Many of the most famous of the folk songs of Ireland deal with the less savory members of society. Like Robin Hood in England, these gypsies and highwaymen have become folk heroes, immortalized in song. Three of the most famous of these songs are:
- Whiskey in the Jar
- The Newry Highwayman
- The Wild Rover
Whiskey in the Jar
“Whiskey in the Jar” is easily one of the most famous folk songs of Ireland. It tells the tale of an unnamed highwayman who robs a military or government official (usually Captain Farrell, but other names are common). He brings the loot home to his sweetheart (usually Jenny, but sometimes Ginny or Molly) who betrays him to the law.
Although the exact date of its creation is unknown (its earliest printing was 1855), “Whiskey in the Jar” is easily over 300 years old. Alan Lomax, one of the most influential musicologists of the 20th Century, believed that “Whiskey in the Jar” partially inspired John Gay when he wrote “The Beggar’s Opera,’ written in 1728.
The use of the term “rapier,” a long, thin, sword used in the 16th and 17th Centuries dates the song to that era. “Rapier” could also refer to a “rapaire,” an Irish short spear used in that era by highwaymen and Jacobite sympathizers.
“Whiskey in the Jar” was also a popular tune in Colonial America due to its protagonist being an adversary of British officials. Similar to England and Ireland, Colonial Americans took pleasure in the exploits of some highwaymen, especially the ones who struck a Robin Hood-like pose by targeting wealthy land owners--something more common in song that in reality.
“Whiskey in the Jar” has been covered by such diverse musicians as:
- Jerry Garcia and David Grisman
- Thin Lizzy
- The Pogues
- Burl Ives
- Metallica
- The Limeliters
The Newry Highwayman (The Rambling Boy)
“The Newry Highwayman” is a far-traveled song that has taken on many different names over the years. The earliest printed version comes from 1830, but some versions of the song mention “Fielding’s Gang,” a reference to the Bow Street Runners-- London’s first police force, created in 1750.
“The Newry Highwayman” is about a young man from Newry, in Northern Ireland. At the age of 17 he gets married, and in order to keep his wife “both fine and gay” becomes a highwayman. He robbed his way successfully to London, where he is eventually taken and executed.
As mentioned above, “The Newry Highway” is a folk song that has taken many other names. Other names that it goes by are:
- The Rambling Boy
- Wild and Wicked Youth
- In Newry Town
- Newlyn Town
- The Flash Lad
- Adieu, Adieu
The Wild Rover
Although “The Wild Rover” is generally believed to be of Irish (or possibly Scottish) origin, this has recently come into dispute. There is German folk song with an identical tune as “The Wild Rover.” The question remains as to which came first.
Regardless of its origin, “The Wild Rover” has become an immensely popular drinking in song around the world and especially in Ireland, ironic since that it was originally written as a temperance song.
Perhaps due to its popularity as a drinking song, “The Wild Rover” has been used, modified, and parodied countless times by football and rugby clubs. Many of the lyrics are not suitable for publication here.
Some other Irish folk songs involving rogues and highwaymen include:
- The Black Velvet Band
- The Wild Colonial Boy
- The Night Before Larry was Stretched
- Reilly’s Daughter
- Rakes of Mallow
Like many cultures, the Irish have their own songs about the rogue, the tramp, those from the other side of town. And like many, the Irish are not afraid to tip a few back to salute them.
For Further Reading
Irish Songs of War and Martyrdom
Irish Songs Not From Ireland
 |
