Thin Lizzy/The Dubliners - Whiskey in the Jar - Notes
Activity type: reading comprehension, ordering, listening, speaking, writing.
Grammar : past simple, past continuous tense.
Note: This is a famous Irish traditional song, about a highway man who is betrayed by his wife or lover. The first successful recording of the song was by Irish folk band, The Dubliners, in 1967. Irish band Thin Lizzy recorded a rock version in 1972, which was covered by the American metal band Metallica in 1998, winning them a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance, 2000. The activities on this worksheet are based on the rock version, but can easily be adapted to the folk version – both lyrics are printed.
1) Pre-listening: brief revision of simple past tense (regular, irregular + to be ). Write the following verbs on the board and ask students to write their past simple forms:
to be to bring to love to produce to say to see to swear to take to trick
2) Correct, then give each student a folded copy of the worksheet. Ask them to do Exercise 1; students can work in pairs.
3) Play the first part of the song (as far as “But the devil take that woman, yeah, for you know she tricked me easy” – 1’ 33’’ seconds into the original recording); students check and correct (exercise 2).
4) Grammar: Point out the tenses used, and elicit “past simple vs past continuous” tense (“As I was goin’ over the Cork and Kerry Mountains I first produced…”).
5) Ask your students to guess how the story continues. Feedback.
6) Optional activity: play both versions of the song, students note the differences.
7) Ask students to unfold the worksheet. Play the complete song as students follow the lyrics and check their predictions. (Note: some versions of the Rock song omit the verse: “Being drunk and weary…”
8) Activity 4: students work in small groups; each group writes one or more lines. Help them to compose the new “finale”.
9) This song is a good starting point for introducing Irish culture; you could focus either on Irish landscape (specific mention of Cork and Kerry counties) or ballads and folk songs, as well as on Saint Patrick's Day, etc.
10) Play the complete song again. Sing together.
This worksheet is to be used for educational purposes only Activity © Tune into English 2012 – www.tuneintoenglish.com Worksheet written by Prof. Maria Persico, Portici (NA)
Thin Lizzy/The Dubliners - Whiskey in the Jar
1. Read the tale and put the following lines from the first two verses in the correct order: A highwayman, wandering over the mountains in Kerry and Cork, saw a captain and robbed his money, threatening him with weapons. The robber took all the money to his sweetheart (Molly)’s house. Molly told him that she loved him and that she would never leave him, but she betrayed him.
1. I said, "Stand and deliver or the devil he may take ya" 2. I saw Captain Farrell and his money, he was countin’ 3. As I was goin’ over the Cork and Kerry Mountains 4. I first produced my pistol and then produced my rapier
1. She swore that she loved me, no, never would she leave me 2. But the devil take that woman, yeah, for you know she tricked me easy 3. I took all of his money, yeah, and I brought it home to Molly 4. I took all of his money and it was a pretty penny
2. Listen and check. 3. How do you think this story ends? 4. Listen to the rest of the song, then write one or more lines to compose a new ending.
______FOLD______
Thin Lizzy (1972) / Metallica (1998) The Dubliners (1967)
As I was goin' over the Cork and Kerry Mountains As I was goin' over the far famed Kerry mountains I saw Captain Farrell and his money, he was countin' I met with Captain Farrell and his money he was counting I first produced my pistol and then produced my rapier I first produced me pistol and I then produced me rapier I said, "Stand or deliver or the devil he may take ya" Saying "Stand and deliver" for you are a bold deceiver
Chorus: Chorus: Musha rain dum a doo, dum a da Musha ring dumma do damma da Whack for my daddy, oh Whack fal the daddy 'o Whack for my daddy, oh Whack fal the daddy 'o There's whiskey in the jar, oh There's whiskey in the jar
I took all of his money and it was a pretty penny I counted out his money and it made a pretty penny I took all of his money, and I brought it home to Molly I put it in me pocket and I took it home to Jenny She swore that she loved me, never would she leave me She sighed and she swore that she never would deceive me But the devil take that woman, for you know she tricked me easy But the devil take the women for they never can be easy
Repeat Chorus
Being drunk and weary I went to Molly's chamber I went on to my chamber, all for to take a slumber Takin' my Molly with me and I never knew the danger I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure it was no wonder For about six or maybe seven, in walked Captain Farrell But Jenny drew me charges and she filled them up with water I jumped up, fired all my pistols and I shot him with both barrels Then sent for Captain Farrell to be ready for the slaughter
Repeat Chorus
'Twas early in the morning, just before I rose to travel Up comes a band of footmen and likewise Captain Farrell I first produced me pistol for she stolen away me rapier I couldn't shoot the water, so a prisoner I was taken Repeat Chorus
Now some men like a fishin' but some men like the fowlin' If anyone can aid me 'tis my brother in the army And some men like to hear a cannonball roarin' If I can find his station in Cork or in Killarney But me, I like sleepin', especially in my Molly's chamber And if he'll go with me, we'll go roamin' in Killkenny But here I am in prison, here I am with a ball and chain, yeah And I'm sure he'll treat me better than my own a-sporting Jenny
Repeat Chorus And I got drunk on whiskey, oh Repeat Chorus And I loved I loved I loved I loved I loved I loved I loved Molly oh
This worksheet is to be used for educational purposes only Activity © Tune into English 2012 – www.tuneintoenglish.com Worksheet written by Prof. Maria Persico, Portici (NA)