Finnegan's Wake lyrics and chords

This a comical Irish song from around 1850s. The guitar chords are in C Major in chordpro. This is the song that James Joyce set his masterpiece ''Finnegans Wake''The song itself was brought back to life by The Dubliners. and later by The Irish Rovers [ lyrics ] and later still by Dropkick Murphys, Seamus Kennedy and The High Kings. Sheet music and tin whistle notes are included. Youtube video by The Dubliners.

Tim[C] Finnegan lived in[Am] Walkin Street, a[F] gentle Irishman[G] mighty odd
He[C] had a brogue both[Am] rich and sweet, an' to[F] rise in the [G]world he carried a[C] hod
You see he'd a sort of a[Am] tipplers way but the[C] love for the[Am] liquor poor Tim was[C] born
To help him on his[Am] way each day, he'd a[F] drop of the[G] craythur every[C] morn
[C]Whack fol the dah now[Am] dance to yer[F] partner around the flure yer[G] trotters shake
[C]Wasn't it the[Am] truth I told you?[F] Lots of fun at [G]Finnegan's[C] Wake
 
One morning Tim got rather full, his head felt heavy which made him shake
Fell from a ladder and he broke his skull, and they carried him home his corpse to wake
Rolled him up in a nice clean sheet, and laid him out upon the bed
A bottle of whiskey at his feet and a barrel of porter at his head
Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner around the flure yer trotters shake
Wasn't it the truth I told you? Lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake
 
His friends assembled at the wake, and Mrs Finnegan called for lunch
First she brought in tay and cake, then pipes, tobacco and whiskey punch
Biddy O'Brien began to cry, "Such a nice clean corpse, did you ever see,
Tim avourneen, why did you die?", "Will ye hould your gob?" said Paddy McGee
Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner around the flure yer trotters shake
Wasn't it the truth I told you? Lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake
 
Then Maggie O'Connor took up the job, "Biddy" says she "you're wrong, I'm sure"
Biddy gave her a belt in the gob and left her sprawling on the floor
Then the war did soon engage, t'was woman to woman and man to man
Shillelagh law was all the rage and a row and a ruction soon began
Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner around the flure yer trotters shake
Wasn't it the truth I told you? Lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake
 
Mickey Maloney ducked his head when a bucket of whiskey flew at him
It missed, and falling on the bed, the liquor scattered over Tim
Bedad he revives, see how he rises, Timothy rising from the bed
Saying "Whittle your whiskey around like blazes, t'underin' Japers, do ye think I'm dead?"
Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner around the flure yer trotters shake
Wasn't it the truth I told you? Lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake
Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner around the flure yer trotters shake
Wasn't it the truth I told you? Lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake.

​ “How’s is your aul’ one? Game ball!”
________________________________________

How is your aul one means, How is you mother or wife.
Game ball means fine, or good or OK
Aul or sometimes spelt ''Auld'' means old.

“How’s is your aul’ one? Game ball!” is an old Dublin saying. It's used a lot by ballad singers at the end of a song just as a bit of fun.
See slang Irish words .

​Here's the chords in the key of G.

Tim[G] Finnegan lived in[Em] Walkin Street, a[C] gentle Irishman[D] mighty odd
He[G] had a brogue both[Em] rich and sweet, an' to[C] rise in the [D]world he carried a[G] hod
You see he'd a sort of a[Em] tipplers way but the[G] love for the[Em] liquor poor Tim was[G] born
To help him on his[Em] way each day, he'd a[C] drop of the[D] craythur every[G] morn
[G]Whack fol the dah now[Em] dance to yer[C] partner around the flure yer[D] trotters shake
[G]Wasn't it the[Em] truth I told you?[C] Lots of fun at [D]Finnegan's[G] Wake

​🎵 Finnegan’s Wake(Traditional Irish Ballad – Key of C Major)

[Verse 1]Tim [C]Finnegan lived in [Am]Walkin’ Street, a [F]gentle Irishman [G]mighty odd,
He [C]had a brogue both [Am]rich and sweet, and to [F]rise in the [G]world he carried a [C]hod,
You see he’d a sort of a [Am]tippler’s way, but the [C]love for the [Am]liquor poor Tim was [C]born,
To help him on his [Am]way each day, he’d a [F]drop of the [G]craythur every [C]morn.

[Chorus][C]Whack fol the dah now [Am]dance to your [F]partner,
Around the flure your [G]trotters shake,
[C]Wasn’t it the [Am]truth I told you,
[F]Lots of fun at [G]Finnegan’s [C]Wake!

[Verse 2]One [C]morning Tim got [Am]rather full, his [F]head felt heavy which [G]made him shake,
He [C]fell from a ladder and he [Am]broke his skull, and they [F]carried him home his [G]corpse to wake,
They [C]rolled him up in a [Am]nice clean sheet, and [C]laid him out upon the [Am]bed,
A [C]bottle of whiskey at his [Am]feet and a [F]barrel of [G]porter at his [C]head.
[Chorus]
[C]Whack fol the dah now [Am]dance to your [F]partner,
Around the flure your [G]trotters shake,
[C]Wasn’t it the [Am]truth I told you,
[F]Lots of fun at [G]Finnegan’s [C]Wake!

[Verse 3]His [C]friends assembled at the [Am]wake, and [F]Mrs. Finnegan [G]called for lunch,
First [C]she brought in tay and [Am]cake, then [F]pipes, tobacco and [G]whiskey punch,
Biddy [C]O’Brien began to [Am]cry, “Such a [C]nice clean corpse, did you [Am]ever see?
Tim a[C]vourneen, why did you [Am]die?” “Will ye [F]hould your [G]gob?” said Paddy Mc[C]Gee.
[Chorus]
[C]Whack fol the dah now [Am]dance to your [F]partner,
Around the flure your [G]trotters shake,
[C]Wasn’t it the [Am]truth I told you,
[F]Lots of fun at [G]Finnegan’s [C]Wake!

[Verse 4]Then [C]Maggie O’Connor [Am]took up the job, “Biddy,” [F]says she, “you’re [G]wrong, I’m sure!”
Biddy [C]gave her a belt in the [Am]gob, and [F]left her sprawlin’ [G]on the floor,
Then the [C]war did soon en[Am]gage, ’twas [C]woman to woman and [Am]man to man,
Shi[C]llelagh law was all the [Am]rage, and a [F]row and a [G]ruction soon be[C]gan.
[Chorus]
[C]Whack fol the dah now [Am]dance to your [F]partner,
Around the flure your [G]trotters shake,
[C]Wasn’t it the [Am]truth I told you,
[F]Lots of fun at [G]Finnegan’s [C]Wake!

[Verse 5]Then [C]Mickey Maloney [Am]ducked his head when a [F]bucket of whiskey [G]flew at him,
It [C]missed and falling on the [Am]bed, the [F]liquor scattered [G]over Tim,
Be[C]dad he revives, see [Am]how he rises, [C]Timothy rising from the [Am]bed,
Saying, “[C]Whittle your whiskey a[Am]round like blazes, [F]T’underin’ [G]Japers, d’ye think I’m [C]dead?”

[Chorus – Final][C]Whack fol the dah now [Am]dance to your [F]partner,
Around the flure your [G]trotters shake,
[C]Wasn’t it the [Am]truth I told you,
[F]Lots of fun at [G]Finnegan’s [C]Wake!
[C]Whack fol the dah now [Am]dance to your [F]partner,
Around the flure your [G]trotters shake,
[C]Wasn’t it the [Am]truth I told you,
[F]Lots of fun at [G]Finnegan’s [C]Wake!

🎸 Strumming Pattern (Irish Jig Feel – 6/8 or Fast 3/4)↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓
Count: 1-2-3 4-5-6, accent on 1 and 4 for the classic rolling Irish rhythm.
Alternate pub strum for faster tempos:
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ (tight, short strokes on each beat).

🎶 Optional Intro / Turnaround (C Major)Use this between verses or before the song starts:
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| B|-----1---0------|-----1----------|-----3-1-0------|-----0----------| G|---0---0---0----|---0---0--------|---0-----0------|---0---0--------| D|-2--------------|-3--------------|-2--------------|-2--------------| A|3---------------|----------------|3---------------|3---------------| E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| C chord feel F lift G bounce back to C
💡 Performance Notes

• Keep the pace lively and rhythmic, about 120–140 bpm.
  
• Use strong emphasis on the first beat of each bar — it’s meant for dancing!
  
• For a big finish, repeat the last “Whack fol the dah…” twice, then end on a bold C chord.
  

​Traditional Irish musicians outside thatched pub in Ireland

​🎵 Finnegan’s Wake(Traditional Irish – Key of G Major)

[Verse 1]Tim [G]Finnegan lived in [Em]Walkin’ Street, a [C]gentle Irishman [D]mighty odd,
He [G]had a brogue both [Em]rich and sweet, and to [C]rise in the [D]world he carried a [G]hod,
You see he’d a sort of a [Em]tippler’s way, but the [G]love for the [Em]liquor poor Tim was [G]born,
To help him on his [Em]way each day, he’d a [C]drop of the [D]craythur every [G]morn.

[Chorus][G]Whack fol the dah now [Em]dance to your [C]partner,
Around the flure your [D]trotters shake,
[G]Wasn’t it the [Em]truth I told you,
[C]Lots of fun at [D]Finnegan’s [G]Wake!

[Verse 2]One [G]morning Tim got [Em]rather full, his [C]head felt heavy which [D]made him shake,
He [G]fell from a ladder and he [Em]broke his skull, and they [C]carried him home his [D]corpse to wake,
They [G]rolled him up in a [Em]nice clean sheet, and [G]laid him out upon the [Em]bed,
A [G]bottle of whiskey at his [Em]feet and a [C]barrel of [D]porter at his [G]head.
[Chorus]
[G]Whack fol the dah now [Em]dance to your [C]partner,
Around the flure your [D]trotters shake,
[G]Wasn’t it the [Em]truth I told you,
[C]Lots of fun at [D]Finnegan’s [G]Wake!

[Verse 3]His [G]friends assembled at the [Em]wake, and [C]Mrs. Finnegan [D]called for lunch,
First [G]she brought in tay and [Em]cake, then [C]pipes, tobacco and [D]whiskey punch,
Biddy [G]O’Brien began to [Em]cry, “Such a [G]nice clean corpse, did you [Em]ever see?
Tim a[G]vourneen, why did you [Em]die?” “Will ye [C]hould your [D]gob?” said Paddy Mc[G]Gee.
[Chorus]
[G]Whack fol the dah now [Em]dance to your [C]partner,
Around the flure your [D]trotters shake,
[G]Wasn’t it the [Em]truth I told you,
[C]Lots of fun at [D]Finnegan’s [G]Wake!

[Verse 4]Then [G]Maggie O’Connor [Em]took up the job, “Biddy,” [C]says she, “you’re [D]wrong, I’m sure!”
Biddy [G]gave her a belt in the [Em]gob, and [C]left her sprawlin’ [D]on the floor,
Then the [G]war did soon en[Em]gage, ’twas [G]woman to woman and [Em]man to man,
Shi[G]llelagh law was all the [Em]rage, and a [C]row and a [D]ruction soon be[G]gan.
[Chorus]
[G]Whack fol the dah now [Em]dance to your [C]partner,
Around the flure your [D]trotters shake,
[G]Wasn’t it the [Em]truth I told you,
[C]Lots of fun at [D]Finnegan’s [G]Wake!

[Verse 5]Then [G]Mickey Maloney [Em]ducked his head when a [C]bucket of whiskey [D]flew at him,
It [G]missed and falling on the [Em]bed, the [C]liquor scattered [D]over Tim,
Be[G]dad he revives, see [Em]how he rises, [G]Timothy rising from the [Em]bed,
Saying, “[G]Whittle your whiskey a[Em]round like blazes, [C]T’underin’ [D]Japers, d’ye think I’m [G]dead?”
[Final Chorus – repeat twice]
[G]Whack fol the dah now [Em]dance to your [C]partner,
Around the flure your [D]trotters shake,
[G]Wasn’t it the [Em]truth I told you,
[C]Lots of fun at [D]Finnegan’s [G]Wake!

🎶 Optional Intro / Turnaround Riff – G Major(Play before Verse 1 or between verses for a traditional bounce)
| G → C → G → D → G | e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| B|-----0---1------|-----0----------|-----3-1-0------|-----0----------| G|---0---0---0----|---0---0--------|---0-----0------|---0---0--------| D|-0--------------|-2--------------|-0--------------|-0--------------| A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| E|3---------------|----------------|2---------------|3---------------| G chord feel C lift D walk-up back to G
🎸 Strumming Pattern (Lively 6/8 or 3/4 Jig)↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓
Count: 1-2-3 4-5-6, accent 1 and 4 for Irish swing.
Alternate fast pub rhythm:
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ (steady downstrokes for drive).

💡 Performance Tips

• Keep it fast and rhythmic — around 130–140 bpm.
  
• Emphasize the first beat for that dancing “step-hop” Irish feel.
  
• For a big finish, repeat the final chorus twice, ending on a bold G chord with a quick strum.
  

Here's the sheet music for Finnegan's Wake with piano chords

The Dubliners Sheet Music / Tin Whistle Notes Ebook