Thin Lizzy – Whiskey In The Jar

Traditionally an Irish folk song, “Whiskey In The Jar” was covered by The Dubliners in 1967 before Thin Lizzy rocked it up in 1972 for their breakthrough hit.

The song tells the story of a bandit in southwest Ireland who robs an English Army Officer to keep his girlfriend Molly happy after she promises to love him forever. She then betrays him and the young man is taken to jail.

Although a massive first hit for Thin Lizzy, this was actually meant to be the B-side. The band recorded “Black Boys On The Corner” as the A-side and put the old traditional Irish Song “Whiskey In The Jar” on the B-side because they didn’t have anything else. It was the record company that decided to make “Whiskey in the Jar” the A-side.

Thin Lizzy’s record label gave the single a boost with a clever marketing gimmick: sending out mini bottles of Powers whiskey rebranded with Thin Lizzy labels. The gamble paid off. “Whiskey in the Jar” shot to #1 in Ireland and climbed to #6 in the UK, proving Carroll’s instincts right – even if it took some convincing.

“Whiskey in the Jar” – Single by Thin Lizzy from the album Vagabonds of the Western World (1991 re-issue)
Released 3 November 1972
Recorded 23–25 September 1972
Songwriters Traditional arrangement Eric Bell, Brian Downey, Phil Lynott
Charted No.6 in UK, No.7 West Germany, No.1 Ireland, No.20 Netherlands, No.27 Belgium, No.40 Australia