar - Lyrics
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 and deliver or the devil he may take ya I took all of his money and it was a pretty penny I took all of his money yeah and I brought it home to Molly She swore that she'd love me, no never would she leave me But the devil take that woman yeah for you know she tricked me easy Musha ring dum a doo dum 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, but I never knew the danger For 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 dum a doo dum 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 ta hear, ta hear the 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 Musha ring dum a doo dum a da Whack for my daddy-o Whack for my daddy-o There's whiskey in the jar-o Whiskey in the jar-o Musha ring dum a doo dum a da Musha ring dum a doo dum a da Hey, musha ring dum a doo dum a da Musha ring dum a doo dum a da
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