Michael Finnigin lyrics and guitar chords
This is a traditional song, an unusual surname, perhaps it should be spelt ''Finnegan'' or ''Finnigan'' the earliest publication is from The Oxford Songbook 1927. The song was recorded by folk singers The Clancy Brothers An Tommy Makem [ songs ] The sheet music with letter notes plus the ukulele chords and tenor guitar tab are included.
[G]There was an old man named Michael Finnigin
[D7]He had whiskers on his chinigin
The[G] wind came up and blew them in ag'in
[D7]Poor old Michael Finnigin
[G]Begin ag'in
There was an old man named Michael Finnigin
He got drunk through drinking ginigin
That's who he wasted all his tinnigin
Poor old Michael Finnigin
Begin ag'in
There was an old man named Michael Finnigin
He grew fat and then grew thin ag'in
then he died, and had to begin ag'in
Poor old Michael, please don't
Begin ag'in
[D7]He had whiskers on his chinigin
The[G] wind came up and blew them in ag'in
[D7]Poor old Michael Finnigin
[G]Begin ag'in
There was an old man named Michael Finnigin
He got drunk through drinking ginigin
That's who he wasted all his tinnigin
Poor old Michael Finnigin
Begin ag'in
There was an old man named Michael Finnigin
He grew fat and then grew thin ag'in
then he died, and had to begin ag'in
Poor old Michael, please don't
Begin ag'in
🎵 Michael Finnigin (in G Major, 2/4 time)
Strumming pattern (2/4 time):
↓ ↓↑
Count: 1 2&
(Play a strong downstroke on beat 1, light down-up on beat 2)
Or for a folkier sound: Bass (↓) – Strum (↓↑)
Verse 1
[G]There was an old man named [D7]Michael Finnigin
He [G]had whiskers on his [D7]chinigin
The [G]wind came up and blew them [D7]in ag’in
Poor old [G]Michael [D7]Finnigin
[G]Begin ag’in
Verse 2
[G]There was an old man named [D7]Michael Finnigin
He [G]got drunk through drinking [D7]ginigin
That’s [G]how he wasted all his [D7]tinnigin
Poor old [G]Michael [D7]Finnigin
[G]Begin ag’in
Verse 3
[G]There was an old man named [D7]Michael Finnigin
He [G]grew fat and then grew [D7]thin ag’in
Then [G]he died, and had to [D7]begin ag’in
Poor old [G]Michael [D7]please don’t
[G]Begin ag’in
🎸 Fingerpicking Tab – Verse 1 (2/4 time)
Simple alternating bass pattern with melody notes.
Thumb (p) = bass, Index (i) = G string, Middle (m) = B string.
Tempo: ~110 bpm
Feel: “oom-pah” (bass + light chord)
G Major D7
e|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B|-------0-----------0-------------|-------1-----------1-----------|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-----------|-----2---2-------2---2---------|
D|---------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A|-----------2-----------2---------|-----------0-----------0-------|
E|-3---------------3---------------|--------------------------------|
G Major (line 3) D7 G
e|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B|-------0-----------0-------------|-------1-----------0-----------|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-----------|-----2---2-------0---0---------|
D|---------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A|-----------2-----------2---------|-----------0-----------2-------|
E|-3---------------3---------------|---2---------------3-----------|
👉 How to play it:
Each measure = 2 beats (bass on beat 1, treble on beat 2)
Keep a steady “thumb–fingers” motion
Repeat the pattern for each line of the verse
Strumming pattern (2/4 time):
↓ ↓↑
Count: 1 2&
(Play a strong downstroke on beat 1, light down-up on beat 2)
Or for a folkier sound: Bass (↓) – Strum (↓↑)
Verse 1
[G]There was an old man named [D7]Michael Finnigin
He [G]had whiskers on his [D7]chinigin
The [G]wind came up and blew them [D7]in ag’in
Poor old [G]Michael [D7]Finnigin
[G]Begin ag’in
Verse 2
[G]There was an old man named [D7]Michael Finnigin
He [G]got drunk through drinking [D7]ginigin
That’s [G]how he wasted all his [D7]tinnigin
Poor old [G]Michael [D7]Finnigin
[G]Begin ag’in
Verse 3
[G]There was an old man named [D7]Michael Finnigin
He [G]grew fat and then grew [D7]thin ag’in
Then [G]he died, and had to [D7]begin ag’in
Poor old [G]Michael [D7]please don’t
[G]Begin ag’in
🎸 Fingerpicking Tab – Verse 1 (2/4 time)
Simple alternating bass pattern with melody notes.
Thumb (p) = bass, Index (i) = G string, Middle (m) = B string.
Tempo: ~110 bpm
Feel: “oom-pah” (bass + light chord)
G Major D7
e|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B|-------0-----------0-------------|-------1-----------1-----------|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-----------|-----2---2-------2---2---------|
D|---------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A|-----------2-----------2---------|-----------0-----------0-------|
E|-3---------------3---------------|--------------------------------|
G Major (line 3) D7 G
e|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B|-------0-----------0-------------|-------1-----------0-----------|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-----------|-----2---2-------0---0---------|
D|---------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A|-----------2-----------2---------|-----------0-----------2-------|
E|-3---------------3---------------|---2---------------3-----------|
👉 How to play it:
Each measure = 2 beats (bass on beat 1, treble on beat 2)
Keep a steady “thumb–fingers” motion
Repeat the pattern for each line of the verse
Michael Finnigan Sheet Music
Michael Finnigin tenor guitar tab in CGDA tuning. Suitable for mandola.
