The Irish Rover

Original lyrics

In the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and six,

We set sail from the sweet Cobh of Cork

Cork (city)

Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster...

We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks

For the grand City Hall in New York

New York

New York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

Twas a wonderful craft, she was rigged 'fore and aft

And how the wild winds drove her

She 'stood several blasts, she had twenty-seven masts

And they called her the Irish Rover

There was Barney McGee from the banks of the Lee

River Lee (Ireland)

The Lee is a river in Ireland. It rises in the Shehy Mountains on the western border of County Cork and flows eastwards through Cork City, where it splits in two for a short distance and empties into the Celtic Sea at Cork Harbour on the south coast, one of the largest natural harbours in the world...

There was Hogan from County Tyrone

County Tyrone

County Tyrone is one of the traditional counties of Ireland. It is located within the province of Ulster and is part of Northern Ireland....

There was Johnny McGurk who was scared stiff of work

And a man from Westmeath called Malone

There was Slugger O'Toole who was drunk as a rule

And fighting Bill Tracy from Dover

Dover

Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; west of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...

And your man Mick McCann, from the banks of the Bann

River Bann

The River Bann is the longest river in Northern Ireland, the total length being 80 miles . The river winds its way from the south east corner of the province to the north west coast, pausing in the middle to widen into the enormous Lough Neagh. The river has played an important part in the...

Was the skipper on the Irish Rover

We had one million bags of the best Sligo

Sligo

Sligo , is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is the second largest urban area in Connacht . It is home to the Sligo Institute of Technology and St...

 rags

We had two million barrels of stones

We had three million sides of old blind horses' hides

We had four million barrels of bones

We had five million hogs and six million dogs

And seven million barrels of porter

We had eight million bales of old nanny goats' tails

In the hold of the Irish Rover

We had sailed seven years when the measles broke out

And our ship lost her way in the fog

And the whole of the crew was reduced down to two

'Twas meself and the captain's old dog

Then the ship struck a rock; oh Lord what a shock

The bulkhead was turned right over

We turned nine times around - then the poor old dog was drowned

Now I'm the last of the Irish Rover

On the Fourth of July, eighteen hundred and six

We set sail from the sweet Cobh of Cork

We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks

For the Grand City Hall in New York

Twas a wonderful craft

She was rigged fore and aft

And oh, how the wild wind drove her

She stood several blasts

She had twenty seven masts

And they called her The Irish Rover

We had one million bags of the best Sligo rags

We had two million barrels of stone

We had three million sides of old blind horses hides

We had four million barrels of bones

We had five million hogs

And six million dogs

Seven million barrels of porter

We had eight million bails of old nanny-goats' tails

In the hold of the Irish Rover

There was awl Mickey Coote

Who played hard on his flute

When the ladies lined up for a set

He was tootin' with skill

For each sparkling quadrille

Though the dancers were fluther'd and bet

With his smart witty talk

He was cock of the walk

And he rolled the dames under and over

They all knew at a glance

When he took up his stance

That he sailed in The Irish Rover

There was Barney McGee

From the banks of the Lee

There was Hogan from County Tyrone

There was Johnny McGurk

Who was scared stiff of work

And a man from Westmeath called Malone

There was Slugger O'Toole

Who was drunk as a rule

And Fighting Bill Treacy from Dover

And your man, Mick MacCann

From the banks of the Bann

Was the skipper of the Irish Rover

For a sailor it's always a bother in life

It's so lonesome by night and day

That he longs for the shore

And a charming young whore

Who will melt all his troubles away

Oh, the noise and the rout

Swillin' poitin and stout

For him soon the torment's over

Of the love of a maid

He is never afraid

An old salt from the Irish Rover

We had sailed seven years

When the measles broke out

And the ship lost its way in the fog

And that whale of a crew

Was reduced down to two

Just myself and the Captain's old dog

Then the ship struck a rock

Oh Lord what a shock

The bulkhead was turned right over

Turned nine times around

And the poor old dog was drowned

I'm the last of The Irish Rover

Cultural impact

• In issue 26 of DC
  DC Comics
  DC Comics is one of the largest and most popular American comic book and related media companies, along with Marvel Comics. It is the publishing division of DC Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary company of Warner Bros. Entertainment...
  
  /Vertigo series Preacher when Cassidy describes his drinking buddies in New York City
  New York City
  New York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
  
  , the names are all taken from the Irish Rover.
• Russian band Aquarium issued this song with original Russian lyrics as Беспечный русский бродяга (Carefree Russian rover) on the namesake album of 2006.
• In the July/August 2006 issue of Analog Science Fiction and Fact
  Analog Science Fiction and Fact
  Analog Science Fiction and Fact is an American science fiction magazine. As of 2009, it is the longest running continually published magazine of that genre...
  
  , there is a story by Michael Flynn called Sand and Iron where all the character names appear to be taken from the Irish Rover.