Whiskey in the Jar: quick facts
- What: a traditional Irish folk song about a highwayman who robs an army officer and is betrayed by his sweetheart.
- Who wrote it: nobody knows. It was passed down in Ireland long before it was recorded.
- The Dubliners: made it a pub and folk-club favourite in the 1960s.
- Thin Lizzy: turned it into rock in 1972. It went to number one in Ireland and number six in the UK.
- Metallica: covered it on Garage Inc. in 1998 and won the Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2000.
It started as a song sung in Irish pubs and kitchens about a highwayman and a woman who did him wrong. Generations later, the biggest metal band in the world took it to the Grammys. Few songs have travelled as far as Whiskey in the Jar.
Here is Metallica’s official video, from their own channel.
The story in the song
The plot is simple and very Irish. A highwayman holds up an army captain on a mountain road and takes his money. He brings it home to his sweetheart, who promises she’ll never leave him. Then, while he sleeps, she betrays him and he ends up in prison. The chorus is pure nonsense words, which is exactly why a whole pub can sing it.
Like most folk songs, it changed as it travelled. The names, the mountain and the ending shift depending on who is singing it.
The Dubliners
In the 1960s, The Dubliners, with Ronnie Drew’s gravel voice and Luke Kelly’s banjo, made Whiskey in the Jar one of the best-known Irish ballads in the world. If you have heard it at a session or a wedding, it was probably their version you were hearing in your head.
Thin Lizzy
In 1972 a young Dublin band called Thin Lizzy, led by Phil Lynott, recorded a rock version, almost by accident, while messing around in rehearsal. Eric Bell’s guitar riff made it something new. It went to number one in Ireland and gave the band their first big UK hit, reaching number six in early 1973. Read more about Thin Lizzy and The Boys Are Back in Town.
Metallica
Metallica loved the Thin Lizzy version. In 1998 they recorded their own, heavier take for Garage Inc., an album of covers, and in 2000 it won the Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance. When Metallica played Slane Castle in Co. Meath, they dedicated it to Phil Lynott.
Whiskey in the Jar FAQ
Is Whiskey in the Jar an Irish song?
Yes. It is a traditional Irish folk song.
Who sang Whiskey in the Jar first?
Nobody knows. It was a traditional song long before it was recorded. The Dubliners and Thin Lizzy made the best-known Irish versions.
Did Metallica win a Grammy for Whiskey in the Jar?
Yes, for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2000.
More Irish music
- The Irish Rover
- On Raglan Road
- Zombie: Ireland’s rugby anthem
- U2’s rooftop gig
- The best viral Irish videos of all time
Featured image: still from Metallica’s official YouTube channel.
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