[Verse]
When going on the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo,
When going the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo,
When going the road to sweet Athy, a stick in me hand and a drop in me eye,
A doleful damsel I heard cry, "Johnny I hardly knew ye."

[Chorus]
"With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo,
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo,
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, the enemy nearly slew ye,
Oh, darling dear, ye look so queer, Johnny I hardly knew ye."

[Verse]
"Where are your eyes that look so mild, hurroo, hurroo,
Where are your eyes that look so mild, hurroo, hurroo,
Where are your eyes that look so mild when my poor heart you first beguiled
Why did ye run from me and the child, Johnny, I hardly knew ye."

[Chorus]
"With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo,
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo,
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, the enemy nearly slew ye,
Oh, darling dear, ye look so queer, Johnny I hardly knew ye."

[Verse]
"Where are your legs with which ye run, hurroo, hurroo,
Where are your legs with which ye run, hurroo, hurroo,
Where are your legs with which ye run when first you learned to carry a gun,
Indeed your dancing days are done, Johnny, I hardly knew ye."

[Chorus]
"With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo,
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo,
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, the enemy nearly slew ye,
Oh, darling dear, ye look so queer, Johnny I hardly knew ye."

[Verse]
"Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo,
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo,
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, ye're an armless, boneless, chickenless egg,
Ye'll be having to be left with bowl to beg, Johnny I hardly knew ye."

[Chorus]
"With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo,
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo,
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, the enemy nearly slew ye,
Oh, darling dear, ye look so queer, Johnny I hardly knew ye."

[Verse]
"But I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo,
Yes, I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo,
Oh, I'm happy for to see ye home, all from the island of Ceylon,
So low in the flesh, so high in the bone, Johnny I hardly knew ye."

[Chorus]
"With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo,
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo,
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, the enemy never slew ye,
Oh, darling dear, ye look so queer, Johnny I hardly knew ye.".