Maggie Lyrics And Chords
This song which was written by George W. Johnson and James Austin Butterfield in 1864 is sometimes called ''When You And I Were Young Maggie''. The song is dedicated to Maggie Clark from Glanford Ontario, Canada who ended up getting married to George Johnson, they were married only 1 year before Maggie died. The song was originally written as a poem but after the death of his wife, George got Austin Butterfield to set his poem to music.This was a big hit for Foster and Allen [ songs ]and also for The Furey Brothers And Davie Arthur, the second set of chords are in the same key that Foster And Allen play the song in. [ Key Of A ] Also recorded by the Irish tenor singer John McCormack and by Maura O'Connell. Maggie tenor guitar / mandola tab in CGDA included.
When You and I Were Young. Maggie Words by George Washington Johnson (1839-1917)
Music by James Austin Butterfield 11837-1891) When a song becomes common currency all sorts of legends spring up around it. This was particularly true when most of our "home songs" were new, before the days of instant communications. News traveled slowly in those times, if at all. There were often completely fanciful stories of a song's background, and not infrequently a host of claimants to its authorship. To set the record straight as to the identity of the Maggie immortalized in this song. Mrs. Elizabeth Clark Pagden, Maggie's younger sister, pubIshed this statement in 1941:
"Maggie Clark was born in Glanford. Ontario. near the city of Hamilton. George Johnson was also born in the vicinity Newly graduated from the University of Toronto, he became an instructor at the local school, which Maggie attended. Teacher and pupil fell in love and became en- gaged. Their strolls together around the countryside often took them to an old sawmill located near her home on the bank of a 20-mile creek. It was a romantic spot. shaded by tall maple trees, the same mill that is mentioned in the poem, "When You and I Were Young When Maggie and George were married they moved to Cleveland. Ohio, where he became associate editor of a newspaper She died in May 1865, less than a year later, and was brought home to Canada. She was buried near the old home. Then he returned to Canada and resumed teaching as professor of languages and mathematics at the University of Toronto."
Johnson's poem was published in 1864 in a volume of his verses called "Maple Leaves" in honor of the Canadian emblem. Mrs. Paglen further states that in 1866 "he had the famous poem to Maggie set to music by J. A Butterfield of Detroit" Butterfield, born and educated in England (he studied singing with Lamperti. W liam Shakespeare and Charles Lunnl, became a force in the musical life of the Midwest, especially Chicago. His more ambitious works, including the dramatic cantatas Ruth the Gleaner and Belshazzar and his comic opera Para- phonia, are long since forgotten: only Maggie keeps his name alive.
Music by James Austin Butterfield 11837-1891) When a song becomes common currency all sorts of legends spring up around it. This was particularly true when most of our "home songs" were new, before the days of instant communications. News traveled slowly in those times, if at all. There were often completely fanciful stories of a song's background, and not infrequently a host of claimants to its authorship. To set the record straight as to the identity of the Maggie immortalized in this song. Mrs. Elizabeth Clark Pagden, Maggie's younger sister, pubIshed this statement in 1941:
"Maggie Clark was born in Glanford. Ontario. near the city of Hamilton. George Johnson was also born in the vicinity Newly graduated from the University of Toronto, he became an instructor at the local school, which Maggie attended. Teacher and pupil fell in love and became en- gaged. Their strolls together around the countryside often took them to an old sawmill located near her home on the bank of a 20-mile creek. It was a romantic spot. shaded by tall maple trees, the same mill that is mentioned in the poem, "When You and I Were Young When Maggie and George were married they moved to Cleveland. Ohio, where he became associate editor of a newspaper She died in May 1865, less than a year later, and was brought home to Canada. She was buried near the old home. Then he returned to Canada and resumed teaching as professor of languages and mathematics at the University of Toronto."
Johnson's poem was published in 1864 in a volume of his verses called "Maple Leaves" in honor of the Canadian emblem. Mrs. Paglen further states that in 1866 "he had the famous poem to Maggie set to music by J. A Butterfield of Detroit" Butterfield, born and educated in England (he studied singing with Lamperti. W liam Shakespeare and Charles Lunnl, became a force in the musical life of the Midwest, especially Chicago. His more ambitious works, including the dramatic cantatas Ruth the Gleaner and Belshazzar and his comic opera Para- phonia, are long since forgotten: only Maggie keeps his name alive.
Foster And Allen Version
I[E] wandered today to the[A] hills maggie,to[E] watch the scene be[B]low,
The[E] creek and the creeking old[A] mill maggie,as[E] we used to[B] long,long[E] ago,
The[A] green grove is gone from the[E] hills Maggie,where[B] once the[F7] dasies [B]grow
The[E] creeking old[D7] mill is[A] still Maggie,since[E] you and[B] I were[E] young.
[2]
[E]Oh they say that I am feeble with [A]age Maggie,
My [E]steps are much slower that [B]then,
My [E]face is a well written [A]page Maggie,
And [E]time all a[B]lone was the [E]pen.
[3]
They [A]say we have outlived our [E]time Maggie
As [B]dated as [F#]songs that [B]we've sung,
But to [E]me your as fair as you [A]were Maggie,
When [E]you and [B]I were [E]young.
I[D] wandered today to the[G] hills maggie,to[D] watch the scene be[A]low,
The[D] creek and the creeking old[G] mill maggie,as[D] we used to[A7] long,long[D] ago,
The[G] green grove is gone from the[D] hills Maggie,where[A] once the[E7] dasies sprong,.[A7]
The[D] creeking old[D7] mill is[G] still Maggie,since[D] you and[A7] I were[D] young.
[2]
Oh they say that I am feeble with age Maggie,
My steps are much slower that then,
My face is a well written page Maggie,
And time all alone was the pen.
[3]
They say we have outlived our time Maggie
As dated as songs that we've sung,
But to me your as fair as you were Maggie,
When you and I were young.
The[D] creek and the creeking old[G] mill maggie,as[D] we used to[A7] long,long[D] ago,
The[G] green grove is gone from the[D] hills Maggie,where[A] once the[E7] dasies sprong,.[A7]
The[D] creeking old[D7] mill is[G] still Maggie,since[D] you and[A7] I were[D] young.
[2]
Oh they say that I am feeble with age Maggie,
My steps are much slower that then,
My face is a well written page Maggie,
And time all alone was the pen.
[3]
They say we have outlived our time Maggie
As dated as songs that we've sung,
But to me your as fair as you were Maggie,
When you and I were young.
Alternative guitar chords for the key of G Major.
I[G] wandered today to the[C] hills maggie,to[G] watch the scene be[D]low,
The[G] creek and the creeking old[C] mill maggie,as[G] we used to[D7] long,long[G] ago,
The[C] green grove is gone from the[G] hills Maggie,where[D] once the[A7] dasies sprong,.[D7]
The[G] creeking old[G7] mill is[C] still Maggie,since[G] you and[D7] I were[G] young.
I[G] wandered today to the[C] hills maggie,to[G] watch the scene be[D]low,
The[G] creek and the creeking old[C] mill maggie,as[G] we used to[D7] long,long[G] ago,
The[C] green grove is gone from the[G] hills Maggie,where[D] once the[A7] dasies sprong,.[D7]
The[G] creeking old[G7] mill is[C] still Maggie,since[G] you and[D7] I were[G] young.
Irish folk music is a living tradition in western Europe, enjoying some vigour, particularly in its dance music. Because of its extended contact with the folk music of England and the large- scale emigration from Ireland to the USA in the 19th Century, this music is of particular significance in the study of the origins and spread of folksongs in English on the North American continent. Songs (both Irish and English) and dance music form the two main categories of Irish folk music; there is also a handful of purely instrumental airs some descriptive others elaborated from dance-tunes, which are played for listening to rather than for dancing or marching.
In ancient Ireland the cultivation and practice of music was an exclusively oral art; no system of musical notation was used, so no specimens of the music performed are available.
Most song airs (with their texts) and almost all the dance music in current tradition originated in the 18th and early 19th Centuries. The love song is the predominant class of folksong in the Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking districts) of Ireland. Theme and type approach the French literary tradition so closely that it appears likely that the basic Irish moults were formed when the two cultures were in contact in Ireland during the 13th and 14th Centuries.
The Irish love-song is essentially lyrical. Traditional singers sometimes preface their singing of a song by telling its story or the reason for it, but the song itself is not narrative; it may express the hopes or despair of the lover or the loved one, and each verse treats some aspect of the theme. The jig and the reel, and their related group dances, along with the hornpipe and the various sets and half-sets, all survived into the 20th Century, and the music played for them forms by far the greater part of the national repertoire.
In ancient Ireland the cultivation and practice of music was an exclusively oral art; no system of musical notation was used, so no specimens of the music performed are available.
Most song airs (with their texts) and almost all the dance music in current tradition originated in the 18th and early 19th Centuries. The love song is the predominant class of folksong in the Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking districts) of Ireland. Theme and type approach the French literary tradition so closely that it appears likely that the basic Irish moults were formed when the two cultures were in contact in Ireland during the 13th and 14th Centuries.
The Irish love-song is essentially lyrical. Traditional singers sometimes preface their singing of a song by telling its story or the reason for it, but the song itself is not narrative; it may express the hopes or despair of the lover or the loved one, and each verse treats some aspect of the theme. The jig and the reel, and their related group dances, along with the hornpipe and the various sets and half-sets, all survived into the 20th Century, and the music played for them forms by far the greater part of the national repertoire.
Foster and Allen Maggie Song
When You And I Were Young Maggie tenor guitar / mandola tab in CGDA
Maggie - Irish Girl In Traditional Clothes
The Irish song "Maggie" is a poignant and nostalgic ballad that reflects on love, aging, and the passage of time. While often associated with Irish and Scottish folk traditions, the song’s origins actually trace back to North America.
Origins
Song Themes
Cultural Impact
Legacy"Maggie" endures as a timeless ballad about enduring love in the face of life's changes. Its gentle melody and heartfelt lyrics have made it a cherished part of Irish and international music traditions.
Origins
- Written in 1864 by George W. Johnson, a schoolteacher from Canada, as a tribute to his wife, Margaret "Maggie" Clark, who was suffering from tuberculosis.
- The music was composed by James A. Butterfield, an American musician.
- Over time, the song became part of the Irish folk tradition due to its widespread popularity and themes of love and nostalgia.
Song Themes
- Love and Devotion:
The narrator reflects on the love shared with Maggie, remembering their youth and romantic connection. Despite the hardships of life and the passage of time, their love remains strong. - Aging and Change:
Much of the song focuses on how time has changed both the lovers and the world around them, with lines like:
"They say we are aged and gray, Maggie,
As spray by the white breakers flung." - Nature as a Symbol:
The imagery of nature (hills, valleys, and streams) symbolizes both the beauty of their past and the inevitability of change over time.
Cultural Impact
- The song became a beloved part of Irish folk and country music, performed by artists such as Foster and Allen, Daniel O'Donnell, and John McDermott.
- Its universal themes of love, memory, and aging resonate with audiences worldwide, making it a popular choice at Irish gatherings and nostalgic moments.
Legacy"Maggie" endures as a timeless ballad about enduring love in the face of life's changes. Its gentle melody and heartfelt lyrics have made it a cherished part of Irish and international music traditions.
My Maggie song lyrics
My Irish Maggie, with hair so red
Her eyes like emeralds, they shine so bright
She's got a smile that could light up the night
And a heart as pure as the Irish sky
Chorus:
Oh my Irish Maggie, won't you stay
With your laughter and your Irish ways
You've stolen my heart, I hope you'll never stray
My Irish Maggie, you're my lucky charm today
Verse 2:
With her freckles sprinkled like a field of clovers
And a spirit wild and free
She's got a love for life, like no other
My Irish Maggie, she's all I'll ever need
Chorus:
Oh my Irish Maggie, won't you stay
With your laughter and your Irish ways
You've stolen my heart, I hope you'll never stray
My Irish Maggie, you're my lucky charm today
Bridge:
From the land of green, she came to me
And I thank the stars above
For sending me my Irish Maggie
The one I'll forever love
Chorus:
Oh my Irish Maggie, won't you stay
With your laughter and your Irish ways
You've stolen my heart, I hope you'll never stray
My Irish Maggie, you're my lucky charm today
Outro:
So here's my love song, to my Irish lass
With her heart of gold and her Irish sass
My Irish Maggie, you make my heart sing
Forever and always, my love you'll bring.
My Irish Maggie, with hair so red
Her eyes like emeralds, they shine so bright
She's got a smile that could light up the night
And a heart as pure as the Irish sky
Chorus:
Oh my Irish Maggie, won't you stay
With your laughter and your Irish ways
You've stolen my heart, I hope you'll never stray
My Irish Maggie, you're my lucky charm today
Verse 2:
With her freckles sprinkled like a field of clovers
And a spirit wild and free
She's got a love for life, like no other
My Irish Maggie, she's all I'll ever need
Chorus:
Oh my Irish Maggie, won't you stay
With your laughter and your Irish ways
You've stolen my heart, I hope you'll never stray
My Irish Maggie, you're my lucky charm today
Bridge:
From the land of green, she came to me
And I thank the stars above
For sending me my Irish Maggie
The one I'll forever love
Chorus:
Oh my Irish Maggie, won't you stay
With your laughter and your Irish ways
You've stolen my heart, I hope you'll never stray
My Irish Maggie, you're my lucky charm today
Outro:
So here's my love song, to my Irish lass
With her heart of gold and her Irish sass
My Irish Maggie, you make my heart sing
Forever and always, my love you'll bring.
