Hurroo! hurroo!

Question

Is hurroo synonymous with hurrah? If so, would it be correct to interpret it as sarcasm as it is used in "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye"?

While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo. . . Where are your eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo. . . Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo. . . Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo. . . They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo. . .

Thanks in advance,
Scout

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Is hurroo synonymous with hurrah? If so, would it be correct to interpret it as sarcasm as it is used ... an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo. . . They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo. . .[/nq]
My first reactions were that in that song:

1. hurroo is a nonsense word and is not synonymous with hurrah
2. the use of hurroo avoids the need to make any other words rhyme!

But - you might be right that it is being used sarcastically.

In the following song hurroo definitely seems to be synonymous with hurrah http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/theboysfromsyracuse/ihadtwins.htm "I Had Twins" Lyrics by Lorenz Hart, Music By Richard Rodgers. CROWD: Hurrah! Hurroo!
There'll be an execution.
It serves him right.
The law makes retribution.
There's going to be a killing.
Hurrah! Hurroo!
CITIZEN: It serves him right.
Hurrah! Hurroo!
What did he do?
etc.
Then there is the song "Hurree hurroo"
http://www.incallander.co.uk/ladesongs/song68.htm
Hurree hurroo, my bonny wee lass,
Hurree huroo, my fair one
And will you come away , my love,
To be my own, my fair one
1. Smiling the land, smiling the sea,Sweet was the smell of the heather
Would we were yonder, just you and me,
The two of us together
Hurree hurroo, my bonny wee lass,
Hurree huroo, my fair one
And will you come away , my love,
To be my own, my fair one

2. All the day long, out by the peat,Then by the shore in the gloaming
Tripping it lightly with dancing feet,
Then we together roaming
Hurree hurroo, my bonny wee lass,
Hurree huroo, my fair one
And will you come away , my love,
To be my own, my fair one
This leaves me speculating that sometimes hurroo is synonymous with hurrah, and sometimes it isn't.

Peter Duncanson
UK (posting from a.e.u)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Is hurroo synonymous with hurrah? If so, would it be ... They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo. . .[/nq]
[nq:1]My first reactions were that in that song: 1. hurroo is a nonsense word and is not synonymous with hurrah ... my own, my fair one This leaves me speculating that sometimes hurroo is synonymous with hurrah, and sometimes it isn't.[/nq]
In Johnny , at least, it's surely a cry of woe. Out, harrow and alas! CDB

Hurroo! hurroo!

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