Courting In The Kitchen Lyrics And Chords
Courting In The Kitchen Easy Guitar Chords And Lyrics. The ukulele chords in G are included. A Traditional Irish Song. Recorded by Eilish McHugh plus Dessie O Halloran with Sharon Shannon on button Accordion. Sharon's biggest preforming song to date is the one she recorded with Steve Earle called Galway Girl [ Song Words And Music ] Foster And Allen , The Clancys, and by Ronnie Drew. I have given the guitar chords as played by Ronnie Drew in the youtube video which are very easy to play along to.. They are only slightly different than the original chords I used. Also recorded by The Brennan Sisters and Shane MacGowan, The Dropkick Murphys, Gaelic Storm, Bridie Gallagher who is famous for recording A Mother's Love's A Blessing [ song lyrics ]and Barnbrack.Recently recorded by Irish country singer Derek Ryan as part of his Irish Medley set. The chords are suitable for playing the song on mandolin and the tenor guitar / mandola tab is included.
THIS is a proper Irish comedy of love, lust, disaster, and domestic warfare — a cautionary tale warning young lads everywhere that romance is a trap and kitchens are dangerous places.
The song begins with our hero declaring that love is “the divil’s own invention,” which is perhaps the truest theological observation ever made by a young Irishman. He falls for Miss Henrietta Bell — a temptress with charm enough to melt butter — and she reels him in down to Captain Kelly’s kitchen, which turns out to be less a romance spot and more a boxing ring.
He’s just seventeen, working for a grocer near Stephen’s Green, when Henrietta starts giving him wink and smile enough to stop his heart. She invites him for tea — and as every Irish lad knows, tea is never “just tea.” It’s code for:
“I will ruin your life, but you’ll enjoy it.”
He prepares for the big date like a man heading for his own wedding — or funeral:
Then — disaster.
Just as he’s got his arms around her and she’s dropping hints of marriage — the front door announces doom:
Captain Kelly’s carriage returns!
Henrietta transforms from sweetheart to snake in a split second. She turns on him faster than a Galway gale.
What follows is pure slapstick carnage:
In court, he expects Henrietta to tell the truth…
but she denies everything with the innocence of a choir girl.
She accuses HIM of robbery!
And the judge, being a practical Irish authority figure, says essentially:
“Ah sure, throw him in jail, he looks guilty enough.”
And he gets six months hard labour — all for courting in the kitchen.
It’s a tale of:
The moral?
Courting is risky, but courting in a kitchen is pure suicide — especially when the lady in question can launch a man across a room like a hurley ball and lie sweeter than a choir at Easter.
The song begins with our hero declaring that love is “the divil’s own invention,” which is perhaps the truest theological observation ever made by a young Irishman. He falls for Miss Henrietta Bell — a temptress with charm enough to melt butter — and she reels him in down to Captain Kelly’s kitchen, which turns out to be less a romance spot and more a boxing ring.
He’s just seventeen, working for a grocer near Stephen’s Green, when Henrietta starts giving him wink and smile enough to stop his heart. She invites him for tea — and as every Irish lad knows, tea is never “just tea.” It’s code for:
“I will ruin your life, but you’ll enjoy it.”
He prepares for the big date like a man heading for his own wedding — or funeral:
- hair greased,
- coat crisp,
- attitude confident,
- brain switched firmly OFF.
Then — disaster.
Just as he’s got his arms around her and she’s dropping hints of marriage — the front door announces doom:
Captain Kelly’s carriage returns!
Henrietta transforms from sweetheart to snake in a split second. She turns on him faster than a Galway gale.
What follows is pure slapstick carnage:
- she LAUNCHES him into the FIRE like a sack of potatoes,
- his coat burns to crisp,
- she douses him with laundry water like an angry mermaid with a bucket,
- and the poor lad ends up soaked, smoked, scorched, and humiliated.
In court, he expects Henrietta to tell the truth…
but she denies everything with the innocence of a choir girl.
She accuses HIM of robbery!
And the judge, being a practical Irish authority figure, says essentially:
“Ah sure, throw him in jail, he looks guilty enough.”
And he gets six months hard labour — all for courting in the kitchen.
It’s a tale of:
- romance gone wrong,
- gullible youth,
- dangerous women,
- untrustworthy kitchens,
- and the universal Irish law:
The moral?
Courting is risky, but courting in a kitchen is pure suicide — especially when the lady in question can launch a man across a room like a hurley ball and lie sweeter than a choir at Easter.
.[G]Come single belle and beau, to me now pay a[D]ttention
And[G] love, I'll plainly show, is the[C] divil's own in[D7]vention.
For[G] once I fell in love with a damsel most bewitchin'
Miss[C] Henrie[E7]tta[Am] Bell, down in Captain[A7] Kelly's[D] kitchen
chorus
To my[G toora loora la, my toora loora[D] laddy
Ri[G] toora loora la, ri[D] toora loora[G] laddy.
At the age of seventeen, I was 'prenticed to a grocer
Not far from Stephen's Green, where Miss Bell for tea would go, sir
Her manners were so free, she set me heart a-twitchin'
She invited me to tea, down in Captain Kelly's kitchen.
Next Sunday bein' the day we were to have the flare-up
I dressed myself quite gay, an' I frizzed and oiled my hair up
The Captain had no wife, he had gone out a-fishin'
So we kicked up high life, below-stairs in the kitchen.
Just as the clock struck six we sat down to the table
She served me tea and cakes --- I ate while I was able,
I ate cakes, drank punch and tea, till my side had got a stitch in
And the hours flew quick away, while coortin' in the kitchen.
With my arms around her waist, I kissed ---she hinted marriage
To the door in dreadful haste came Captain Kelly's carriage!
Her looks told me full well that moment she was wishin'
That I'd get out to Hell, or somewhere far from the kitchen.
She flew up off my knees, full seven feet or higher
And over heads and heels, threw me slap into the fire
My new Repealers coat, that I'd bought from Mrs. Stichen
With a thirty-shilling note, went to blazes in the kitchen.
I grieved to see my duds, all besmeared with smoke and ashes
When a tub of dirty suds, right in my face she dashes.
As I lay on the floor, still the water she kept pitchin'
Till the footman broke the door, and marched into the kitchen.
When the Captain came downstairs, and seen my situation
In spite of all my prayers I was marched off to the station
For me they'd take no bail, tho' to get home I was itchin'
And I had to tell the tale of how I got in the kitchen.
I said she did invite me, but she gave a flat denial
For assault she did indict me, and I was sent for trial.
She swore I robbed the house, in spite of all her screechin'
And I got six months hard, for my coortin' in the kitchen
And[G] love, I'll plainly show, is the[C] divil's own in[D7]vention.
For[G] once I fell in love with a damsel most bewitchin'
Miss[C] Henrie[E7]tta[Am] Bell, down in Captain[A7] Kelly's[D] kitchen
chorus
To my[G toora loora la, my toora loora[D] laddy
Ri[G] toora loora la, ri[D] toora loora[G] laddy.
At the age of seventeen, I was 'prenticed to a grocer
Not far from Stephen's Green, where Miss Bell for tea would go, sir
Her manners were so free, she set me heart a-twitchin'
She invited me to tea, down in Captain Kelly's kitchen.
Next Sunday bein' the day we were to have the flare-up
I dressed myself quite gay, an' I frizzed and oiled my hair up
The Captain had no wife, he had gone out a-fishin'
So we kicked up high life, below-stairs in the kitchen.
Just as the clock struck six we sat down to the table
She served me tea and cakes --- I ate while I was able,
I ate cakes, drank punch and tea, till my side had got a stitch in
And the hours flew quick away, while coortin' in the kitchen.
With my arms around her waist, I kissed ---she hinted marriage
To the door in dreadful haste came Captain Kelly's carriage!
Her looks told me full well that moment she was wishin'
That I'd get out to Hell, or somewhere far from the kitchen.
She flew up off my knees, full seven feet or higher
And over heads and heels, threw me slap into the fire
My new Repealers coat, that I'd bought from Mrs. Stichen
With a thirty-shilling note, went to blazes in the kitchen.
I grieved to see my duds, all besmeared with smoke and ashes
When a tub of dirty suds, right in my face she dashes.
As I lay on the floor, still the water she kept pitchin'
Till the footman broke the door, and marched into the kitchen.
When the Captain came downstairs, and seen my situation
In spite of all my prayers I was marched off to the station
For me they'd take no bail, tho' to get home I was itchin'
And I had to tell the tale of how I got in the kitchen.
I said she did invite me, but she gave a flat denial
For assault she did indict me, and I was sent for trial.
She swore I robbed the house, in spite of all her screechin'
And I got six months hard, for my coortin' in the kitchen
Guitar chords for all verses.
🎵 Courting in the Kitchen(Key: G Major)
Verse 1[G]Come single belle and beau, to me now pay at[D]tention And [G]love, I'll plainly show, is the [C]divil's own in[D7]vention. For [G]once I fell in love with a damsel most bewitchin', Miss [C]Henri[E7]etta [Am]Bell, down in [A7]Captain Kelly's [D]kitchen. ChorusTo my [G]toora loora la, my toora loora [D]laddy, Ri [G]toora loora la, ri [D]toora loora [G]laddy.
Verse 2At the [G]age of seventeen, I was 'prenticed to a [D]grocer, Not [G]far from Stephen's Green, where Miss [C]Bell for tea would [D7]go, sir. Her [G]manners were so free, she set me heart a-twitchin', She in[C]vited [E7]me to [Am]tea, down in [A7]Captain Kelly's [D]kitchen. (Chorus)
To my [G]toora loora la, my toora loora [D]laddy, Ri [G]toora loora la, ri [D]toora loora [G]laddy.
Verse 3Next [G]Sunday bein' the day we were to have the [D]flare-up, I [G]dressed myself quite gay, an' I [C]frizzed and oiled me [D7]hair up. The [G]Captain had no wife, he had gone out a-fishin', So we [C]kicked up [E7]high old [Am]life, below [A7]stairs in the [D]kitchen. (Chorus)
Verse 4Just as the [G]clock struck six, we sat down to the [D]table, She [G]served me tea and cakes — I [C]ate while I was [D7]able. I [G]ate cakes, drank punch and tea, till my side had got a stitch in, And the [C]hours flew [E7]quick a[Am]way, while coortin' [A7]in the [D]kitchen. (Chorus)
Verse 5With my [G]arms around her waist, I kissed — she hinted [D]marriage, To the [G]door in dreadful haste came [C]Captain Kelly’s [D7]carriage! Her [G]looks told me full well that moment she was wishin’, That I’d [C]get to [E7]Hell or [Am]home, and far [A7]away from the [D]kitchen. (Chorus)
Verse 6She [G]flew up off my knees, full seven feet or [D]higher, And [G]over heads and heels, threw me [C]slap into the [D7]fire. My [G]new repealer's coat that I'd bought from Mrs. Stitchen, With a [C]thirty-[E7]shilling [Am]note, went to [A7]blazes in the [D]kitchen. (Chorus)
Verse 7I [G]grieved to see my duds all besmeared with smoke and [D]ashes, When a [G]tub of dirty suds right in [C]my face she [D7]dashes. As I [G]lay upon the floor, still the water she kept pitchin’, Till the [C]footman [E7]broke the [Am]door, and marched [A7]into the [D]kitchen. (Chorus)
Verse 8When the [G]Captain came downstairs and saw my situa[D]tion, In [G]spite of all my prayers I was [C]marched off to the [D7]station. For [G]me they’d take no bail, though to get home I was itchin’, And I [C]had to [E7]tell the [Am]tale of how I [A7]got into the [D]kitchen. (Chorus)
Verse 9I [G]said she did invite me, but she gave a flat de[D]nial, For [G]assault she did indict me, and I [C]was sent for [D7]trial. She [G]swore I robbed the house, in spite of all her screechin’, And I [C]got six [E7]months hard [Am]labour for [A7]coortin’ in the [D]kitchen. (Final Chorus)
To my [G]toora loora la, my toora loora [D]laddy, Ri [G]toora loora la, ri [D]toora loora [G]laddy.
🎵 Courting in the Kitchen(Key: G Major)
Verse 1[G]Come single belle and beau, to me now pay at[D]tention And [G]love, I'll plainly show, is the [C]divil's own in[D7]vention. For [G]once I fell in love with a damsel most bewitchin', Miss [C]Henri[E7]etta [Am]Bell, down in [A7]Captain Kelly's [D]kitchen. ChorusTo my [G]toora loora la, my toora loora [D]laddy, Ri [G]toora loora la, ri [D]toora loora [G]laddy.
Verse 2At the [G]age of seventeen, I was 'prenticed to a [D]grocer, Not [G]far from Stephen's Green, where Miss [C]Bell for tea would [D7]go, sir. Her [G]manners were so free, she set me heart a-twitchin', She in[C]vited [E7]me to [Am]tea, down in [A7]Captain Kelly's [D]kitchen. (Chorus)
To my [G]toora loora la, my toora loora [D]laddy, Ri [G]toora loora la, ri [D]toora loora [G]laddy.
Verse 3Next [G]Sunday bein' the day we were to have the [D]flare-up, I [G]dressed myself quite gay, an' I [C]frizzed and oiled me [D7]hair up. The [G]Captain had no wife, he had gone out a-fishin', So we [C]kicked up [E7]high old [Am]life, below [A7]stairs in the [D]kitchen. (Chorus)
Verse 4Just as the [G]clock struck six, we sat down to the [D]table, She [G]served me tea and cakes — I [C]ate while I was [D7]able. I [G]ate cakes, drank punch and tea, till my side had got a stitch in, And the [C]hours flew [E7]quick a[Am]way, while coortin' [A7]in the [D]kitchen. (Chorus)
Verse 5With my [G]arms around her waist, I kissed — she hinted [D]marriage, To the [G]door in dreadful haste came [C]Captain Kelly’s [D7]carriage! Her [G]looks told me full well that moment she was wishin’, That I’d [C]get to [E7]Hell or [Am]home, and far [A7]away from the [D]kitchen. (Chorus)
Verse 6She [G]flew up off my knees, full seven feet or [D]higher, And [G]over heads and heels, threw me [C]slap into the [D7]fire. My [G]new repealer's coat that I'd bought from Mrs. Stitchen, With a [C]thirty-[E7]shilling [Am]note, went to [A7]blazes in the [D]kitchen. (Chorus)
Verse 7I [G]grieved to see my duds all besmeared with smoke and [D]ashes, When a [G]tub of dirty suds right in [C]my face she [D7]dashes. As I [G]lay upon the floor, still the water she kept pitchin’, Till the [C]footman [E7]broke the [Am]door, and marched [A7]into the [D]kitchen. (Chorus)
Verse 8When the [G]Captain came downstairs and saw my situa[D]tion, In [G]spite of all my prayers I was [C]marched off to the [D7]station. For [G]me they’d take no bail, though to get home I was itchin’, And I [C]had to [E7]tell the [Am]tale of how I [A7]got into the [D]kitchen. (Chorus)
Verse 9I [G]said she did invite me, but she gave a flat de[D]nial, For [G]assault she did indict me, and I [C]was sent for [D7]trial. She [G]swore I robbed the house, in spite of all her screechin’, And I [C]got six [E7]months hard [Am]labour for [A7]coortin’ in the [D]kitchen. (Final Chorus)
To my [G]toora loora la, my toora loora [D]laddy, Ri [G]toora loora la, ri [D]toora loora [G]laddy.
Ronnie Drew of The Dubliners
Courting In The Kitchen Tin Whistle Sheet Music
Ronnie Drew's Easy Version Of The Guitar Chords
[G]Come single belle and beau, to [Em]me now pay a[D]ttention
Dont [G]ever fall in love, its the[C] divil's own in[D]vention.
For[G] once I fell in love with a damsel most [D]bewitchin'
Miss Henrietta[C] Bell, down in Captain Kelly's[D] kitchen
chorus
To my[G toora loora la, my toora loora[D] laddy
Ri[G] toora loora la, ri[D] toora loora[G] laddy.
Ronnie Drew's Easy Version Of The Guitar Chords
[G]Come single belle and beau, to [Em]me now pay a[D]ttention
Dont [G]ever fall in love, its the[C] divil's own in[D]vention.
For[G] once I fell in love with a damsel most [D]bewitchin'
Miss Henrietta[C] Bell, down in Captain Kelly's[D] kitchen
chorus
To my[G toora loora la, my toora loora[D] laddy
Ri[G] toora loora la, ri[D] toora loora[G] laddy.
Courting in the kitchen guitar tab in C Major
Ronnie Drew
Courtin' in the kitchen tenor guitar / mandola tab-CGDA tuning
Courtin' in the kitchen lyrics
