The Irish Rover
The Pogues feat. Joe Strummer Lyrics
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We set sail from the sweet cove 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 winds drove her
She'd stood several blasts, she had twenty-seven masts
And we called her the Irish Rover
We had one million bags of the best Sligo 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, had six million dogs
Seven million barrels of porter
We had eight million bales of old nanny goats' tails
In the hold of the Irish Rover
There was old Mickey Coote who played hard on his flute
When the ladies lined up for his set
He was tootin' with skill for each sparkling quadrille
Though the dancers were fluther'd and bet
With his sparse 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
And he sailed in the Irish Rover
There was Barney McGee from the banks of the Lee
There was Hogan from County Tyrone
There was Jimmy McGurk who was scarred stiff of work
And a man from Westmeath called Malone
There was Slugger O'Toole who was drunk as a rule
And fighting Bill Tracey from Dover
And your man Mick McCann 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 by day
'Til he launch for the shore and this charming young whore
Who will melt all his troubles away
All the noise and the rout, swillin' poitín and stout
For him soon the torment's over
Of the love of a maid, he's never afraid
An old sot from the Irish Rover
We had sailed seven years when the measles broke out
And the ship lost its way in a fog
And that whale of the crew was reduced down to two
Just meself 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
"The Irish Rover" by The Pogues & The Dubliners is a folk song that tells the story of a ship's voyage across the Atlantic from Ireland to New York. The lyrics begin with the ship setting sail from Cork with a cargo of bricks for the city hall in New York on July 4th, 1806. The ship is described as a "wonderful craft...rigged fore-and-aft," and is named the Irish Rover. The crew had a cargo that included a million bags of Sligo rags, two million barrels of stones, three million hides, four million barrels of bones, five million hogs, six million dogs, seven million barrels of porter, and eight million bales of nanny goats' tails.
The lyrics then go on to introduce the crew, including Mickey Coote, who plays the flute, Barney McGee from the banks of the Lee, and Slugger O'Toole, who was always drunk and fighting. The last verse tells about the ship's crew being reduced to only two, the singer and the captain's old dog, after sailing for seven years, and how the ship ultimately sank, leaving the singer as "the last of the Irish Rover."
Line by Line Meaning
On the fourth of July eighteen hundred and six
On July 4th, 1806
We set sail from the sweet cove of Cork
We left Cork's lovely harbor
We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks
We transported bricks from Ireland
For the grand city hall in New York
To build a magnificent New York City Hall
'Twas a wonderful craft, she was rigged fore-and-aft
The Irish Rover was a remarkable, fore-and-aft-rigged ship
And oh, how the wild winds drove her
She withstood harsh winds and rough weather
She'd stood several blasts, she had twenty-seven masts
Despite several storms, the Irish Rover's 27 masts remained standing
And we called her the Irish Rover
We affectionately named the ship 'Irish Rover'
We had one million bags of the best Sligo rags
We loaded one million bags with the finest Sligo cloth
We had two million barrels of stones
2 million barrels of stone were also carried aboard
We had three million sides of old blind horses' hides
We transported 3 million sides of horsehide from blind animals
We had four million barrels of bones
4 million barrels held bones for commercial use
We had five million hogs, had six million dogs
Five million piglets and six million dogs were loaded too
Seven million barrels of porter
In addition, the ship carried 7 million barrels of porter
We had eight million bales of old nanny goats' tails
8 million bales of goat tails from old female goats
In the hold of the Irish Rover
All of these items were stored in the ship's hold
There was old Mickey Coote who played hard on his flute
Mickey Coote was an expert flutist
When the ladies lined up for his set
Women eagerly queued to dance for Mickey's music
He was tootin' with skill for each sparkling quadrille
Mickey skillfully played rhythmically for each lively quadrille
Though the dancers were fluther'd and bet
Although the dancers were confused and clumsy
With his sparse witty talk he was cock of the walk
Mickey's dry humor commanded great respect
And he rolled the dames under and over
He led the women through complex dance steps
They all knew at a glance when he took up his stance
All women could tell when he began to play
And he sailed in the Irish Rover
Mickey's talent was free to travel aboard the Irish Rover
There was Barney McGee from the banks of the Lee
Barney McGee hailed from the Lee River's banks
There was Hogan from County Tyrone
Hogan came from the province of County Tyrone
There was Jimmy McGurk who was scarred stiff of work
Jimmy McGurk was afraid to work hard
And a man from Westmeath called Malone
There was Malone, from Westmeath region
There was Slugger O'Toole who was drunk as a rule
Slugger O'Toole of Ireland was known for his alcoholism
And fighting Bill Tracey from Dover
Bill Tracey from Dover, UK, was known for his fighting spirit
And your man Mick McCann from the banks of the Bann
Mick McCann lived close to the Bann's shores
Was the skipper of the Irish Rover
Mick McCann was the Irish Rover's captain
For a sailor it's always a bother in life
For seafarers, life is full of trouble
It's so lonesome by night and by day
It's painfully lonely, during the day or night
'Til he launch for the shore and this charming young whore
Only after bedding a prostitute the sailor's agony can dissolve
Who will melt all his troubles away
Her company will relieve him of all his worries
All the noise and the rout, swillin' poitín and stout
Excessive drinking of poitin and stout combined with loud parties
For him soon the torment's over
Drinking will get rid of his troubles for a short while
Of the love of a maid, he's never afraid
The seafarer wouldn't fear falling in love with a woman
An old sot from the Irish Rover
The sailor is an old alcoholic from the Irish Rover
We had sailed seven years when the measles broke out
Measles broke out after a seven-year-long voyage
And the ship lost its way in a fog
The Irish Rover had lost its bearings in foggy weather
And that whale of the crew was reduced down to two
The once numerous crew was reduced to only two survivors
Just meself and the captain's old dog
Only myself and the captain's old dog were left alive
Then the ship struck a rock, oh Lord what a shock
The Irish Rover met with a huge accident when it hit a rock
The bulkhead was turned right over
The bulkhead was turned upside down
Turned nine times around, and the poor old dog was drowned
The bulkhead spun around nine times and the captain's dog perished
I'm the last of the Irish Rover
The artist is the last surviving member of the Irish Rover's crew
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TRADITIONAL, J BAIRD, PD TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
KingoftheCatnap
I'll never tire of watching these two together! Thanks!
Rach McEnroe
Irish music is the best. Proud to be Irish 🇮🇪🍀
Double M aka Squishy
@Matthew Dooley oh shit i see it now haha. Stupid of me. Thanks
Matthew Dooley
@Double M aka Squishy I'm irish and fuckin proud of it (that's an ivory Coast flag btw bro )
Alicia Gabriel
Greetings from Chile
Mau Mas
🍻🥃🍷🎩🇮🇹👋🏻❤️
CAVEMAN
Don't think so, buddy.
Double M aka Squishy
People probably didnt know what a special moment that was back in the day
P.S.W
Don't think wot u think divie boy ... thats gota be the most shit house talk iv heard haha
Ben Sims
I reckon they did