I'm My Own Grandpa Lyrics And Guitar Chords
The tab and guitar chords are my Marc Fahrbach. Written by Dwight Latham and Moe Jaffe.
Dennis Warner’s version (use capo on 2nd fret): The tin whistle sheet music notes are included.
Dennis Warner’s version (use capo on 2nd fret): The tin whistle sheet music notes are included.
ntro:
C C … C
½--------------- ½--------------- ½… ---------------- ½--------------- ½
½-1-----1------ ½-1-----1------ ½… -1-----1------ ½-1-----1------ ½
½-----0------0- ½-----0------0- ½… ---------------- ½-----0------0- ½
½--------------- ½--------------- ½… -----0--------- ½--------------- ½
½-3------------ ½-3------------ ½… -3-----0---2-- ½-3------------ ½
½--------------- ½--------------- ½… -----3--------- ½--------------- ½
[C] Many, many years ago when [G] I was twenty-three
I was married to a widow who was [C] pretty as could be
This widow had a grown-up daughter [F] who had hair of red
My [D] father fell in love with her and [G7] soon the two were [G] wed
Chorus:
Now [G] I'm my own grand[C]pa, [F] I'm my own grand[D]pa[D*]
It may sound [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[C] I'm my [G] own grand[C]pa
D*: [x x 0 7 7 5] this chord is optional!
This [C] made my dad my son-in-law and [G] changed my very life
My daughter was my mother, 'cause she [C] was my father's wife
And to complicate the matter even [F] though it brought me joy
I [D] soon became the father of a [G7] bouncing baby [G] boy
Now the [C] little baby then became a [G] brother-in-law to Dad
And so became my uncle though it [C] made me very sad
Cause if he was my uncle then this [F] also makes him brother
To the [D] widow's grown-up daughter who was [G7] also my step-[G]mother
Chorus
[C] Father's wife then had a son who [G] kept him on the run
He became my grandchild 'cause he [C] was my daughter's son
My wife is now my mother's mother [F] and it makes me blue
Be[D]cause although she is my wife she is [G7] my grandmother, [G]too
Now [C] if my wife is my grandmother then [G] I am her grandchild
And every time I think about it [C] nearly drives me wild
For now I have become the strangest [F] case you ever saw
As [D] husband of my grandmother, I [G7] am my own grand[G]pa
Chorus
Oh, [F] I'm my own grand[D]pa[D*]
It may sound [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[C] I'm my [G] own grand, [C] I'm my [G] own grand, [C] I'm my [G] own grand[C]pa
C C … C
½--------------- ½--------------- ½… ---------------- ½--------------- ½
½-1-----1------ ½-1-----1------ ½… -1-----1------ ½-1-----1------ ½
½-----0------0- ½-----0------0- ½… ---------------- ½-----0------0- ½
½--------------- ½--------------- ½… -----0--------- ½--------------- ½
½-3------------ ½-3------------ ½… -3-----0---2-- ½-3------------ ½
½--------------- ½--------------- ½… -----3--------- ½--------------- ½
[C] Many, many years ago when [G] I was twenty-three
I was married to a widow who was [C] pretty as could be
This widow had a grown-up daughter [F] who had hair of red
My [D] father fell in love with her and [G7] soon the two were [G] wed
Chorus:
Now [G] I'm my own grand[C]pa, [F] I'm my own grand[D]pa[D*]
It may sound [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[C] I'm my [G] own grand[C]pa
D*: [x x 0 7 7 5] this chord is optional!
This [C] made my dad my son-in-law and [G] changed my very life
My daughter was my mother, 'cause she [C] was my father's wife
And to complicate the matter even [F] though it brought me joy
I [D] soon became the father of a [G7] bouncing baby [G] boy
Now the [C] little baby then became a [G] brother-in-law to Dad
And so became my uncle though it [C] made me very sad
Cause if he was my uncle then this [F] also makes him brother
To the [D] widow's grown-up daughter who was [G7] also my step-[G]mother
Chorus
[C] Father's wife then had a son who [G] kept him on the run
He became my grandchild 'cause he [C] was my daughter's son
My wife is now my mother's mother [F] and it makes me blue
Be[D]cause although she is my wife she is [G7] my grandmother, [G]too
Now [C] if my wife is my grandmother then [G] I am her grandchild
And every time I think about it [C] nearly drives me wild
For now I have become the strangest [F] case you ever saw
As [D] husband of my grandmother, I [G7] am my own grand[G]pa
Chorus
Oh, [F] I'm my own grand[D]pa[D*]
It may sound [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[C] I'm my [G] own grand, [C] I'm my [G] own grand, [C] I'm my [G] own grand[C]pa
I’M MY OWN GRANDPA 4/4 (Moe Jaffe / Dwight Latham)
Iain MacKintosh’s version:
[C] Many, many years ago when [G] I was twenty-three
I was married to a widow who was [C] pretty as could be
This widow had a grown-up daughter [F] who had hair of red
My [D] father fell in love with her and [G7] soon the two were [G] wed
This [C] made my dad my son-in-law and [G] changed my very life
My daughter was my mother, 'cause she [C] was my father's wife
And to complicate the matter even [F] though it brought him joy
He [D] soon became the father of a [G7] bouncing baby [G] boy
But the [C] little baby then became a [G] brother-in-law to Dad
And thus became my uncle though it [C] made me very sad
Cause if he was my uncle then that also [F] made him brother
To the [D] widow's grown-up daughter who of [G7] course was my step-[G]mother
Now [G] I'm my own grand[C]pa, [F] I'm my own grand[G]pa
It sounds [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[G] I'm my own grand[C]pa
[G] I'm my own grand[C]pa, [F] I'm my own grand[G]pa
It sounds [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[G] I'm my own grand[C]pa
[C] Father's wife then had a son who [G] kept him on the run
He became my grandchild 'cause he [C] was my daughter's son
My wife is now my mother's mother [F] and it makes me blue
Al[D]though she is my wife she is my [G7] grandmother, [G]too
Now [C] if my wife is my grandmother then [G] I am her grandchild
Every time I think about it [C] nearly drives me wild
'Cause now I have become the strangest [F] case you ever saw
As [D] husband of my grandmother, I [G7] am my own grand[G]pa
Now [G] I'm my own grand[C]pa, [F] I'm my own grand[G]pa
It sounds [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[G] I'm my own grand[C]pa
Iain MacKintosh’s version:
[C] Many, many years ago when [G] I was twenty-three
I was married to a widow who was [C] pretty as could be
This widow had a grown-up daughter [F] who had hair of red
My [D] father fell in love with her and [G7] soon the two were [G] wed
This [C] made my dad my son-in-law and [G] changed my very life
My daughter was my mother, 'cause she [C] was my father's wife
And to complicate the matter even [F] though it brought him joy
He [D] soon became the father of a [G7] bouncing baby [G] boy
But the [C] little baby then became a [G] brother-in-law to Dad
And thus became my uncle though it [C] made me very sad
Cause if he was my uncle then that also [F] made him brother
To the [D] widow's grown-up daughter who of [G7] course was my step-[G]mother
Now [G] I'm my own grand[C]pa, [F] I'm my own grand[G]pa
It sounds [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[G] I'm my own grand[C]pa
[G] I'm my own grand[C]pa, [F] I'm my own grand[G]pa
It sounds [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[G] I'm my own grand[C]pa
[C] Father's wife then had a son who [G] kept him on the run
He became my grandchild 'cause he [C] was my daughter's son
My wife is now my mother's mother [F] and it makes me blue
Al[D]though she is my wife she is my [G7] grandmother, [G]too
Now [C] if my wife is my grandmother then [G] I am her grandchild
Every time I think about it [C] nearly drives me wild
'Cause now I have become the strangest [F] case you ever saw
As [D] husband of my grandmother, I [G7] am my own grand[G]pa
Now [G] I'm my own grand[C]pa, [F] I'm my own grand[G]pa
It sounds [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[G] I'm my own grand[C]pa
🎵 I’m My Own Grandpa
Key: C Major
Time Signature: 3/4 (waltz)
Tempo: ~100 BPM (light and bouncy)
🎸 STRUMMING PATTERN (3/4 time)
↓ ↓ ↑
(count: 1 2 &)
or the more “swingy” version:
↓ (↓↑) ↓ (↓↑)
(one per measure, accent beat 1)
It should sound bouncy, like a dancing rhythm:
boom–chick–chick, boom–chick–chick
🎸 FINGERPICKING PATTERN (folk waltz style)
Use Travis-style picking with a 3/4 roll:
T – I – M – T – I – M
(count: 1 2 3)
Thumb (T): plays bass notes (root → 4th/5th string)
Index (I): G string
Middle (M): B string
Keep it steady and rolling.
🪶 Fingerpicking Tabs — All Verses
Verse 1
(“Many, many years ago when I was twenty-three…”)
C
e|--------0-----------0-----------|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--3------------------------------|--3-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
Many, many years ago when I was twenty-three
G
e|--------3-----------3-----------|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2------------------------------|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3------------------------------|--3-----------------------------|
I was married to a widow who was pretty as could be
C F
e|--------0-----------0-----------|--------1-----------1-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|--3-----------3-----------------|
A|--3------------------------------|--3-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
This widow had a grown-up daughter who had hair of red
D G
e|--------2-----------2-----------|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|--2-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--3-----------------------------|
My father fell in love with her and soon the two were wed
Verse 2
(“This made my dad my son-in-law…”)
Use the same picking pattern:
C G
e|--------0-----------0-----------|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--3------------------------------|--2-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--3-----------------------------|
This made my dad my son-in-law and changed my very life
C F
e|--------0-----------0-----------|--------1-----------1-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|--3-----------3-----------------|
A|--3------------------------------|--3-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
My daughter was my mother ‘cause she was my father’s wife
D G
e|--------2-----------2-----------|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|--2-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--3-----------------------------|
And to complicate the matter even though it brought him joy
D G
e|--------2-----------2-----------|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|--2-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--3-----------------------------|
He soon became the father of a bouncing baby boy
Chorus
(“Now I’m my own grandpa…”)
Switch to gentle strumming for lift:
↓ ↓ ↑ per measure (3/4 time)
G C
e|--3-------------|--0-------------|
B|--0-------------|--1-------------|
G|--0-------------|--0-------------|
D|--0-------------|--2-------------|
A|--2-------------|--3-------------|
E|--3-------------|----------------|
Now I'm my own grandpa
F G
e|--1-------------|--3-------------|
B|--1-------------|--0-------------|
G|--2-------------|--0-------------|
D|--3-------------|--0-------------|
A|--3-------------|--2-------------|
E|----------------|--3-------------|
I'm my own grandpa
C F
e|--0-------------|--1-------------|
B|--1-------------|--1-------------|
G|--0-------------|--2-------------|
D|--2-------------|--3-------------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
It sounds funny I know, but really it's so
G C
e|--3-------------|--0-------------|
B|--0-------------|--1-------------|
G|--0-------------|--0-------------|
D|--0-------------|--2-------------|
A|--2-------------|--3-------------|
E|--3-------------|----------------|
I'm my own grandpa
🎧 Performance Tips
Verses: fingerpick steadily in 3/4, like a gentle story rhythm.
Chorus: switch to light strumming for contrast.
Accent the first beat of every bar (“boom–chick–chick”).
Keep it bright and humorous, like a folk singalong.
Optional ending: slow down the final “I’m my own grandpa” and let the C chord ring.
Key: C Major
Time Signature: 3/4 (waltz)
Tempo: ~100 BPM (light and bouncy)
🎸 STRUMMING PATTERN (3/4 time)
↓ ↓ ↑
(count: 1 2 &)
or the more “swingy” version:
↓ (↓↑) ↓ (↓↑)
(one per measure, accent beat 1)
It should sound bouncy, like a dancing rhythm:
boom–chick–chick, boom–chick–chick
🎸 FINGERPICKING PATTERN (folk waltz style)
Use Travis-style picking with a 3/4 roll:
T – I – M – T – I – M
(count: 1 2 3)
Thumb (T): plays bass notes (root → 4th/5th string)
Index (I): G string
Middle (M): B string
Keep it steady and rolling.
🪶 Fingerpicking Tabs — All Verses
Verse 1
(“Many, many years ago when I was twenty-three…”)
C
e|--------0-----------0-----------|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--3------------------------------|--3-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
Many, many years ago when I was twenty-three
G
e|--------3-----------3-----------|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2------------------------------|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3------------------------------|--3-----------------------------|
I was married to a widow who was pretty as could be
C F
e|--------0-----------0-----------|--------1-----------1-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|--3-----------3-----------------|
A|--3------------------------------|--3-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
This widow had a grown-up daughter who had hair of red
D G
e|--------2-----------2-----------|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|--2-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--3-----------------------------|
My father fell in love with her and soon the two were wed
Verse 2
(“This made my dad my son-in-law…”)
Use the same picking pattern:
C G
e|--------0-----------0-----------|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--3------------------------------|--2-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--3-----------------------------|
This made my dad my son-in-law and changed my very life
C F
e|--------0-----------0-----------|--------1-----------1-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|--3-----------3-----------------|
A|--3------------------------------|--3-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
My daughter was my mother ‘cause she was my father’s wife
D G
e|--------2-----------2-----------|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|--2-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--3-----------------------------|
And to complicate the matter even though it brought him joy
D G
e|--------2-----------2-----------|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|--2-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|--3-----------------------------|
He soon became the father of a bouncing baby boy
Chorus
(“Now I’m my own grandpa…”)
Switch to gentle strumming for lift:
↓ ↓ ↑ per measure (3/4 time)
G C
e|--3-------------|--0-------------|
B|--0-------------|--1-------------|
G|--0-------------|--0-------------|
D|--0-------------|--2-------------|
A|--2-------------|--3-------------|
E|--3-------------|----------------|
Now I'm my own grandpa
F G
e|--1-------------|--3-------------|
B|--1-------------|--0-------------|
G|--2-------------|--0-------------|
D|--3-------------|--0-------------|
A|--3-------------|--2-------------|
E|----------------|--3-------------|
I'm my own grandpa
C F
e|--0-------------|--1-------------|
B|--1-------------|--1-------------|
G|--0-------------|--2-------------|
D|--2-------------|--3-------------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
It sounds funny I know, but really it's so
G C
e|--3-------------|--0-------------|
B|--0-------------|--1-------------|
G|--0-------------|--0-------------|
D|--0-------------|--2-------------|
A|--2-------------|--3-------------|
E|--3-------------|----------------|
I'm my own grandpa
🎧 Performance Tips
Verses: fingerpick steadily in 3/4, like a gentle story rhythm.
Chorus: switch to light strumming for contrast.
Accent the first beat of every bar (“boom–chick–chick”).
Keep it bright and humorous, like a folk singalong.
Optional ending: slow down the final “I’m my own grandpa” and let the C chord ring.
I'm My Own Grandpa Tin Whistle Sheet Music Notes
