The group was created by manager Albert Grossman, who sought to create a folk "supergroup" by bringing together "a tall blonde (Travers), a funny guy (Stookey), and a good looking guy (Yarrow)." He launched the group in 1961, booking them into the Bitter End, a coffee house in New York City's Greenwich Village that was a favorite place to hear folk artists.
The group recorded their first album, Peter, Paul and Mary, the following year. It included "500 Miles," "Lemon Tree","Where Have All the Flowers Gone," and the hit Pete Seeger tune "If I Had a Hammer," ("The Hammer Song"). The album was listed on Billboard Magazine Top Ten list for ten months and in the Top One Hundred for over three years.
By 1963 they had recorded three albums; released the now-famous song "Puff the Magic Dragon", which Yarrow and fellow Cornell student Leonard Lipton originally wrote in 1959 and was on the charts in 1963; and performed "If I Had a Hammer" at the 1963 March on Washington, best remembered for Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. Their biggest single hit came with the Bob Dylan song, "Blowin' in the Wind," which was an international #1 hit. It was the fastest selling single ever cut by Warner Brothers Records. For many years after, the group was at the forefront of the civil rights movement and other causes promoting social justice. Their later hit "Leaving on a Jet Plane" was actually written by the then unknown John Denver.
The trio broke up in 1970 to pursue separate solo careers, but found little of the success they did as a group, although Stookey's "The Wedding Song (There Is Love)" (written for Yarrow's marriage to Marybeth McCarthy, the niece of senator Eugene McCarthy) was a hit and has become a wedding standard since its 1971 release.
In 1978, they reunited for a concert to protest nuclear energy, and have recorded albums together and toured since. They currently play around 25 shows a year.[1]
The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.
In 2005, Travers was diagnosed with leukemia, leading to the cancellation of the remaining tour dates for that year. She received a bone marrow transplant and She and the rest of the trio resumed their concert tour on December 9, 2005 with a holiday performance at Carnegie Hall and were scheduled for several additional concerts in 2006.Sadly she passed away in Sept 2009.
Peter, Paul and Mary received in 2006 the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievment Award from Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Gilgarra Mountain
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I spied Colonel Farrell and his money he was countin'
First I drew me pistols, and then I drew me rapier, sayin'
"Stand and deliver for I am your bold deceiver"
Mush-a-ring-um duram da
Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o
He counted out his money and it made a pretty penny
I put in me pocket to take home to darlin' Jenny
She sighed and swore she loved me
And never would deceive me
But the devil take the women for they always lie so easy
Mush-a-ring-um duram da
Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar
I went into me chamber all for to take a slumber
To dream of gold and girls and o'course it was no wonder
Me Jenny took me charges and she filled them up with water
Called on Colonel Farrell to get ready for the slaughter
Mush-a-ring-um duram da
Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar
Next mornin' early before I rose to travel
A' came a band o' footmen and likewise Colonel Farrell
I goes to draw me pistol for she'd stole away me rapier
But a prisoner I was taken, I couldn't shoot the water
Mush-a-ring-um duram da
Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar
They put me into jail with the judge all a-writin'
For robbin' Colonel Farrell on Gilgarra Mountain
But they didn't take me fists so I knocked the jailer down
And bid a farewell to this tight-fisted town
Mush-a-ring-um duram da
Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar
I'd like to find me brother, the one that's in the army
I don't know where he's stationed, in Cork or in Killarney
Together we'd go roamin'o'er the mountains of Kilkenny
And I swear he'd treat me fairer than me darlin' sportin' Jenny
Mush-a-ring-um duram da
Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar
There's some takes delight in the carriages and rollin'
And some takes delight in the hurley or the bollin'
But I takes delight in the juice of the barley
Courtin' pretty maids in the mornin' oh so early
Mush-a-ring-um duram da
Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar
The song "Gilgarra Mountain" tells the story of a highwayman who goes by the name of "your bold deceiver." As he travels over Gilgarra Mountain, he comes across Colonel Farrell, who is counting his money. The highwayman attempts to rob him, drawing both his pistols and his rapier. He demands that Colonel Farrell stand and deliver, threatening to take his money if he does not comply. The chorus of the song contains Gaelic lyrics, which roughly translate to "come, ringum-do, rarum-do, diddle-um-day." The lyrics continue, and it is revealed that the highwayman's lover, Jenny, is involved in his plan to steal the money.
The second verse describes how the highwayman takes the money home to Jenny, who assures him that she will never deceive him. However, he has a negative view of women in general, believing that they always lie easily. The third verse reveals that Jenny uses the money to buy charges and fill them up with water, which she intends to use to catch the highwayman. She betrays him and calls Colonel Farrell's men, who capture him.
The fourth verse involves the highwayman being taken to jail for robbing Colonel Farrell on Gilgarra Mountain. Although he is imprisoned, he uses his fists to knock down a jailer and escape. The final verse talks about the singer's desire to find his brother, who is in the army, so they can go roving together on the mountains of Kilkenny. The song ends with a description of the singer's love of the juice of the barley, and his enjoyment of spending time with pretty maidens in the morning.
Line by Line Meaning
As I was a goin' over Gilgarra Mountain
While traveling across the Gilgarra Mountain, I saw something surprising.
I spied Colonel Farrell and his money he was countin'
I saw Colonel Farrell counting his money.
First I drew me pistols, and then I drew me rapier, sayin'
I took out my pistols and sword, saying loudly
"Stand and deliver for I am your bold deceiver"
I demanded Colonel Farrell to hand over his money as I was a skilled liar and swindler.
He counted out his money and it made a pretty penny
Colonel Farrell counted a large sum of money which was quite impressive.
I put in me pocket to take home to darlin' Jenny
I decided to take some of that money and keep it in my pocket to bring it back home to Jenny.
She sighed and swore she loved me
Jenny sighed and promised her love for me.
And never would deceive me
She also attested never to deceive me.
But the devil take the women for they always lie so easy
However, I didn't trust her much, as women lie effortlessly and often.
I went into me chamber all for to take a slumber
I headed into my room to get some sleep.
To dream of gold and girls and o'course it was no wonder
As I slept, I naturally dreamed about gold, girls, and my present situation.
Me Jenny took me charges and she filled them up with water
Jenny took the gunpowder and replaced it with water.
Called on Colonel Farrell to get ready for the slaughter
She signaled to Colonel Farrell to prepare for the planned attack.
Next mornin' early before I rose to travel
Early next morning, before I got up to leave,
A' came a band o' footmen and likewise Colonel Farrell
Colonel Farrell arrived with a group of soldiers.
I goes to draw me pistol for she'd stole away me rapier
I reached for my pistols as Jenny took away my sword.
But a prisoner I was taken, I couldn't shoot the water
Unfortunately, I was arrested and couldn't use my pistol to shoot as it contained water instead of gunpowder.
They put me into jail with the judge all a-writin'
The authorities imprisoned me with the judge doing paperwork.
For robbin' Colonel Farrell on Gilgarra Mountain
The reason for my incarceration was robbing Colonel Farrell on Gilgarra Mountain.
But they didn't take me fists so I knocked the jailer down
Although they didn't take away my ability to use my fists, I managed to knock the jailer down.
And bid a farewell to this tight-fisted town
After freeing myself, I turned away from that stingy town.
I'd like to find me brother, the one that's in the army
I wish to find my brother, who's serving in the army.
I don't know where he's stationed, in Cork or in Killarney
I'm unaware of his whereabouts, whether in Cork or Killarney.
Together we'd go roamin'o'er the mountains of Kilkenny
If we do find him, we'll travel around the Kilkenny mountains together.
And I swear he'd treat me fairer than me darlin' sportin' Jenny
I'm confident he won't treat me worse than Jenny, that unfaithful woman.
There's some takes delight in the carriages and rollin'
Different people have different pleasures - some like riding in carriages.
And some takes delight in the hurley or the bollin'
While others might enjoy playing with a hurley or a ball.
But I takes delight in the juice of the barley
Personally, I prefer drinking a glass of barley juice.
Courtin' pretty maids in the mornin' oh so early
There's nothing like spending the morning courtship beautiful women.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARR: YARROW, TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind