Whiskey in the Jar
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"Whiskey in the Jar" is a famous Irish traditional song about a highwayman (usually in the Cork and Kerry mountains), who is betrayed by his wife or lover. It is one of the most widely performed traditional Irish songs, and has been recorded by groups such as The Dubliners, The Pogues, Peter, Paul and Mary, The Seekers, The Highwaymen, Roger Whittaker, the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, The Irish Rovers, the Poxy Boggards, Seven Nations, The Limeliters, King Creosote, and the Brobdingnagian Bards. It was also given a rock veneer by Irish rock band Thin Lizzy, with iconic lead singer Phil Lynott in 1972 (Irish release) and 1973 (UK chart success). Thin Lizzy's version has since been covered by U2, Pulp (1995), Smokie, Metallica (1998, their version won a Grammy), Belle & Sebastian, and Gary Moore (2006). Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead and David Grisman recorded a Bluegrass cover of this song together.
Lillebjørn Nilsen adapted it to Norwegian, as "Svikefulle Mari", ca. 1970. Finnish band Eläkeläiset recorded a Humppa version called Humppamaratooni. In 2007 Lars Lilholt Band made a Danish version, called "Gi' mig whiskey in the jar".
[edit] History
The song's exact origins are unknown. Judging from the mention of a rapier it is likely that the lyrics date back to at least the late eighteenth century. In at least one version, the rapier is replaced with a sabre; the reference to the rapier could have originally referred to a rapaire ("half-pike" in Irish) and the highwayman could have been a rapparee - Irish irregular soldiers and bandits of the 17th and 18th centuries.
In his book The Folk Songs of North America, noted folk music historian Alan Lomax suggests that the song originated in the 17th century. As evidence for this, Lomax cites the similarities between "Whiskey in the Jar" and John Gay's The Beggar's Opera, which dates to 1728. Lomax confidently suggests "Whiskey in the Jar" inspired "Beggar's Opera," meaning that by 1728, "Whiskey in the Jar" would have been widely distributed throughout the Celtic world. 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." Lomax points out the song is about a Robin Hood-like figure, who steals from the rich but keeps the money for himself.
At some point, the song came to the United States and was a favorite in Colonial America because of its irreverent attitude towards 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.
[edit] Story
"Whiskey in the Jar" is the tale of a highwayman who, after robbing a corrupt military or government official ("for I am a bold deceiver"), is betrayed by a woman named Jenny or Ginny; whether she is his wife or sweetheart is not made clear. Various versions of the song take place in Kerry, Kilmagenny, Cork, Gilgarra Mountain, Sligo Town, and other locales throughout Ireland. The narrator of the song is not named. The only consistently named figures are the sweetheart who betrays the narrator, "Jenny/Ginny", and the Anglo-Irish official, "Captain Farrell", neither of which aids in the dating of the song. The song ends with the narrator dreaming of escape and fleeing the town of his imprisonment to pursue his love of 'the good life.' The Thin Lizzy and Metallica versions differ from the traditional one by dropping two verses and changing the lyrics of the second and third verse into a different interpretation of the story while sticking to the main idea slightly. They also change the name of the female lover from Jenny to Molly, as in the Garcia/Grisman version.
