Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya – lyrics and chords

Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya lyrics and chords

The lyrics to Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya tell the story of a young woman addressing her lover and father to her child after he returns from war badly mutilated. The song is Irish traditional. The melody was also used in the American Civil War song, When Johnny Comes Marching Home.

Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya lyrics and chords

Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya
Dropkick Murphys version
Videos

Click here for print version

The lyrics are given here in full. Most performers skip some of the verses, and some bands like The Dropkick Murphys drop some of the lines and fill the gaps with an instrumental section. The chords are given here in E Minor, the key used by the Dropkick Murphys. Tommy Makem and The Clancy Brothers played the song in F# Minor. Place a capo on the second fret and use the chord shapes given below to play in F#m. Use our key converter to play the chords in other keys. Use our chord converter to play the song in other keys.

Em 
While on the road to sweet Athy, ha-
D 
roo, 
 
ha-roo,
 
While  
Em 
on the road to sweet Athy, ha-
G 
roo, 
 
ha-
B7 
roo,
 
While  
Em 
on the road to  
D 
sweet 
 
Athy,
 
A  
C 
stick in the hand, a  
B7 
drop in the eye,
 
A  
Em 
doleful 
 
 
D 
damsel 
 
 
C 
I heard  
B7 
cry.
 
Em 
Johnny, I hard
D 
ly knew  
Em 
ya.
<h6chorus< h6=””> </h6chorus<>

 
Em 
With your drums and guns and guns and drums, Ha-
D 
roo, 
 
ha-roo
 
Em 
With your drums and guns and guns and drums, Ha-
G 
roo, 
 
ha-
B7 
roo
 
With  
Em 
your drums and guns and  
D 
guns and drums
 
The  
C 
enemy nearly  
B7 
slew 
 
ya;
 
Me  
Em 
darling 
 
 
D 
dear, you  
C 
look so  
B7 
queer.
Em 
Johnny, I hard
D 
ly 
 
 
Em 
knew 
 
ya.

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Where are the eyes that looked so mild ha-roo, ha-roo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild ha-roo, ha-roo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild
When my poor heart you first beguiled
Why did you run from me and the child, Johnny I hardly knew ya.

Chorus

Where are the legs with which you ran, ha-roo, ha-roo,
Where are the legs with which you ran, ha-roo, ha-roo,
Where are the legs with which you ran,
When first you went to carry a gun?
Indeed your dancing days are done.
Johnny, I hardly knew ya.

Chorus

It grieved my heart to see you sail ha-roo, ha-roo
It grieved my heart to see you sail ha-roo, ha-roo
It grieved my heart to see you sail
Though from my heart you took leg-bail
Like a cod you’re doubled up head and tail,
Johnny I hardly knew ya

Chorus

You haven’t an arm, you haven’t a leg, ha-roo, ha-roo,
You haven’t an arm, you haven’t a leg, ha-roo, ha-roo,
You haven’t an arm, you haven’t a leg,
You’re an eyeless, noseless, chickenless egg,
You’ll have to be put with a bowl to beg.
Johnny, I hardly knew ya.

Chorus

I’m happy for to see you home ha-roo, ha-roo
I’m happy for to see you home ha-roo, ha-roo
I’m happy for to see you home
From the island of Ceylon
So low in the flesh son high in the bone,
Jonny I hardly knew ya.

Chorus

How sad it is to see you so, ha-roo, ha-roo,
How sad it is to see you so, ha-roo, ha-roo,
How sad it is to see you so,
And I think of you now as an object of woe,
But your Peggy’ll still keep you on as her beau.
Johnny, I hardly knew ya.

Chorus

They’re rolling out the guns again, ha-roo, ha-roo,
They’re rolling out the guns again, ha-roo, ha-roo,
They’re rolling out the guns again
But they never will take our sons again
No they never will take our sons again
Johnny I’m swearing to ya.

Chorus

Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya
Dropkick Murphys version
Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya videos
Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya lyrics and chords

Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya lyrics and chords print version

Em 
While on the road to sweet Athy, ha-
D 
roo, 
 
ha-roo,
 
While  
Em 
on the road to sweet Athy, ha-
G 
roo, 
 
ha-
B7 
roo,
 
While  
Em 
on the road to  
D 
sweet 
 
Athy,
 
A  
C 
stick in the hand, a  
B7 
drop in the eye,
 
A  
Em 
doleful 
 
 
D 
damsel 
 
 
C 
I heard  
B7 
cry.
Em 
Johnny, I hard
D 
ly knew  
Em 
ya.
<h6chorus< h6=””> </h6chorus<>

 
Em 
With your drums and guns and guns and drums, Ha-
D 
roo, 
 
ha-roo
Em 
With your drums and guns and guns and drums, Ha-
G 
roo, 
 
ha-
B7 
roo
 
With  
Em 
your drums and guns and  
D 
guns and drums
 
The  
C 
enemy nearly  
B7 
slew 
 
ya;
 
Me  
Em 
darling 
 
 
D 
dear, you  
C 
look so  
B7 
queer.
Em 
Johnny, I hard
D 
ly 
 
 
Em 
knew 
 
ya.

Where are the eyes that looked so mild ha-roo, ha-roo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild ha-roo, ha-roo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild
When my poor heart you first beguiled
Why did you run from me and the child, Johnny I hardly knew ya.

Chorus

Where are the legs with which you ran, ha-roo, ha-roo,
Where are the legs with which you ran, ha-roo, ha-roo,
Where are the legs with which you ran,
When first you went to carry a gun?
Indeed your dancing days are done.
Johnny, I hardly knew ya.

Chorus

It grieved my heart to see you sail ha-roo, ha-roo
It grieved my heart to see you sail ha-roo, ha-roo
It grieved my heart to see you sail
Though from my heart you took leg-bail
Like a cod you’re doubled up head and tail,
Johnny I hardly knew ya

Chorus

You haven’t an arm, you haven’t a leg, ha-roo, ha-roo,
You haven’t an arm, you haven’t a leg, ha-roo, ha-roo,
You haven’t an arm, you haven’t a leg,
You’re an eyeless, noseless, chickenless egg,
You’ll have to be put with a bowl to beg.
Johnny, I hardly knew ya.

Chorus

I’m happy for to see you home ha-roo, ha-roo
I’m happy for to see you home ha-roo, ha-roo
I’m happy for to see you home
From the island of Ceylon
So low in the flesh son high in the bone,
Jonny I hardly knew ya.

Chorus

How sad it is to see you so, ha-roo, ha-roo,
How sad it is to see you so, ha-roo, ha-roo,
How sad it is to see you so,
And I think of you now as an object of woe,
But your Peggy’ll still keep you on as her beau.
Johnny, I hardly knew ya.

Chorus

They’re rolling out the guns again, ha-roo, ha-roo,
They’re rolling out the guns again, ha-roo, ha-roo,
They’re rolling out the guns again
But they never will take our sons again
No they never will take our sons again
Johnny I’m swearing to ya.

Chorus

Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya
Dropkick Murphys version
Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya videos
Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya lyrics and chords