verse 1:
G C
In the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and six
G D
We set sail from the Cobh quay of Cork
G C
We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks
G D G
For the grand city hall in New York
G D
Twas an elegant craft, she was rigged fore and aft
G D
And how the trade winds drove her
G Em C
She had twenty-three masts and she stood several blasts
G D7 G
And they called her the Irish Ro-ver
verse 2:
G C
We had one million bags of the best Sligo rags
G D
We had two million barrels of stones
G C
We had three million sides of old blind horses hides
G D G
We had four million barrels of bone
G D
We had five million hogs, six million dogs
G D
Seven million barrels of porter
G Em C
We had eight million bales of old nanny goats tails
G D7 G
In the hold of the Irish Ro-ver
verse 3:
G C
There was Barney McGee from the banks of the Lee
G D
There was Hogan from County Tyrone
G C
There was Johnny McGuirk who was scared stiff of work
G D G
And a chap from Westmeath named Malone
G D
There was Slugger O'Toole who was drunk as a rule
G D
And fighting Bill Tracy from Dover
G Em C
And your man Mick McCann from the banks of the Bann
G D7 G
Was the skipper of the Irish Ro-ver
verse 4:
G C
We had sailed seven years when the measles broke out
G D
And our ship lost it's way in the fog
G C
Then the whole of the crew was reduced down to two
G D G
Just myself and the captain’s old dog
G D
The ship struck a rock, oh Lord what a shock
G D
And nearly tumbled over
G Em C
It turned nine times around and the poor dog was drowned
G D7 G
I'm the last of the Irish Ro-ver