Johnny I Hardly Knew You

Tommy Makem

(tune: Johnny comes marching home)



While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo

While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo

While goin' the road to sweet Athy,

A stick in me hand and a drop in me eye,

A doleful damsel I heard cry,

Johnny I hardly knew ye.



Chorus:

With your guns and drums and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo

With your guns and drums and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo

With your guns and drums and drums and guns,

The enemy nearly slew ye

Oh my darling dear, Ye look so queer

Johnny I hardly knew ye.



Where are the eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo

Where are the eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo

Where are the eyes that were so mild,

When my heart you so beguiled

Why did ye sci-daddle from me and the child

Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye



Where are the legs with which you run, hurroo, hurroo

Where are the legs with which you run, hurroo, hurroo

Where are the legs with which you run,

When first you went to carry a gun

Indeed your dancing days are done

Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye



Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo

Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo

Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg,

Ye're an armless, boneless, chickenless egg

Ye'll have to put with a bowl out to beg

Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye



I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo

I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo

I'm happy for to see ye home,

All from the island of Ceylon;

So low in the flesh, so high in the bone

Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye



Last chorus:

...the enemy never slew ye

Oh, my darling dear you look so queer