Look At The Coffin / Isn't It Grand Boys lyrics and chords

An Irish folk song about a wake. The sheet music in the key of D for Tin Whistle is included. The Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem song lyrics and guitar chords. I have given 2 sets of chords. The second version in the key of D Major is the same key that The Clancy's sing the song in the youtube video.

Key: G Major
Time: 4/4
Tempo: ~100 bpm (march-like folk rhythm)

🎸 Strumming Pattern (Irish pub style, 4/4)

D – D U – U D U
(Down, Down-Up, Up-Down-Up)

Alternate version (more percussive, march feel):

Bass – Down – Up – Down – Up
Hit the bass note of each chord on beat 1.

🎶 Full Lyrics with Chords

Verse 1
[G]Look at the coffin, with silver [C]handles
Isn’t it [G]grand, boys, to be bloody well [D]dead?
[G]Let’s not have a sniffle, let’s have a [C]bloody good [G]cry
And always re[C]member, the [G]longer you live,
The [D]sooner you’ll bloody well [G]die.

Verse 2
[G]Look at the bearers, all in their [C]frock coats
Ain’t it just [G]grand, to be bloomin’ well [D]dead?
[G]And look at their top hats, polished with [C]Guinness
Ain’t it just [G]grand, to be bloomin’ well [D]dead!

Chorus
[G]Let’s not have a sniffle, let’s have a [C]bloody good [G]cry
And always re[C]member, the [G]longer you live,
The [D]sooner you’ll bloody well [G]die.

Verse 3
[G]Look at the preacher, a-bleatin’ and [C]prayin’
Ain’t it just [G]grand, to be bloomin’ well [D]dead?
[G]And look at the mourners, all shakin’ and [C]quakin’
Ain’t it just [G]grand, to be bloomin’ well [D]dead!

Chorus (same as above)

Verse 4
[G]Look at the flowers, all bloom and [C]faded
Ain’t it just [G]grand, to be bloomin’ well [D]dead?
[G]And look at the tombstone, covered in [C]ivy
Ain’t it just [G]grand, to be bloomin’ well [D]dead!

Final Chorus
[G]Let’s not have a sniffle, let’s have a [C]bloody good [G]cry
And always re[C]member, the [G]longer you live,
The [D]sooner you’ll bloody well [G]die!

🎵 Fingerpicking Tab (Verse 1 + Chorus)

Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Style: Alternating bass fingerpicking (folk/travis feel)

Right hand:
p = thumb, i = index, m = middle, a = ring
Pattern: p – i – m – i – p – i – m – i
(Thumb alternates between root and fifth string)

Verse 1 (fingerpicking)
   G                                  C
e|-------3-----------3-|-------0-----------0-|
B|-----0---0-------0---|-----1---1-------1---|
G|---0-------0---0-----|---0-------0---0-----|
D|---------------------|-2-----------2-------|
A|---------------------|-3-----------3-------|
E|-3-----------3-------|---------------------|

   G                                  D
e|-------3-----------3-|-------2-----------2-|
B|-----0---0-------0---|-----3---3-------3---|
G|---0-------0---0-----|---2-------2---2-----|
D|---------------------|-0-----------0-------|
A|---------------------|---------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------|---------------------|

   G                                  C
e|-------3-----------3-|-------0-----------0-|
B|-----0---0-------0---|-----1---1-------1---|
G|---0-------0---0-----|---0-------0---0-----|
D|---------------------|-2-----------2-------|
A|---------------------|-3-----------3-------|
E|-3-----------3-------|---------------------|

   G                   D                  G
e|-------3-----------3-|-------2-----------2-|-------3-----------3-|
B|-----0---0-------0---|-----3---3-------3---|-----0---0-------0---|
G|---0-------0---0-----|---2-------2---2-----|---0-------0---0-----|
D|---------------------|-0-----------0-------|---------------------|
A|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------|---------------------|-3-----------3-------|

Chorus (fingerpicking)
   G                                  C
e|-------3-----------3-|-------0-----------0-|
B|-----0---0-------0---|-----1---1-------1---|
G|---0-------0---0-----|---0-------0---0-----|
D|---------------------|-2-----------2-------|
A|---------------------|-3-----------3-------|
E|-3-----------3-------|---------------------|

   G                                  C
e|-------3-----------3-|-------0-----------0-|
B|-----0---0-------0---|-----1---1-------1---|
G|---0-------0---0-----|---0-------0---0-----|
D|---------------------|-2-----------2-------|
A|---------------------|-3-----------3-------|
E|-3-----------3-------|---------------------|

   G                   D                  G
e|-------3-----------3-|-------2-----------2-|-------3-----------3-|
B|-----0---0-------0---|-----3---3-------3---|-----0---0-------0---|
G|---0-------0---0-----|---2-------2---2-----|---0-------0---0-----|
D|---------------------|-0-----------0-------|---------------------|
A|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------|---------------------|-3-----------3-------|

Here's the Clancys version
[D]Look at the coffin, with silver[G] handles
Isn't it[D] grand, boys, to [Bm]be bloody well[A] dead?
[Chorus]
Let's not have a [D]sniffle, [G]let's have a bloody good [D]cry
And [G]always remember, the[D] longer you live
The[A] sooner you'll bloody well[D] die.

​Isn't it Grand Boys / Look At The Coffin Tin Whistle Sheet Music Notes

​Look at the coffin banjo tab