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Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye

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War can eat away a man and the terrors can destroy his sense of self worth. Johnny had taken a bad run with the war and the misery of it all. We can see that here in the song.

Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye

           Em                                              G
While going the road to sweet Athy, Har-oo, ha-roo,
           Em                                               G           B7
 While going the road to sweet Athy, Har-oo, har-oo,
            Em                       D
 While going the road to sweet Athy,
     C                                 B7
 A stick in my hand and a tear in my eye,
     Em      D          C          B7
 A doleful damsel I heard cry,
 Em
 'Johnny I hardly knew yeh.
 
 CHORUS
          Em                                                               G
 With drums and guns and guns and drums, Ha-roo, ha-roo,
          Dm                                                               G          B7
 With drums and guns and guns and drums, Ha-roo, ha-roo,
          Em                             D
 With drums and guns and guns and drums
         C                     B7
 The enemy nearly slew yeh,
       Em        D             C          B7
 My Johnny dear you look so queer,
 Em
 Johnny I hardly knew yeh.
 
 
 Where are the eyes that looked so mild, Ha-roo, haroo,
 
 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 skedaddle from me and the child,
 
 Johnny I hardly knew yeh.
 
 
 Where are the legs with which you run,  Ha-roo, ha-roo
 
 Where are the legs with which you run, Ha-roo, ha-roo
 
 Where are the legs with which you run,
 
 When you went To shoulder a gun,
 
 Indeed your dancing Days are done.
 
 Johnny I hardly knew yeh.
 
 
 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 yell sail
 
 Though from my heart You took leg-bail,
 
 Like a cod you're doubled up  head and tail,
 
 Johnny I hardly knew yeh.
 
 
 You haven't an arm and you haven't a leg, Haroo, ha-roo
 
 You haven't an arm and you haven’t a leg, Ha-roo, haroo
 
 You haven't an arm and you haven't a leg,
 
 You're an eyeless, noseless, Chickenless egg,
 
 You'll have to be put  in a bowl to beg,
 
 Johnny I hardly knew yeh.
 
 
 I'm happy for to see you home  Ha-roo, haroo
 
 I'm happy for to see you home. Ha-roo, haroo
 
 I'm happy for to see you home, all from the island of Sulloon.
 
 So low in the flesh   so high in the bone,
 
 Johnny I hardly knew yeh.
 
 
 But sad as it. is to see you so.  Ha-roo, haroo
 
 But sad as it is to see you so, Haroo, har-oo
 
 But sad as it is to see you so, and to think of you now
 
 As an object of woe, your Peggy will still keep you on as her beau,
 
 Johnny I hardly knew yeh