Whiskey in the Jar,

Metallica ‧ 1998

Listen carefully and fill in the missing words.

    Verse 1
As I was goin' over
The Cork and Kerry (1)
I saw Captain Farrell
And his money, he was (2)
I first produced my (3)
I then produced my rapier
I said, "Stand and deliver oh, or the (4) he may take ya"

Verse 2
I took all of his money
And it was a pretty (5)
I took all of his money
Yeah, and I brought it home to (6)
She swore that she loved me
No, never would she (7) me
But the devil take that woman
Yeah, for you know she (8) me easy

Chorus
Musha rain dum a doo, dum a da
Whack for my daddy, oh
Whack for my daddy, oh
There's whiskey in the jar, oh

Verse 3
Being drunk and weary
I went to Molly's (9)
Takin' Molly with me
But I never knew the (10)
For about six or maybe seven
Yeah, in walked Captain (11)
I jumped up, fired my (12)
And I shot him with both barrels

[Chorus]

Verse 4
Now some men like a (13)
And some men like the fowlin'
And some men like to hear
To hear the cannonball roarin'
Me, I like sleepin'
'Specially in my Molly's chamber
But here I am in (14)
Here I am with a ball and chain, yeah

[Chorus × 2]
  

Whiskey in the Jar,

Metallica ‧ 1998

classplan.ai

Song Worksheets

Definition Match

Match each word (1-6) to its correct definition (A-F). Write the letter on the line.

1. rapier

2. deliver

3. weary

4. chamber

5. barrel

6. pistol

A. a small gun held in one hand

B. a long, thin sword with a sharp point

C. to hand over something, especially money or valuables

D. a private room, especially a bedroom

E. very tired, especially after a long effort

F. a tube-shaped part of a gun that the bullet travels through

Finish the Lyric

Complete each line in your own words. Try to keep the rhythm and style of the song.

1. As I was riding through the cold and rainy...

2. I pulled my coat around me and held my pistol...

3. She looked me in the eyes and said she'd always...

4. But when I woke at sunrise, she had gone...

5. Now here I sit in darkness with my ball and...

Did you know?

Read these facts about the song. Which one surprises you most?

🎵Whiskey in the Jar is a traditional Irish folk song dating back to the 17th century. It tells the story of a highwayman robbed by his lover after he holds up a soldier. Metallica covered it in 1998, and their version won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2000.
⭐The original song is set in the Munster region of Ireland, specifically around the Cork and Kerry Mountains. The area was famous for highwaymen — outlaws who robbed travellers on the road — during the 17th and 18th centuries.
🎸Metallica was not the first rock band to cover this song. Thin Lizzy recorded a famous rock version in 1972, which reached number six on the UK charts. Many people believe Metallica based their arrangement closely on the Thin Lizzy version rather than the original folk song.
📀The phrase Musha rain dum a doo, dum a da in the chorus is not standard English. Musha is an Irish exclamation, similar to well or indeed. The rest of the phrase is a traditional Irish nonsense refrain used to keep the rhythm of the song.
🎤Captain Farrell, the soldier in the song, is sometimes called Captain Farrel or Captain Barrel in different versions. The name changes depending on the region and era. In most versions, the narrator shoots the captain after discovering his lover has betrayed him.

Discussion & analysis

Discuss each question with your partner.

1The narrator robs a soldier and ends up in prison. Do you feel sorry for him? Why or why not?
2Molly betrays the narrator after he brings her stolen money. Does the narrator share any blame for what happens to him?

3Have you ever trusted someone who let you down? How did it feel, and what did you do?
4This song has been told and retold for over 300 years. Why do stories about outlaws and betrayal stay popular across generations?

🎨 Play It! — Draw It!

Student comes to the board and draws — no letters, words, or numbers. They must draw the song title or artist name. Class guesses. Set a 60-second timer for each turn.