Whiskey has a prominent place in the history of the frontier. There is of course the obvious reason. But one must not discount the economics. It takes a lot of grain to make whiskey, and a barrel of whiskey is easier and cheaper to transport than wagons full of grain.
Whiskey You’re The Devil seems to have its source in a broadside ballad titled John and Moll, which dates from Ireland sometime after 1790. If it was popular in the Ohio River Valley prior to the Civil War then it would likely have had very different lyrics.
These lyrics were popularized by the Irish folk group, The Clancy Brothers in the late fifties. These lyrics were more or less compiled by a Jewish-American lawyer for James Bracken, Esq., a New York City Irish/American judge in 1873.
It’s a fascinating journey that the lyrics took, the military part of the song apparently dating to the Napoleonic Wars, then blending with what was likely a traditional Irish drinking song. War and whiskey once made a very good match. Perhaps if the world would have less of one, we might have ended up with less of the other.
Those who preach temperance have long drawn the association between drinking and violence. Or as Zappa so eloquently put it, “whiskey makes you want to beat your wife, beer makes you want to do it with your buddies around.”
Whiskey You’re The Devil
Traditional, Ireland, 19th Century
Now brave boys, we’re on the march
Off to Portugal and Spain
Drums are beating, banners flying
The Devil at home will come tonight
So it’s go, fare thee well
With a too da loo ra loo ra doo de da
A too ra loo ra loo ra doo de da
Me rikes fall too ra laddie-o
There’s whisky in the jar
Oh, whisky you’re the devil
You’re leading me astray
Over hills and mountains
And to Amerikay
You’re sweetness from the Bleachner
And spunkier than tea
Oh whisky you’re my darling drunk or sober
The French are fighting boldly
Men are dying hot and coldly
Give every man his flask of powder
His firelock on his shoulder
So its go, fare thee well
With a too da loo ra loo ra doo de da
A too ra loo ra loo ra doo de da
Me rikes fall too ra laddie-o
There’s whisky in the jar
Oh, whisky you’re the devil
You’re leading me astray
Over hills and mountains
And to Amerikay
You’re sweetness from the Bleachner
And spunkier than tea
Oh whisky you’re my darling drunk or sober
Says the old wan do not wrong me
Don’t take me daughter from me
For if you do I will torment you
When I’m dead my ghost will haunt you
So its go, fare thee well
With a too da loo ra loo ra doo de da
A too ra loo ra loo ra doo de da
Me rikes fall too ra laddie-o
There’s whisky in the jar
Oh, whisky you’re the devil
You’re leading me astray
Over hills and mountains
And to Amerikay
You’re sweetness from the Bleachner
And spunkier than tea
Oh whisky you’re my darling drunk or sober
