4 Chords used in the song: Em, Bm, G, D
←
Em*
A|--7--|
E|--7--|
C|--7--|
G|--9--|
Intro
A|-2----2----2----2----|
E|-3----3----3----3----|
C|-2h4--2h4--2h4--2h4--|
G|-0----0----0----0----|
Pre Verse
Em
When on the road to sweet Athy,
Bm
Hurroo Hurroo
Em
When on the road to sweet Athy,
G
Hurroo Hurroo
G D
When on the road to sweet Athy
Em Bm
A stick in the hand, a drop in the eye
G D Em Bm
A doleful damsel I heard cry
Em
Johnny I hardly knew ya
Solo
A|-------------------------------------------0-2----2----2-22-|
E|---0-000-2-3-2-3-0-----------0-000-2-3-2-3------3----3------|
C|-2-----------------2--2-2--2--------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-3-2-0-00-2-0------0----------0-2-0---0-----------------------------|
E|--------------3-33---3-2-22-3-------3---3-2-3-2-0-2-0---0-000---0-0-|
C|------------------------------------------------------2-------2-----|
G|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
Verse 1
Em
Where are the eyes that looked so mild,
Bm
Hurroo Hurroo
Em
Where are the eyes that looked so mild,
G
Hurroo Hurroo
D
Where are the eyes that looked so mild
Em Bm
When my poor heart you first beguiled
G D Em Bm
Why did ya run from me and the child
Em
Johnny I hardly knew ya
A|-2-----------------------|
E|-3-----------------------|
C|-4--4---4--4--2--4----4--|
G|-0-----------------------|
Chorus
Em
We had guns and drums and drums and guns,
Bm
Hurroo Hurroo
Em
We had guns and drums and drums and guns,
G
Hurroo Hurroo
D
We had guns and drums and drums and guns
Em Bm
The enemy never slew ya
A|---0-2-0---0-----------------(2)-|
E|-3-------3---3-2-3-2-0-2-0---(3)-|
C|---------------------------2-(4)-|
G|-----------------------------(0)-|
Em Em*
Johnny I hardly knew ya
Verse 2
Em
Where are the legs with which you run,
Bm
Hurroo Hurroo
Em
Where are the legs with which you run,
G
Hurroo Hurroo
D
Where are the legs with which you run,
Em Bm
When first you went to carry a gun
G D Em Bm
Indeed your dancing days are done
Em
Johnny I hardly knew ya
A|-2-----------------------|
E|-3-----------------------|
C|-4--4---4--4--2--4----4--|
G|-0-----------------------|
Chorus
Solo
Verse 3
Em
You hadn't an arm, you hadn't a leg,
Bm
Hurroo Hurroo
Em
You hadn't an arm, you hadn't a leg,
G
Hurroo Hurroo
D
You hadn't an arm, you hadn't a leg
Em Bm
You're a spinless, boneless, chickenless egg
G D Em Bm
You'll have to be put with the bowl to beg
Em
Johnny I hardly knew ya
A|-2-----------------------|
E|-3-----------------------|
C|-4--4---4--4--2--4----4--|
G|-0-----------------------|
Chorus
Verse 4
Em
Im happy for to see ya home
Bm
Hurroo Hurroo
Em
Im happy for to see ya home
G
Hurroo Hurroo
G D
Im happy for to see ya home
Em Bm
From the Isle of Ceylon
A|---0-2-0---0-------0-----|
E|-3-------3---3-2-3---3-2-|
C|-------------------------|
G|-------------------------|
Em
Johnny I hardly knew ya
Chorus
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About this song: Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya
"Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye" (AKA Johnny We Hardly Knew Ye, and Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya) is a popular Irish traditional anti-war and anti-recruiting song. It is generally dated to the early 19th century, when Irish troops served the British East India Company. The original refers to the soldiers from Athy, County Kildare that fought in "Sulloon" (Ceylon - now Sri Lanka) for the East India Company. It has become a definitive anti-war song. Read more on Last.fm.