I need to translate "Whiskey in the jar", but unfortunately I don't know the meaning of a few sentences. Maybe it's irish dialect.
These are the two versions of the song:
Spoiler:
As I was going over the far famed Kerry mountains
I met with captain Farrell and his money he was counting.
I first produced my pistol, and then produced my rapier.
Said stand and deliver, for I am a bold deceiver,
musha ring dumma do damma da
whack for the daddy 'ol
whack for the daddy 'ol
there's whiskey in the jar
I counted out his money, and it made a pretty penny.
I put it in my pocket and I took it home to Jenny.
She said and she swore, that she never would deceive me,
but the devil take the women, for they never can be easy
I went into my chamber, all for to take a slumber,
I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure it was no wonder.
But Jenny took my charges and she filled them up with water,
Then sent for captain Farrel to be ready for the slaughter.
It was early in the morning, as I rose up for travel,
The guards were all around me and likewise captain Farrel.
I first produced my pistol, for she stole away my rapier,
But I couldn't shoot the water so a prisoner I was taken.
If anyone can aid me, it's my brother in the army,
If I can find his station down in Cork or in Killarney.
And if he'll come and save me, we'll go roving near Kilkenny,
And I swear he'll treat me better than me darling sportling Jenny
Now some men take delight in the drinking and the roving,
But others take delight in the gambling and the smoking.
But I take delight in the juice of the barley,
And courting pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early
Spoiler:
As I was going over the Cork and Kerry Mountains
I saw Captain Farrell and his money he was countin'
I first produced my pistol and then produced my rapier
I said "Stand and deliver or the devil he may take ya"
I took all of his money and it was a pretty penny
I took all of his money yeah and I brought it home to Molly
She swore that she loved me no never would she leave me
But the devil take that woman, yeah, for you know she tricked me easy
Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar-o
Being drunk and weary I went to Molly's chamber
Takin' my Molly with me, but I never knew the danger
For about six or maybe seven in walked Captain Farrell
I jumped up, fired my pistols, and I shot him with both barrels
Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da, ha, ya
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar-o
Yeah, whiskey, yo, whiskey...
Oh-oh, ya
Now some men like a fishin', but some men like the fowlin'
Some men like to hear, to hear the cannonball a-roarin'
But me, I like sleepin', `specially in my Molly's chamber
But here I am in prison, here I am with a ball and chain, yeah
Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da, ha, ya
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar-o
Whiskey in the jar-o
Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da
Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da, hey
Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da
Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da, ya
And this is what I don't understand:
- musha ring / musha rain dumma do damma da
- whack for the daddy 'ol / whack for my daddy-o
- took my charges and she filled them up with water
- sportling
- juice of the barley
- courting pretty fair maids
- roving
- fowling
I'm pretty sure its just nonsense, like the Irish are so prone to do in songs. It's just something that's used in traditional song to fill verses and choruses.
Especially as in some of the versions I've heard it's "whack-fol-a-daddyo"
I need to translate "Whiskey in the jar", but unfortunately I don't know the meaning of a few sentences. Maybe it's irish dialect.
These are the two versions of the song:
Spoiler:
As I was going over the far famed Kerry mountains
I met with captain Farrell and his money he was counting.
I first produced my pistol, and then produced my rapier.
Said stand and deliver, for I am a bold deceiver,
musha ring dumma do damma da
whack for the daddy 'ol
whack for the daddy 'ol
there's whiskey in the jar
I counted out his money, and it made a pretty penny.
I put it in my pocket and I took it home to Jenny.
She said and she swore, that she never would deceive me,
but the devil take the women, for they never can be easy
I went into my chamber, all for to take a slumber,
I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure it was no wonder.
But Jenny took my charges and she filled them up with water,
Then sent for captain Farrel to be ready for the slaughter.
It was early in the morning, as I rose up for travel,
The guards were all around me and likewise captain Farrel.
I first produced my pistol, for she stole away my rapier,
But I couldn't shoot the water so a prisoner I was taken.
If anyone can aid me, it's my brother in the army,
If I can find his station down in Cork or in Killarney.
And if he'll come and save me, we'll go roving near Kilkenny,
And I swear he'll treat me better than me darling sportling Jenny
Now some men take delight in the drinking and the roving,
But others take delight in the gambling and the smoking.
But I take delight in the juice of the barley,
And courting pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early
Spoiler:
As I was going over the Cork and Kerry Mountains
I saw Captain Farrell and his money he was countin'
I first produced my pistol and then produced my rapier
I said "Stand and deliver or the devil he may take ya"
I took all of his money and it was a pretty penny
I took all of his money yeah and I brought it home to Molly
She swore that she loved me no never would she leave me
But the devil take that woman, yeah, for you know she tricked me easy
Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar-o
Being drunk and weary I went to Molly's chamber
Takin' my Molly with me, but I never knew the danger
For about six or maybe seven in walked Captain Farrell
I jumped up, fired my pistols, and I shot him with both barrels
Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da, ha, ya
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar-o
Yeah, whiskey, yo, whiskey...
Oh-oh, ya
Now some men like a fishin', but some men like the fowlin'
Some men like to hear, to hear the cannonball a-roarin'
But me, I like sleepin', `specially in my Molly's chamber
But here I am in prison, here I am with a ball and chain, yeah
Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da, ha, ya
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar-o
Whiskey in the jar-o
Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da
Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da, hey
Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da
Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da, ya
And this is what I don't understand:
- musha ring / musha rain dumma do damma da
- whack for the daddy 'ol / whack for my daddy-o
- took my charges and she filled them up with water
- sportling
- juice of the barley
- courting pretty fair maids
- roving
- fowling
This is one of the better-known "Irish drinking songs"/ballads I grew up listening to on my dad's Irish Rovers tapes (8-tracks back in those days! ).
The basic story is that this guy is a bit of a troublemaker who likes the ladies -- especially his wife/girlfriend. He steals money, takes it home to her, and for some reason she betrays him. She sabotages his gun so he can't defend himself, and he gets captured. After that he vows never again to trust any one woman over all the others out there. He decides to pursue the "manly" activities of drinking, gambling, womanising -- and in the time period this song refers to -- exploring, pirating, being a mercenary soldier of fortune.
The "whiskey in the jar" is part song filler, as is common in many of these Irish ballads, or it might just refer to the guy in the song realizing that his woman betrayed him, men might kill him, but at least he can count on having alcoholic beverages avalable. (sad, that, but that's a common theme in songs like these).
What language are you trying to translate this into?
BTW, I sang the song to myself to help get into the events it's talking about -- there are also some points where the audience is supposed to clap along:
musha ring dumma do damma da (clap-clap-clap-clap-clap)
whack for the daddy 'ol (clap-clap)
whack for the daddy 'ol
there's whiskey in the jar
The "clap"s are done very quickly, in the exact number I typed, after the words in the relevant line.
Another explanation of "there's whiskey in the jar" I've heard from Irish friends is that it's a form of welcome or hospitality. In traditional Irish farm houses there was always a batch of illegal moonshine whiskey "cooking" away. Your host might keep keep some in ordinary earthenware jars which a stranger might not notice. But you, as a friend, would be welcomed with the greeting "there's whiskey in the jar" meaning help yourself or make yourself at home.
So, in a song, it's probably just a saying to make people feel welcome or encouraged to join in the song. I've tried some of this poteen (pronouced "poch een") and believe me it's the strongest spirit you're every likely to taste, being usually more than 90% pure alcohol ABV. It tastes smooth but your tongue loses all feeling and your stomach feels on fire when the stuff hits the bottom. Great stuff!
thanks everyone
I've completed the translation. It was hard, since it wasn't a direct traslation - it had to fit the rhymes in italian, in order to be sung. I'll share it if anyone is interested.
Un giorno che viaggiavo
Attraverso le montagne
Trovai il capitan Holly
Che contava i suoi soldi
Puntai la mia pistola
e poi puntai la spada
Gli dissi "resta fermo
o ti mando all'inferno"
Na na na - na na na na na na
Metti da parte un po'
Metti da parte un po'
Di whiskey nella brocca
Gli presi tutti i soldi
Fino all'ultimo penny
Mi misi in tasca i soldi
E tornai a casa da Jenny
Diceva "io ti amo
E mai ti lascerò"
Ma quella indemoniata
Oh come mi fregò
Na na na - na na na na na na
Metti da parte un po'
Metti da parte un po'
Di whiskey nella brocca
Lei mi fregò la spada
Annacquò le munizioni
Chiamò il capitan Holly
Per scontare le mie azioni
Puntai la mia pistola
Ma senza la mia spada
Sparai un getto d'acqua
E la mia fuga fu sventata
Na na na - na na na na na na
Metti da parte un po'
Metti da parte un po'
Di whiskey nella brocca
C'è a chi piace pescare
E a chi piace cacciare
A chi piace sentire
il cannone rimbombare
Io amo dormire
In camera con Jenny
Non qui rinchiuso in cella
Incatenato a una palla
Na na na - na na na na na na
Metti da parte un po'
Metti da parte un po'
Di whiskey nella brocca
Na na na - na na na na na na
Na na na - na na na na na na
Na na na - na na na na na na
Na na na - na na na na na na
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