{title: Whiskey in the Jar}
{artist: Traditional Irish}
{key: G}
{tempo: 130}
{difficulty: intermediate}
{tags: shanty, forecastle, irish, traditional}
{video: youtube:L__TrWhq4Uk}
{credit: The Dubliners - 'Whiskey in the Jar' (from The Best of The Dubliners, 1968). Traditional Irish ballad (PD composition).}

{c: Traditional Irish ballad, public domain. The version most folk singers know is the Dubliners / Thin Lizzy arrangement.}
{c: Technically not a sea shanty (it's about a highwayman) but the maritime tradition absorbed it whole — every shanty band sings it.}

{c: Verse 1}
As [G]I was goin' over the [Em]far-famed Kerry mountains
I [C]met with Captain Farrell and his [G]money he was countin'
I [G]first produced my pistol, and I [Em]then produced my rapier
Sayin' [C]"Stand and deliver, for [G]you are the bold deceiver"

{c: Chorus}
Mush-a [D]ring dum-a do dum-a [C]da
[G]Whack for my [D]daddy-o
[G]Whack for my [D]daddy-o
There's [C]whiskey [D]in the [G]jar

{c: Verse 2}
I [G]counted out his money, and it [Em]made a pretty penny
I [C]put it in my pocket and I [G]took it home to Jenny
She [G]sighed and she swore that she [Em]never would deceive me
But the [C]devil take the women, for they [G]never can be easy

{c: Chorus}

{c: Verse 3}
I [G]went into me chamber, all for [Em]to take a slumber
I [C]dreamt of gold and jewels, and [G]sure 'twas no wonder
But [G]Jenny drew me charges, and she [Em]filled them up with water
And [C]sent for Captain Farrell to be [G]ready for the slaughter

{c: Chorus}

{c: Verse 4}
'Twas [G]early in the mornin' before [Em]I rose to travel
The [C]guards were all around me, and [G]likewise Captain Farrell
I [G]first produced me pistol for she'd [Em]stolen away me rapier
But I [C]couldn't shoot the water, so a [G]prisoner I was taken

{c: Chorus}

{c: Verse 5 (optional — many versions skip ahead to this)}
Now [G]some men take delight in the [Em]drinkin' and the gamblin'
But [C]I take delight in the [G]juice of the barley
And [G]courtin' pretty maids in the [Em]mornin' so early
But [C]me heart it is forever with my [G]own true loving lass

{c: Final chorus, big}

{c: PRACTICE NOTES}
{c: This song moves between G major and Em (relative minor) — that's where its haunting feel comes from.}
{c: Strum: classic boom-chuck, medium-fast tempo. Don't rush the chorus — the "Mush-a-ring..." line is the hook the crowd waits for.}
{c: For mandolin: chop on 2 and 4. Tremolo on the long final chord of each chorus.}
{c: Excellent practice for the Em-G transition.}