Whiskey in the Gravel bank

“ Whiskey in the Jar ” is famous a traditional song Irish. She speaks about a and highwayman officiating in the mountains of told Cork Kerry who is misled by that he likes. It is about the Irish song most played in the world. Groups such as The Dubliners, The Pogues and Peter, Paul and Mary, inter alia, recorded it on one their albums. This song was also rewritten in a version rock'n'roll by the Irish group Thin Lizzy, which version was then taken again by U2, Pulp and Metallica.

History of the song

The exact origins of this song remain unknown, but the mention of a Rapière indicates that the words date at least from the end of the XVIIIe century. In at least a version, the rapière is replaced by a Saber. It should be noted also that the term rapier can also be a deformation of rapaire (which is a kind of spade, in Irish Gaelic) and the highwayman (highwayman) would be then a rapparee , kind of Irish irregular soldier of XVIIe and XVIIIe centuries.

In its book The Folk Songs off North America , Alan Lomax suggests that the song dates from the XVIIe century, being based on the similarities between “Whiskey in the Jar” and the “Opera of gueux” of John Gay, which goes back to 1728. Lomax further pushes its suggestion while affirming than the opera of John Gay is inspired in fact by “Whiskey in the Jar”, which would reflect a great popularity of the latter in the Celtic world of the time. According to Lomax, " The folk off seventeenth century Britain liked and admired to their local highwaymen; and in Ireland (gold Scotland) where the gentlemen off the roads robbed English landlords, they were regarded national ace patriots. Such feelings inspired this rollicking ballad." ( the folklore of the XVIIème century, the British loves and admires their highwaymen buildings; and in Ireland (or in Scotland) where the gentilhommes of the roads steal the English lords, they are seen like patriots. It is this type of feelings which inspired this trotts exhubérante ). This assertion puts ahead the fact that “Whiskey in the Jar” takes again a topic in Robin of Wood, put aside that the gangster of the song does not redistribute his spoils with the poor.

The song was also extremely appreciated at the time of America Coloniale, for its disrespectful attitude towards the British officers. Certain American versions put besides in scene of the character American, like that of Massachusetts, which deals with American soldier of Irish origin, Alan McCollister, condemned to died to have détroussé an English officer.

Told history

“Whiskey in the Jar” is tale of a highwayman which, after having stolen a military or governmental officer corrupted ( for you are has bold deceiver ), is misled by a fore-mentioned woman Jenny or Molly; whose statute of woman or beloved of the protagonist is not clear. Several versions of the song take seat with Kerry, Kilmagenny, Cork, Gilgarra Mountain, Sligo or in other localities of Ireland. Usually, the narrator of the song does not name himself, thus leaving the privilege be personified alone to the Anglo-Irish officer (Captain Farrel/Colonel Pepper) and to woman having misled the gangster (Jenny/Molly). Besides none of these two characters help to date the song. In certain versions, the narrator remains imprisoned for his crime while in other he escapes and flees to continue his love of the beautiful life .

External bonds

Partition for guitar of “Whiskey in the Gravel bank”

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