when on the road to sweet athy ha roo, ha roo
when on the road to sweet athy ha roo, ha roo rpt when on the road to sweet athy, a stick in my hand and a drop in me eye a doleful damsel I heard cry 'johnny, I hardly knew ya'

chorus
with your guns and drums and drums and guns, ha roo, ha roo.
 rpt rpt, the enemy never slew ye, well johnny lad, ye looked so bad,, johnny I hardly knew ye
where are your eyes that looked so mild------ rpt rpt, when my dear heart ye first beguiled (joined) ye were such a happy, smilin child, johnny-----
where are the legs with which ye runned, -- ,-- rpt rpt, when first ye went to carry a gun;
 well, ye know your dancin days are done! johnny -----
ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, ha --, -- rpt rpt, your an armless, legless drunken pig, you' ll have to thrown out with the bones and rags, johnny ----
I'm happy for to see ye home rpt rpt, all from the island of ceylon so low in flesh and high of bone, johnny ------
they' re rolling out the guns again rpt rpt, but they' ll never take our sons again no, they' ll never take our sons again, johnny I promise to you
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I'm at a bit of a loss about how to start this, and keep the power of it intact---.
 this is not your song, a protest song of the folk revival movement --where I first heard the song ex the clancy brothers, or a 'peace' song of the anti-war (vietnam) movement!!! this is a service song;
 it has been, and continuew to be sung by service personnel in english speaking countries every time they are sent 'over there',
where ever it might be, on what is euphemistically called 'active service'.
 it was sung as men of the 1 bn, rar, 173rd abn bde boarded the hmas sydney, and aircraft to become the first combat troops into vietnam;
 it was sung as soldiers and sailors as they sailed off to the gulf and the falklands, and as they sailed and flew off to timor, after being beaten up and threatened by civilians.
 it has always been sung by the military long before it was sung before 'anti war' elements (a la 'boozey boys).
 and it is always sung with a bitterness that is heartbreaking, because we know, that whatever you promise, even as a mother, all you do is talk about how bad the politicians are, or how unfortunate the people of vietnam, kuwait, bosnia, or timor are, while it is I and my mates, and our descendants, and comrades, who suffer bleed and die because all you do is talk, or pay a little money in exchange for music at a fund raising concert--(and feel satisfied about your 'contribution ', and 'sacrifice' for the poor of,
where ever) while every second of our lives, every drop of our blood and energy, is aimed at protecting and hopefully even improve, the life of the worlds underprivileged.
 when you sing this song in your comfortable homes, clubs, or on stage, you get kudos for winging well, for singing a 'really important song of social protest',
and the cheers of the crowd---- when we sing it, we are on our way to bleed and die for your uncaring approach to what is happening in the world around you,---or in remembrance of our mates who died through your selfishness.
 you get applause, we get spat on, beaten up, and called 'drunken pigs'.
 --and we continue to serve so that you continue to have the 'right' to do this to us.
 so----continue to sing your 'don't worry, be happy',
I'm here for a good time, not a long time lifestyle--we' ll keep caring and giving to you anyway ---we 'love you with the love beyond all understanding'.
 but we can never have anything (but the superficial) in common with people with your attitude.
--- please--show us(not tell us) we are wrong about you!