Whiskey in the Jar#Variations

"Whiskey in the Jar" is the tale of a highwayman or footpad who, after robbing a military or government official, is betrayed by a woman; whether she is his wife or sweetheart is not made clear. Various versions of the song take place in Kerry, Kilmoganny, Cork, Sligo Town, and other locations throughout Ireland. It is also sometimes placed in the American South, in various places among the Ozarks or Appalachians, possibly due to Irish settlement in these places. Names in the song change, and the official can be a captain or a colonel, called Farrell or Pepper among other names. The protagonist's wife or lover is sometimes called Molly, Jenny, Emzy, or Ginny among various other names. The details of the betrayal also differ, with the wife in some versions betraying him to the person he robbed and replacing his ammunition with sand or water.

The song's exact origins are unknown. A number of its lines and the general plot resemble those of a contemporary broadside ballad "Patrick Fleming" (also called "Patrick Flemmen he was a Valiant Soldier") about Irish highwayman Patrick Fleming, who was executed in 1650.{{cite web|url=http://www.csufresno.edu/folklore/Olson/SONGTXT2.HTM#PATFLEM |title=More Scarce Songs |at=Patrick Flemming |date=September 15, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051124143115/http://www.csufresno.edu/folklore/Olson/SONGTXT2.HTM#PATFLEM |archive-date=24 November 2005 }}[http://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/lpop/etext/newgate/flemming.htm Patrick Flemming], The Complete Newgate Calendar Vol. I, Law in Popular Culture collection, Tarlton Law Library, University of Texas at Austin {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080322112112/http://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/lpop/etext/newgate/flemming.htm |date=22 March 2008 }}

In the book The Folk Songs of North America, folk music historian Alan Lomax suggests that the song originated in the 17th century and that John Gay's 1728 The Beggar's Opera was inspired by Gay hearing an Irish ballad-monger singing "Whiskey in the Jar". In regard to the history of the song, Lomax states, "The folk of seventeenth century Britain liked and admired their local highwaymen; and in Ireland (or Scotland) where the gentlemen of the roads robbed English landlords, they were regarded as national patriots. Such feelings inspired this rollicking ballad."The Folk Songs of North America: In the English Language, Alan Lomax, Peggy Seeger, Mátyás Seiber, Don Banks, Doubleday, 1960 [https://books.google.com/books?id=pm04AAAAIAAJ&q=Lomax+%22whisky+in+the+jar%22 Google Books] Retrieved 11 July 2008

At some point, the song came to the United States and was a favourite in Colonial America because of its irreverent attitude toward British officials. The American versions are sometimes set in America and deal with American characters. One such version from Massachusetts is about Alan McCollister, an Irish-American soldier who is sentenced to death by hanging for robbing British officials.

The song appeared in a form close to its modern version in a precursor called "The Sporting Hero, or, Whiskey in the Bar" in a mid-1850s broadsheet.{{cite web|url=http://bodley24.bodley.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/acwwweng/regsrch.pl?recnums=57456&index=1&db=ballads|title=Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads|website=Bodley24.bodley.ox.ac.uk|access-date=15 June 2019|archive-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224085630/http://bodley24.bodley.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/acwwweng/regsrch.pl?recnums=57456&index=1&db=ballads|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://bodley24.bodley.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/acwwweng/ballads/image.pl?ref=Firth+c.17(314)&id=18956.gif&seq=1&size=1|title=Ballads Catalogue: Firth c.17(314)|website=Bodley24.bodley.ox.ac.uk|access-date=15 June 2019|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225181115/http://bodley24.bodley.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/acwwweng/ballads/image.pl?ref=Firth+c.17(314)&id=18956.gif&seq=1&size=1|url-status=dead}} In his book Irish Street Ballads,Irish Street Ballads, Colm O Lochlainn, Pan 1978, pp220 the song collector Colm Ó Lochlainn described how his mother learnt "Whiskey in the Jar" in Limerick in 1870 from a man called Buckley who came from Cork. When Ó Lochlainn included the song in Irish Street Ballads, he wrote down the lyrics from memory as he had learnt them from his mother. He called the song "There's Whiskey in the Jar", and the lyrics are virtually identical to the version that was used by Irish bands in the 1960s such as the Dubliners. The Ó Lochlainn version refers to the "far fam'd Kerry mountain" rather than the Cork and Kerry mountains, as appears in some versions.

The song also appears under the title "There's Whiskey in the Jar" in the JoyceJoyce, Patrick Weston, Old Irish Folk Music and Songs: a Collection of 842 Irish Airs and Songs Hitherto Unpublished, Cooper Square Publishers, New York, 1965. Originally published in 1909. collection, but that only includes the melody line without any lyrics. Versions of the song were collected in the 1920s in Northern Ireland by song collector Sam Henry.Songs of the People edited by Gale Huntington, Lani Herrman with contributions from John Moulden. 1990 (University of Georgia Press) {{ISBN|0-8203-1258-4}} It is Roud Folk Song Index no. 533.{{cite web |url=https://www.vwml.org/search?q=whiskey%20in%20the%20jar |title=Whiskey in the Jar |website=Vaughan Williams Memorial Library}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Whiskey in the Jar

| cover = Whiskey in the Jar - Thin Lizzy.jpg

| type = single

| artist = Thin Lizzy

| album = Vagabonds of the Western World (1991 re-issue)

| B-side = Black Boys on the Corner

| released = {{Start date|df=yes|1972|11|03}}

| recorded = 23–25 September 1972{{cite book |author1-link=Are You Ready? Thin Lizzy: Album By Album |title=Whiskey in the Jar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yrGcCwAAQBAJ&dq=canned+heat+and+thin+lizzy&pg=PA31 |date=20 September 2015 |publisher=Alan Byrne |access-date=1 January 2023 |page=43 |isbn=9780992948085 |quote=On the Sunday sessions (September 24th), Derek Varnals was assisted by Alan Leeming rather than Dave Baker and again those sessions ran over and weren't finished up until around 4:30am on the morning of September 25th.}}

| studio = Decca 4{{cite book |author1-link=Are You Ready? Thin Lizzy: Album By Album |title=Whiskey in the Jar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yrGcCwAAQBAJ&dq=canned+heat+and+thin+lizzy&pg=PA31 |date=20 September 2015 |publisher=Alan Byrne |access-date=1 January 2023 |page=42 |isbn=9780992948085 |quote=On Saturday, September 23rd 1972 the band made their first at Decca's new Tollington Park studio.}}

| genre = Rock{{cite web| author=Eduardo Rivadavia |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/vagabonds-of-the-western-world-mw0000265563 |title=Allmusic review |website=AllMusic |quote=After achieving a reluctant Top Ten hit with a rock version of the traditional Irish pub ballad "Whiskey in the Jar," Thin Lizzy began work on Vagabonds of the Western World -- their third, and ultimately last album for Decca Records. |access-date=December 28, 2022}}

| length =

• {{Duration|m=5|s=45}} (album version)
• {{Duration|m=3|s=46}} (single version)

| label = Decca

| writer = Trad. arr. Eric Bell, Brian Downey, Phil Lynott

| producer = Nick Tauber, Derek Varnals

| prev_title = The Farmer

| prev_year = 1970

| next_title = Randolph's Tango

| next_year = 1973

}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Whiskey in the Jar

| cover = Jack's Heroes.jpg

| type = single

| artist = the Pogues and the Dubliners

| released = 1990

| A-side = Jack's Heroes

| writer = Traditional

}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Whiskey in the Jar

| cover = Whiskey in the Jar - Metallica.jpg

| type = single

| artist = Metallica

| album = Garage Inc.

| released = {{Start date|df=yes|1999|02|01}}{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1999/Music-Week-1999-01-30.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=27|date=30 January 1999|access-date=16 July 2021}}

| recorded =

| genre = {{hlist|Heavy metal}}

| length = {{Duration|m=5|s=05}}

| label = {{hlist|Vertigo|Elektra}}

| writer = Traditional

| producer = {{hlist|Bob Rock|James Hetfield|Lars Ulrich|Mark Whitaker}}

| prev_title = Turn the Page

| prev_year = 1998

| next_title = Die, Die My Darling

| next_year = 1999

| misc = {{External music video|1={{YouTube|id=boanuwUMNNQ|title="Whiskey in the Jar"}}}}

}}

"Whiskey in the Jar" is sung with many variants on locations and names, including a version by Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead with mandolinist David Grisman; a version by the Dubliners (which is often sung in Irish traditional music sessions around the world); a rock version sung by Thin Lizzy; and a heavy metal version (inspired by Thin Lizzy's performance of the song) by Metallica.

There is also a song about Irish troops in the American Civil War called "We'll Fight for Uncle Sam", which is sung in the same tune of "Whiskey in the Jar".

• Lena Bourne Fish of East Jaffrey, New Hampshire, United States, 1940, recorded by Frank and Anne Warner{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIVzfiI81aU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/KIVzfiI81aU| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Gilgarrah Mountain (Roud 533) (Fragment) - Lena Bourne Fish|date=26 June 2020 |access-date=1 June 2021|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
• Séamus Ennis of Dublin, Ireland, World Library of Folk and Primitive Music, Vol. 2: Ireland 1951, recorded by Alan Lomax{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q-jNwB6Ypk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/5q-jNwB6Ypk| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=There's Whiskey in the Jar (Roud 533) - Seamus Ennis|date=26 June 2020 |access-date=1 June 2021|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
• Mary Byrnes of Springside near Orange, New South Wales, Australia, 1954/1955, recorded by John Meredith{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNlXqJ3yx5I |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/RNlXqJ3yx5I| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Whiskey in the Jar (Roud 533) - Mary Byrnes|date=12 December 2019 |access-date=1 June 2021|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
• Sarah Organ Gunning of Knox County, Kentucky, United States, 1974, recorded by Mark Wilson{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxQuC5gYf7U |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/HxQuC5gYf7U| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Whiskey in the Jar (Roud 533) - Sarah Ogan Gunning|access-date=1 June 2021|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

{{More citations needed section|date=December 2023}}

Partial discography:

• Burl Ives – Songs of Ireland 1958, as "Kilgary Mountain"
• The Highwaymen – Encore 1962
• The Brothers Four – In Person 1962, as "Darlin' Sportin' Jenny"
• The Limeliters – Sing Out! 1962, as "Kilgary Mountain"
• Peter, Paul and Mary – A Song Will Rise 1965, as "Gilgarra Mountain"
• Joe Dassin – Mâche ta chique 1965
• The Dubliners – 1967 (album), 1968 (Single), 1969 (album)
• Thin Lizzy – November 1972 (Single), August 1976 (album)
• Euskefeurat – Mutta Herra Jumala 1982
• The Pogues – 1990, with the Dubliners
• Jerry Garcia, David Grisman – Shady Grove 1996
• Metallica – Garage Inc. 1998
• LeperKhanz – Tiocfaidh Ár Lá (2005)
• Johnny Logan – The Irish Connection 2007
• The High Kings – Memory Lane 2010
• Blaggards – Live in Texas 2010
• Celtic Thunder – Heritage 2011
• El Cuarteto de Nos – Habla tu espejo 2014, as "Whisky en Uruguay"
• Gaelic Storm – Full Irish: The Best of Gaelic Storm 2004–2014 2014
• Bryan Adams – Shine a Light 2019
• VoicePlay – Single 2023{{Cite web |last=VoicePlay |date=November 3, 2023 |title=Whiskey In The Jar - VoicePlay feat Omar Cardona |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVmIUXUFQmg&ab_channel=VoicePlay |website=YouTube}}

The song has also been recorded by singers and folk groups such as Roger Whittaker, the Irish Rovers, Seven Nations, Off Kilter, King Creosote, Brobdingnagian Bards, Charlie Zahm, and Christy Moore.

Liam Clancy recorded the song with his son and nephew on Clancy, O'Connell & Clancy in 1997, and Tommy Makem recorded it on The Song Tradition in 1998. The High Kings, featuring Bobby Clancy's son Finbarr, released a version in February 2011.

Thin Lizzy's 1972 single (bonus track on Vagabonds of the Western World [1991 edition]) stayed at the top of the Irish charts for 17 weeks, and the British release stayed in the top 30 for 12 weeks, peaking at No. 6, in 1973.{{cite book|author=Mark Putterford|title=Phil Lynott: The Rocker|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kBuispTsQMYC&pg=PA68|year=2002|publisher=Omnibus|isbn=978-0-7119-9104-0|page=68}} This version has since been covered by U2, Pulp (first released on a 1996 various artist compilation album Childline{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-Childline-Todays-Top-Artists-Unite-For-Charity/release/1341092|title=Various – Childline (Today's Top Artists Unite For Charity)|website=Discogs.com|date=4 November 1996 |access-date=15 June 2019}} and later on deluxe edition of Different Class in 2006), Smokie, Metallica (Garage Inc. 1998, which won a Grammy), Belle and Sebastian (The Blues Are Still Blue EP 2006), Gary Moore (2006), Nicky Moore (Top Musicians Play Thin Lizzy 2008), Simple Minds (Searching for the Lost Boys 2009), and Israeli musician Izhar Ashdot. The song is also on the Grateful Dead live compilation So Many Roads disc five.

On the bluegrass scene, Jerry Garcia and David Grisman recorded a version for the album Shady Grove. It has also been performed by the Scarecrows bluegrass band and the Dutch band Blue Grass Boogiemen.{{Cite web |url=http://ww16.mp3stune.org/mp3/Blue+Grass+Boogiemen+-+Grassified?sub1=20210601-2327-51c9-8326-44ca333acddb |title=Archived copy |access-date=1 June 2021 |archive-date=2 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215536/http://ww16.mp3stune.org/mp3/Blue+Grass+Boogiemen+-+Grassified?sub1=20210601-2327-51c9-8326-44ca333acddb |url-status=dead }}

Icelandic folk band Þrjú á palli (Three On The Podium) recorded it in 1971 as "Lífið Er Lotterí (Life Is A Lottery)" with lyrics by Jónas Árnason. Lillebjørn Nilsen adapted it to Norwegian, as "Svikefulle Mari (Fraudulent Mari)", on his 1971 album Tilbake (Back).{{Cite web|url=https://shop.klicktrack.com/musikkonline|title=MusikkOnline : Latest|date=2 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602152419/https://shop.klicktrack.com/musikkonline|access-date=1 June 2021|archive-date=2 June 2013}} Finnish band Eläkeläiset (The Retired) recorded a humppa version as the title track of their 1997 album Humppamaratooni (Jump Marathon). In 2007 the Lars Lilholt Band made a Danish version, "Gi (Give)' Mig Whiskey in the Jar", for the album Smukkere Med Tiden (More Beautiful With Time).{{Cite web|url=http://larslilholtband.dk/tekster.php?m=tekster&sorter=album|title=Lars Lilholt Band|date=25 June 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040625015106/http://larslilholtband.dk/tekster.php?m=tekster&sorter=album|access-date=1 June 2021|archive-date=25 June 2004}} Estonian band Poisikõsõ recorded "Hans'a Õuhkaga" on the album Tii Päält Iist in 2007.

In 1966, the Yarkon Bridge Trio, an Israeli singing group, recorded a song named "Siman Sheata Tsair" ("It Is a Sign That You Are Young") set to the melody of "Whiskey in the Jar";{{cite web | url=https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iba.org.il%2Fgimmel%2F%3Fentity%3D730508%26type%3D271%26topic%3D0&act=url | title=Special Broadcasting | publisher=IBA/Google Translate | work=Reshet Gimel | date=28 April 2011 | access-date=18 July 2013}} the song became a hit and was later covered by various artists, notably by Gidi Gov.{{YouTube|c5xJ4NZg7oo|Gidi Gov – Siman Sheata Tsa'ir}} (NMC's official channel).

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Silver|relyear=1972|certyear=1978|certref={{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Record-World-IDX/IDX/70s/78/RW-1978-03-25-OCR-Page-0090.pdf|access-date=July 30, 2024|title=Recorld World International-England|magazine=Record World|date=March 25, 1978|page=90}}}}

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1999|certyear=2024|access-date=8 March 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1999|certyear=2021|id=10795|accessdate=30 November 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|artist=Metallica|title=Whiskey in the Jar|award=Gold|relyear=1999|relmonth=2|certyear=2023|access-date=5 July 2023}}

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{{Certification Table Entry |region=Spain|type=single|award=Gold|certyear=2024|artist=Metallica|title=Whiskey in the Jar|accessdate=February 17, 2024}}

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{{Reflist}}

• {{wikisource-inline}}
• [http://www.irishmusicdaily.com/whiskey-in-the-jar-lyrics-and-chords Whiskey in the Jar Lyrics and chords] on Irish Music Daily

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Whiskey In The Jar}}

Category:17th-century songs

Category:1968 singles

Category:1972 singles

Category:1973 singles

Category:1999 singles

Category:Decca Records singles

Category:The Brothers Four songs

Category:The Dubliners songs

Category:Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance

Category:The Highwaymen (folk band) songs

Category:Irish folk songs

Category:Irish rock songs

Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles

Category:Metallica songs

Category:Peter, Paul and Mary songs

Category:Songs about alcohol

Category:Songs about criminals

Category:Songs with unknown songwriters

Category:Thin Lizzy songs

Category:Vertigo Records singles

Category:Year of song unknown

Category:Works about highwaymen