Category: How to Play

Arrangement courtesy of C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, intended for playing on American Canjo Company™ brand one-string canjos with dulcimer-style fretting, with fret numberings as shown below. The open unfretted string is notated as “0″.

Whiskey in the Jar

0  2  4 4   4 5   4 2  4   5    5   5  7  5    2
A-a-s I was going over the Cork and Kerry Mountains,
4 5   5    5   7   8  8    8   5   4  4  8  4   5   4
I met with Captain Farrell and his money he was countin'.
2 4     4   4    5  4  2   2   4 5    5  5     7  5 2
I first produced my pistol and I then produced me rapier,
2 4    5     5   7 8 8   7   5   4   4 8    4 5  4
Sayin' stand and deliver for you are a bold deceiver.

Chorus
2 2   1    1   1  1   1   2  3   2     2   1   2 3   4
Rasha-ring and um dur and um da, whack for the daddy-o
5    5    4   5 7   8 5       4   2   1  2   0
Whack for the daddy-o there's whiskey in the jar.

Additional Verses

Well I counted out his money and it made a pretty penny,
I put it in my pockets and I took it home to Jenny.
She sighed and she swore that she never would betray me,
But the devil take the women, for they never can be easy.

Chorus

I went unto my chamber, all for to take a slumber
I dreamed of gold and jewels, and for sure it was no wonder.
But Jenny took me charges and she filled them up with water,
And sent for Captain Farrell to be ready for the slaughter.

Chorus

It was early in the morning, just before I rose to travel,
up stepped a band of footmen, and likewise Captain Farrell.
I first produced me pistols for she'd stolen away me rapier,
but I couldn't shoot the water, so a prisoner I was taken.

Chorus

They put me into prison without a judge or jury,
For robbin' Captain Farrell in the mornin' so early.
But they couldn't take my fists, so I knocked down the sentry,
And bid a fond farewell t that cold penitentiary.

Chorus

If there's anyone can aid me, it's me brother in the army,
If I can find his station in Cork or in Kilarney.
And if he'll go with me, we'll go rollin' in Kilkenney,
And I'm sure he'll treat me better than me old miss sportin' Jenny.

Chorus

Now there's some take delight in the carriages a' rollin'
And others take delight in the hurlin' and the bowlin'.
But I take delight in the juice of the barley,
And courtin' pretty fair maids in the mornin' so early.

Chorus

To learn more about this traditional Irish song, check out this Wikipedia article.