Mush Mush Irish song lyrics and guitar chords
Song taken from the John Ford film ''The Quiet Man'' staring John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara and Barry Fitzgerald who sings this song.The easy guitar chords in G Major are in chordpro. The song writer remains unknown, recorded by The Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem. I'm sure there was a verse at the start of this song that went missing over the years, I have yet to find it. The famous song from that movie is The Isle Of Innisfree Song. Recorded by Michael O'Duffy. The sheet music and tin whistle notes are included.
Also recorded by Josef Locke.
Also recorded by Josef Locke.
THIS song is a wild, swaggering portrait of an Irish scrapper with more attitude than education, more fists than finesse, and a temper that could set turf alight.
It begins in childhood --
at Dick Croly’s little school — where our hero learns:
He and Master O’Toole had more “scrimmages” than spelling lessons, and instead of copying sentences on paper, he was copying punches across the room.
And he boasts:
There was ne’er a gossoon in the village dared tread on the tail of my coat.
That’s Irish for:
“Go ahead — try to provoke me — I dare ya.”
Back then, stepping on the tail of someone’s coat was basically the Irish version of punching their pride square in the chest.
Then he moves on to romantic education --
flirting and wooing --
until Cupid, the little divil, shoots him full-force.
He falls for Molly O’Connor, the girl who lives “forninst” him --
an absolutely glorious Irish word meaning “directly across from me.”
He writes her sweet lines, and threatens anyone who insults her with:
I'll tread on the tail of YOUR coat!
Which is basically:
“I’ll rearrange your face.”
But alas, along comes Mickey Maloney --
a right gobshite with money --
and Molly is lured away like a crow after a shiny object.
So our hero challenges Mickey --
as any true Irish man heartbroken and broke would do.
They cross the Shannon by boat --
slip into the woodbine at dusk --
and our lad lathers Mickey with a shillelagh
until Maloney regrets every note in his bank account.
Then comes the heroic transformation:
Word spreads far and wide:
Billy McGee is a champion of ructions!
He has cleaned out the Finegans,
licked all the Murphys,
and battered every family that looked sideways at him.
He proudly declares:
If you’re in for a row or a ruction, just tread on the tail of my coat.
Meaning:
“In need of a fight? Just ask — I’ll oblige you.”
In short, the song is:
but is legendary for knocking lads senseless and defending Molly’s honour.
As we’d say in Ireland:
He may not be able to spell ‘reputation’ — but by God, he’s earned one.
It begins in childhood --
at Dick Croly’s little school — where our hero learns:
- reading
- writing
- and fighting
He and Master O’Toole had more “scrimmages” than spelling lessons, and instead of copying sentences on paper, he was copying punches across the room.
And he boasts:
There was ne’er a gossoon in the village dared tread on the tail of my coat.
That’s Irish for:
“Go ahead — try to provoke me — I dare ya.”
Back then, stepping on the tail of someone’s coat was basically the Irish version of punching their pride square in the chest.
Then he moves on to romantic education --
flirting and wooing --
until Cupid, the little divil, shoots him full-force.
He falls for Molly O’Connor, the girl who lives “forninst” him --
an absolutely glorious Irish word meaning “directly across from me.”
He writes her sweet lines, and threatens anyone who insults her with:
I'll tread on the tail of YOUR coat!
Which is basically:
“I’ll rearrange your face.”
But alas, along comes Mickey Maloney --
a right gobshite with money --
and Molly is lured away like a crow after a shiny object.
So our hero challenges Mickey --
as any true Irish man heartbroken and broke would do.
They cross the Shannon by boat --
slip into the woodbine at dusk --
and our lad lathers Mickey with a shillelagh
until Maloney regrets every note in his bank account.
Then comes the heroic transformation:
Word spreads far and wide:
Billy McGee is a champion of ructions!
He has cleaned out the Finegans,
licked all the Murphys,
and battered every family that looked sideways at him.
He proudly declares:
If you’re in for a row or a ruction, just tread on the tail of my coat.
Meaning:
“In need of a fight? Just ask — I’ll oblige you.”
In short, the song is:
- a brawling autobiography
- a comedy of Irish bravado
- a tale of fists first, feelings later
- and a tribute to the sacred art of coat-tail dueling
but is legendary for knocking lads senseless and defending Molly’s honour.
As we’d say in Ireland:
He may not be able to spell ‘reputation’ — but by God, he’s earned one.
This song, to me always seemed to be missing it's first verse.
So now I have given it a starter verse.
My name is Paddy O'Leary, and it’s well known up and down,
That I am the most hardiest fella in all of the town.
It’s true that me temper is fiery, me fist is a boulder of rock,
And I'm quick as a wink to lose patience, and give a big fella a sock.
I'll show any fella a thrashin’, if he dares to give me a bad look,
And I’ll prove that I'm not to be trifled with, I’m as tough as the nails in a book.
So now I have given it a starter verse.
My name is Paddy O'Leary, and it’s well known up and down,
That I am the most hardiest fella in all of the town.
It’s true that me temper is fiery, me fist is a boulder of rock,
And I'm quick as a wink to lose patience, and give a big fella a sock.
I'll show any fella a thrashin’, if he dares to give me a bad look,
And I’ll prove that I'm not to be trifled with, I’m as tough as the nails in a book.
Song Words - Easy Guitar Chords In G Major Key
[G]It was there I learned readin' and [D]writin'
At Dick[G] Croly's where I went to[C] school,
And 'twas[G] there I learned [G7]howlin and [C]fightin'
[Am]with my[G] school master[D7] Mister O'[G]Toole,,[D]
Him and[G] me we had many a [D]scrimmage,
and [G]devil a copy I [C]wrote,
there was [G]ne'er a goss[G7]oon in the [C]village,
[Am]dared [G]tread on the [D7]tail of my [G]coat.
CHORUS
Mush, mush, mush, turaliady,
Sing mush, mush, mush, turalia,
There was ne'er a gossoon in the village
dared tread on the tail of my coat.
Oh 'twas there I learned all my courtin',
Many lessons I took in the art;
Till Cupid, the blackguard, while sportin',
An arrow drove straight thro' my heart.
Molly O'Connor, she lived just forninst me,
And tender lines to her I wrote,
If you dare say on hard word again her,
I'll tread on the tail of your coat.
But a blackguard called Mickey Maloney,
came and stole her affections away,
For he'd money and I had'nt any,
So I sent him a challenge next day.
In the evening we met at the woodbine,
The shannon we crossed in a boat,
And I lathered him with my shillelah,
for he trod on the tail of my coat.
Oh, my fame went abroad thro' the nation
and folks came a flocking to see
And they cried out without hesitation,
"You're a fightin' man, Billy McGee."
I have claned out the Finegan faction,
And I've licked all the Murphys afloat,
If you're in for a row or a ruction,
Just tread on the tail of my coat.
[G]It was there I learned readin' and [D]writin'
At Dick[G] Croly's where I went to[C] school,
And 'twas[G] there I learned [G7]howlin and [C]fightin'
[Am]with my[G] school master[D7] Mister O'[G]Toole,,[D]
Him and[G] me we had many a [D]scrimmage,
and [G]devil a copy I [C]wrote,
there was [G]ne'er a goss[G7]oon in the [C]village,
[Am]dared [G]tread on the [D7]tail of my [G]coat.
CHORUS
Mush, mush, mush, turaliady,
Sing mush, mush, mush, turalia,
There was ne'er a gossoon in the village
dared tread on the tail of my coat.
Oh 'twas there I learned all my courtin',
Many lessons I took in the art;
Till Cupid, the blackguard, while sportin',
An arrow drove straight thro' my heart.
Molly O'Connor, she lived just forninst me,
And tender lines to her I wrote,
If you dare say on hard word again her,
I'll tread on the tail of your coat.
But a blackguard called Mickey Maloney,
came and stole her affections away,
For he'd money and I had'nt any,
So I sent him a challenge next day.
In the evening we met at the woodbine,
The shannon we crossed in a boat,
And I lathered him with my shillelah,
for he trod on the tail of my coat.
Oh, my fame went abroad thro' the nation
and folks came a flocking to see
And they cried out without hesitation,
"You're a fightin' man, Billy McGee."
I have claned out the Finegan faction,
And I've licked all the Murphys afloat,
If you're in for a row or a ruction,
Just tread on the tail of my coat.
“The Tail of My Coat” (or “The Tread on the Tail of My Coat”), often sung by the Clancy Brothers
Here’s the complete version with guitar chords for every verse and chorus, in G Major (your preferred key family).
🎵 The Tread on the Tail of My Coat(Traditional Irish – Key of G Major)
[Verse 1][D]It was [G]there I learned readin' and [D]writin',
At Dick [C]Croly's where [D]I went to [G]school,
And 'twas there I learned howlin’ and [Am]fightin’
[D]With my [G]school master [D7]Mister O’[G]Toole.
Him and [G]me, we had many a [D]scrimmage,
And [C]devil a [D]copy I [G]wrote,
[D]There was ne’er a gos[D]soon in the [Am]village,
[Am]Dared [G]tread on the [D7]tail of my [G]coat.
[Chorus][G]Singing mush, mush, mush, [D]turali-addy,
Sing [C]mush, mush, mush, [D]turali-[G]a.
There was ne’er a gos[D]soon in the [Am]village,
[D]Dared [G]tread on the [D7]tail of my [G]coat.
[Verse 2]Oh, [G]'twas there I learned all of my [D]courtin’,
Many [C]lessons I [D]took in the [G]art,
Till Cupid, the blackguard, while [Am]sportin’,
[D]An arrow drove [G]straight through my [D7]heart.
Molly O’[G]Connor, she lived just for[D]ninst me,
And [C]tender lines [D]to her I [G]wrote,
If you [D]dare say one [D]hard word a[Am]gainst her,
[Am]I’ll [G]tread on the [D7]tail of your [G]coat.
[Chorus][G]Singing mush, mush, mush, [D]turali-addy,
Sing [C]mush, mush, mush, [D]turali-[G]a.
If you dare say one [D]hard word a[Am]gainst her,
[D]I’ll [G]tread on the [D7]tail of your [G]coat.
[Verse 3]But a [G]blackguard called Mickey Ma[D]loney,
Came and [C]stole her af[D]fections a[G]way,
For he’d money and I hadn’t [Am]any,
[D]So I [G]sent him a [D7]challenge next [G]day.
In the [G]evenin’ we met at the [D]woodbine,
The [C]Shannon we [D]crossed in a [G]boat,
And I [D]lathered him [D]with my shi[Am]llelagh,
[Am]For he [G]trod on the [D7]tail of my [G]coat.
[Chorus][G]Singing mush, mush, mush, [D]turali-addy,
Sing [C]mush, mush, mush, [D]turali-[G]a.
And I lathered him [D]with my shi[Am]llelagh,
[D]For he [G]trod on the [D7]tail of my [G]coat.
[Verse 4]Oh, my [G]fame went abroad through the [D]nation,
And the [C]people came [D]flocking to [G]see,
And they cried out without hesit[Am]ation,
[D]“You’re a [G]fightin’ man, [D7]Billy Mc[G]Gee!”
I have [G]cleaned out the Finegan [D]faction,
And [C]licked all the [D]Murphys a[G]float,
If you’re [D]in for a [D]row or a [Am]ruction,
[Am]Just [G]tread on the [D7]tail of my [G]coat!
[Final Chorus][G]Singing mush, mush, mush, [D]turali-addy,
Sing [C]mush, mush, mush, [D]turali-[G]a.
If you’re in for a [D]row or a [Am]ruction,
[D]Just [G]tread on the [D7]tail of my [G]coat.
🎸 Suggested Strumming Pattern (4/4 Irish March Feel)↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
or for energy:
↓ ↓ ↓ ↑ | ↓ ↓ ↓ ↑
Keep it driving and lively — it’s a proud, swaggering song!
💡 Performance Tips
Here’s the complete version with guitar chords for every verse and chorus, in G Major (your preferred key family).
🎵 The Tread on the Tail of My Coat(Traditional Irish – Key of G Major)
[Verse 1][D]It was [G]there I learned readin' and [D]writin',
At Dick [C]Croly's where [D]I went to [G]school,
And 'twas there I learned howlin’ and [Am]fightin’
[D]With my [G]school master [D7]Mister O’[G]Toole.
Him and [G]me, we had many a [D]scrimmage,
And [C]devil a [D]copy I [G]wrote,
[D]There was ne’er a gos[D]soon in the [Am]village,
[Am]Dared [G]tread on the [D7]tail of my [G]coat.
[Chorus][G]Singing mush, mush, mush, [D]turali-addy,
Sing [C]mush, mush, mush, [D]turali-[G]a.
There was ne’er a gos[D]soon in the [Am]village,
[D]Dared [G]tread on the [D7]tail of my [G]coat.
[Verse 2]Oh, [G]'twas there I learned all of my [D]courtin’,
Many [C]lessons I [D]took in the [G]art,
Till Cupid, the blackguard, while [Am]sportin’,
[D]An arrow drove [G]straight through my [D7]heart.
Molly O’[G]Connor, she lived just for[D]ninst me,
And [C]tender lines [D]to her I [G]wrote,
If you [D]dare say one [D]hard word a[Am]gainst her,
[Am]I’ll [G]tread on the [D7]tail of your [G]coat.
[Chorus][G]Singing mush, mush, mush, [D]turali-addy,
Sing [C]mush, mush, mush, [D]turali-[G]a.
If you dare say one [D]hard word a[Am]gainst her,
[D]I’ll [G]tread on the [D7]tail of your [G]coat.
[Verse 3]But a [G]blackguard called Mickey Ma[D]loney,
Came and [C]stole her af[D]fections a[G]way,
For he’d money and I hadn’t [Am]any,
[D]So I [G]sent him a [D7]challenge next [G]day.
In the [G]evenin’ we met at the [D]woodbine,
The [C]Shannon we [D]crossed in a [G]boat,
And I [D]lathered him [D]with my shi[Am]llelagh,
[Am]For he [G]trod on the [D7]tail of my [G]coat.
[Chorus][G]Singing mush, mush, mush, [D]turali-addy,
Sing [C]mush, mush, mush, [D]turali-[G]a.
And I lathered him [D]with my shi[Am]llelagh,
[D]For he [G]trod on the [D7]tail of my [G]coat.
[Verse 4]Oh, my [G]fame went abroad through the [D]nation,
And the [C]people came [D]flocking to [G]see,
And they cried out without hesit[Am]ation,
[D]“You’re a [G]fightin’ man, [D7]Billy Mc[G]Gee!”
I have [G]cleaned out the Finegan [D]faction,
And [C]licked all the [D]Murphys a[G]float,
If you’re [D]in for a [D]row or a [Am]ruction,
[Am]Just [G]tread on the [D7]tail of my [G]coat!
[Final Chorus][G]Singing mush, mush, mush, [D]turali-addy,
Sing [C]mush, mush, mush, [D]turali-[G]a.
If you’re in for a [D]row or a [Am]ruction,
[D]Just [G]tread on the [D7]tail of my [G]coat.
🎸 Suggested Strumming Pattern (4/4 Irish March Feel)↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
or for energy:
↓ ↓ ↓ ↑ | ↓ ↓ ↓ ↑
Keep it driving and lively — it’s a proud, swaggering song!
💡 Performance Tips
- Tempo: brisk (~110–120 BPM).
- Emphasize G → C → D7 → G walk for a strong folk-dance rhythm.
- Add hand claps or bodhrán on the 2nd and 4th beat for authenticity.
- For extra lift: add a “D7sus4–D7” at the end of each chorus line.
Here are the guitar chords as played by Barleyjuice
in the youtube video.
[D]It was [G]there I learned readin' and [D]writin'
At Dick[C] Croly's where [D]I went to[G] school,
And 'twas there I learned howlin and [Am]fightin'
[D]with my[G] school master[D7] Mister O'[G]Toole,
Him and[G] me we had many a [D]scrimmage,
and [C]devil a [D]copy I [G]wrote,
[D]there was ne'er a goss[D]oon in the [Am]village,
[Am]dared [G]tread on the [D7]tail of my [G]coat.
CHORUS
[G]Singing Mush, mush, mush, [D]turaliady,
Sing [C]mush, mush, mush, [D]turali[G]a,
There was ne'er a gos[D]soon in the [Am]village
[D]dared [G]tread on the [D]tail of my [G]co
in the youtube video.
[D]It was [G]there I learned readin' and [D]writin'
At Dick[C] Croly's where [D]I went to[G] school,
And 'twas there I learned howlin and [Am]fightin'
[D]with my[G] school master[D7] Mister O'[G]Toole,
Him and[G] me we had many a [D]scrimmage,
and [C]devil a [D]copy I [G]wrote,
[D]there was ne'er a goss[D]oon in the [Am]village,
[Am]dared [G]tread on the [D7]tail of my [G]coat.
CHORUS
[G]Singing Mush, mush, mush, [D]turaliady,
Sing [C]mush, mush, mush, [D]turali[G]a,
There was ne'er a gos[D]soon in the [Am]village
[D]dared [G]tread on the [D]tail of my [G]co
Mush Mush Sheet Music And Tin Whistle Notes In G Major. If you're playing this old folk song on the whistle then you a D whistle, as that's what the sheet music is set up for, regardless of what the key says.
