The Irish Jaunting Car facts for kids

The song The Irish Jaunting Car is a popular folk song from Ireland and the United Kingdom. It's about a special kind of horse-drawn carriage called a jaunting car. These cars were a common way to travel in Ireland a long time ago. The words for the song were likely written by an entertainer named Valentine Vousden in the late 1850s. This was around the time Queen Victoria visited Ireland and during the Crimean War. People still debate the exact original words of the song.

The Story Behind the Song

The original words to The Irish Jaunting Car are thought to be by Valentine Vousden. He was a performer in the 1850s. Later, another famous Irish entertainer, Percy French, wrote his own version of the song. He included it in his funny show called The Knight of the Road.

A researcher named Bernadette Lowry found out that the famous writer James Joyce knew Percy French's work well. She discovered many parts of French's comic magazine, The Jarvey, in Joyce's book Finnegans Wake. The Jarvey magazine was all about the funny stories of a driver (called a "jarvey") on an Irish jaunting car.

Other Songs Using the Tune

The original tune of The Irish Jaunting Car was very popular. Other writers used it for their own songs, especially among Irish people living in other countries. This group is known as the Irish diaspora.

For example, the tune was used for a marching song in 1861 called The Bonnie Blue Flag. This song was written by an Irish-born entertainer named Harry McCarthy. Another song, The Homespun Dress, also used the tune. It was written by Carrie Belle Sinclair, a nurse from Savannah, Georgia. Even today, other songs like "The Irish Volunteer" still use this catchy tune.

What the Lyrics Mean

The lyrics below are from a songbook published in 1898. They talk about events and feelings from that time. You can see how the world was back then.

1 My name is Larry Doolan, I'm a native of the soil, If you want a day's diversion, I'll drive you out in style, My car is painted red and green, and on the door a star, And the pride of Dublin City is my Irish jaunting car.

Chorus Then if you want to hire me, step into Mickey Mar's, And ask for Larry Doolan and his Irish jaunting car. With me whip and pipe and pony, I'll take you near and far To fairs, feasts, and festivals in me Irish jaunting car

2 When Queen Victoria came to Ireland her health to revive, She asked the Lord Lieutenant to take her out to ride, She replied unto his greatness, before they travelled far, How delightful was the jogging of the Irish jaunting car.

• This verse talks about Queen Victoria visiting Ireland. Even a queen enjoyed riding in a jaunting car!

Chorus

3 I'm hired by drunken men, teetotalers, and my friends, But a carman has so much to do, his duty never ends, Night and day, both wet and dry, I travelled near and far, And at night I count the earnings of my Irish jaunting car.

• This verse shows that the car driver, or "carman," worked very hard. He drove all kinds of people, day and night.

Chorus

4 Some say the Russian bear is tough, and I believe it's true, Though we beat him at the Alma and Balaklava too, But if our Connaught Rangers would bring home the Russian Czar, I would drive him off to blazes in my Irish jaunting car.

• This verse refers to the Crimean War, where British and French forces fought against the Russian Empire. "Russian bear" was a nickname for Russia. The battles of Alma and Balaklava were important victories for the British side. The "Connaught Rangers" were a famous Irish army regiment.

5 Some say all wars are over, and I hope to God they are, For you know full well they ne'er were good for a jaunting car, But peace and plenty - may they reign here, both near and far, Then we drive to feasts and festivals in an Irish jaunting car.

• This verse expresses a wish for peace. Wars were bad for business for a jaunting car driver. "Pax Britannica" refers to a period of relative peace when the British Empire was very powerful.

Chorus

6 They say they are in want of men, the French and English too, And it's all about their commerce now they don't know what to do, But if they come to Ireland our jolly sons to mar, I'll drive them to the devil in my Irish jaunting car.

• This verse touches on international politics and trade. The "Opium Wars" were conflicts mainly between Britain and China over trade. The song suggests that if other countries tried to interfere with Ireland, the driver would stand up for his home.

Chorus

Where to Hear the Song

Many groups and singers have recorded The Irish Jaunting Car over the years. Here are some of the recordings:

• Sung by J. B. Smith, a Celebrated Irish Vocalist
• 17, Great Irish Marches, 1st Battalion Irish Guards 2002
• 1, No Irish Need Apply, Gallant Sons of Erin 2003
• 5, The Irish Jaunting Car, Ho! For The Kansas Plains, The Free Staters 2004
• 2, Last Man Standing, Derek Warfield & the Young Wolfe Tones 2018