Whiskey in the Jar

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Whiskey in the Jar ( Engl. For: "Whiskey in the jar") is an Irish folk song , which, among others, Thin Lizzy , Roger Whittaker , Metallica , Gary Moore , the Dubliners , Grateful Dead , the Pogues , Bryan Adams , Pulp , Smokie , Rednex , Paddy Goes to Holyhead , Santiano and Klaus and Klaus (German title: Rum Buddel Rum ) and Valetti was interpreted. The song probably originates from the 17th or 18th century. The author is unknown.

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The song tells in first-person form about a robber who, in the best-known versions, ambushes a captain named Farrel in the mountains near Cork and Kerry and steals gold in the process, but is betrayed by a Jenny or Molly, with whom he has a love affair . Finally, the unnamed protagonist tries to find his army brother in Cork or Killarney . In other versions, the action takes place in Kilkenny and the mountains near Killgara, or the protagonist escapes without seeking revenge. Other versions with different mountains and antagonists exist.

After each verse a chorus is sung in which the eponymous Irish whiskey is mentioned. In older versions, this is instead of a jar in a glass balloon ( john for demijohn ) or a bar.

Connection to Beggar's Opera

Alan Lomax speculates in his book Folk Songs of North America (1975) about a connection to John Gay 's opera Beggar's Opera, which premiered in 1728 . However, there were many songs similar in content to Whiskey in the Jar in the 18th and 19th centuries . There were also numerous muggers in London at the time of gays, which could have served as inspiration.

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