Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye

from Bedlam Boys by Jim Hancock & Friends

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about

No one can convince that war is a pretty thing.
Leave it to the Irish to drive that home!

lyrics

While goin' the road to sweet Athy, ha-roo, ha-roo,
While goin' the road to sweet Athy, ha-roo, ha-roo,
While goin' the road to sweet Athy,
A stick in me hand and a tear in me eye,
A doleful damsel I heard cry, "Johnny, I hardly knew ye."

chorus
With your guns and drums and drums and guns, ha-roo, ha-roo,
With your guns and drums and drums and guns, ha-roo, ha-roo,
With your guns and drums and drums and guns,
The enemy nearly slew ye,
My darlin' dear, you look so queer, Johnny, I hardly knew ye.

Where are the eyes that looked so mild, ha-roo, ha-roo,
Where are the eyes that looked so mild, ha-roo, ha-roo,
Where are the eyes that looked so mild,
When my poor heart you first beguiled,
Why did you skedaddle from me and the child, Johnny, I hardly knew ye.

Where are the legs with which you run, ha-roo, ha-roo,
Where are the legs with which you run, ha-roo, ha-roo,
Where are the legs with which you run, when first you went to carry a gun, Indeed, your dancin' days are done, Johnny, I hardly knew ye.

For you haven't an arm and you haven't a leg, ha-roo, ha-roo,
For you haven't an arm and you haven't a leg, ha-roo, ha-roo,
For you haven't an arm and you haven't a leg,
You're an eyeless, noseless, chickenless egg,
You'd have to be put in a bowl to beg, Johnny, I hardly knew ye.

But I'm happy for to see you home, ha-roo, ha-roo,
But I'm happy for to see you home, ha-roo, ha-roo
But I'm happy for to see you home, all from the island of Ceylon,
So low in the flesh, so high in the bone, Johnny, I hardly knew ye. chorus

credits

from Bedlam Boys, released April 1, 2020
Jim Hancock - voice, guitar, acoustic bass guitar
Jim Lillquist - hammered dulcimer
Joyce Lillquist - autoharp
Malcolm Smith - violin

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Jim Hancock - The Burly Minstrel Bastrop, Texas

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