New York Girls Can You Dance The Polka Lyrics And Chords
Irish Song Lyrics And Chords-Trad. Recorded by The Fureys with Finbar doing the singing. The tin whistle sheet music notes are included. Finbar sang this song in the key of E Major in the youtube video. The guitar chords are in Chordpro .New York girls can you dance the polka tenor guitar tab in CGDA. You can play the flute using the sheet music included plus a pdf of the piano sheet music.
[G]As I walked down the[C] Broadway one[D] evening in Ju[G]ly
I met a maid who[C] asked my trade – A [D7]sailor John - says[G] I
[G]And away you[C] Johnnie – My[D] dear[G] Annie
O you[C] New York girls,[D7] can't you dance the[G] polka
To Tiffany's I took her, I did not mind expense
An' I bought her two gold ear-rings, and they cost me fifty cents
And away you Johnnie – My dear Annie
O you New York girls, can't you dance the polka?
Says she - You lime-juice sailor, now see me home you may
But when we reached her cottage door, she unto me did say
And away you Johnnie – My dear Annie
O you New York girls, can't you dance the polka?
She says her man's a Yankee, with his hair cut short behind
And he wears a pair of tall sea boots and he sails in the Blackball Line
And away you Johnnie – My dear Annie
O you New York girls, can't you dance the polka?
I met a maid who[C] asked my trade – A [D7]sailor John - says[G] I
[G]And away you[C] Johnnie – My[D] dear[G] Annie
O you[C] New York girls,[D7] can't you dance the[G] polka
To Tiffany's I took her, I did not mind expense
An' I bought her two gold ear-rings, and they cost me fifty cents
And away you Johnnie – My dear Annie
O you New York girls, can't you dance the polka?
Says she - You lime-juice sailor, now see me home you may
But when we reached her cottage door, she unto me did say
And away you Johnnie – My dear Annie
O you New York girls, can't you dance the polka?
She says her man's a Yankee, with his hair cut short behind
And he wears a pair of tall sea boots and he sails in the Blackball Line
And away you Johnnie – My dear Annie
O you New York girls, can't you dance the polka?
A suggested strumming pattern
✅ A short intro fingerpicking tab that matches the style of the song
🎸 Key: G Major
Tempo: ♩ = ~100 (a lively sailor’s dance feel)
Chords Used
G 320003
C x32010
D xx0232
D7 xx0212
Intro (Fingerpicking – Folk Style)
A simple, bright arpeggiated intro — sounds great on acoustic:
G C D7 G
e|--------3-----------0-----------1-----------2---------3---------|
B|------0---0-------1---1-------1---1-------1---1-----0---0-------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2-0-------0-----|
D|----------------2-----------0-----------0------------------------|
A|--2-------------------------------------------------2-----------|
E|3---------------------------------------------------------------|
Play twice through for a gentle 4-bar intro before vocals begin.
Main Strumming Pattern
A driving sailor jig rhythm works best:
Pattern: ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
(Count: 1 2 & & 4 &)
Accent beats 2 and 4 slightly to give it a lilt.
You can mix light palm-muting for verses and open strumming for the chorus.
Lyrics with Full Chords
Verse 1
[G]As I walked down the [C]Broadway one [D]evening in Ju[G]ly
I met a maid who [C]asked my trade – A [D7]sailor John – says [G]I
Chorus:
[G]And away you [C]Johnnie – My [D]dear [G]Annie
O you [C]New York girls, [D7]can’t you dance the [G]polka
Verse 2
[G]To Tiffany’s I [C]took her, I [D]did not mind ex[G]pense
An' I bought her two gold [C]ear-rings, and they [D7]cost me fifty [G]cents
Chorus:
[G]And away you [C]Johnnie – My [D]dear [G]Annie
O you [C]New York girls, [D7]can’t you dance the [G]polka
Verse 3
[G]Says she - You lime-juice [C]sailor, now [D]see me home you [G]may
But when we reached her [C]cottage door, she [D7]unto me did [G]say
Chorus:
[G]And away you [C]Johnnie – My [D]dear [G]Annie
O you [C]New York girls, [D7]can’t you dance the [G]polka
Verse 4
[G]She says her man’s a [C]Yankee, with his [D]hair cut short be[G]hind
And he wears a pair of [C]tall sea boots and he [D7]sails in the Blackball [G]Line
Chorus:
[G]And away you [C]Johnnie – My [D]dear [G]Annie
O you [C]New York girls, [D7]can’t you dance the [G]polka
Performance Notes
Between verses, a quick D7 → G turnaround sounds great.
For a folk band feel, a fiddle or whistle can double the melody on the intro.
Try finishing with a slow, strong final G strum.
✅ A short intro fingerpicking tab that matches the style of the song
🎸 Key: G Major
Tempo: ♩ = ~100 (a lively sailor’s dance feel)
Chords Used
G 320003
C x32010
D xx0232
D7 xx0212
Intro (Fingerpicking – Folk Style)
A simple, bright arpeggiated intro — sounds great on acoustic:
G C D7 G
e|--------3-----------0-----------1-----------2---------3---------|
B|------0---0-------1---1-------1---1-------1---1-----0---0-------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2-0-------0-----|
D|----------------2-----------0-----------0------------------------|
A|--2-------------------------------------------------2-----------|
E|3---------------------------------------------------------------|
Play twice through for a gentle 4-bar intro before vocals begin.
Main Strumming Pattern
A driving sailor jig rhythm works best:
Pattern: ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
(Count: 1 2 & & 4 &)
Accent beats 2 and 4 slightly to give it a lilt.
You can mix light palm-muting for verses and open strumming for the chorus.
Lyrics with Full Chords
Verse 1
[G]As I walked down the [C]Broadway one [D]evening in Ju[G]ly
I met a maid who [C]asked my trade – A [D7]sailor John – says [G]I
Chorus:
[G]And away you [C]Johnnie – My [D]dear [G]Annie
O you [C]New York girls, [D7]can’t you dance the [G]polka
Verse 2
[G]To Tiffany’s I [C]took her, I [D]did not mind ex[G]pense
An' I bought her two gold [C]ear-rings, and they [D7]cost me fifty [G]cents
Chorus:
[G]And away you [C]Johnnie – My [D]dear [G]Annie
O you [C]New York girls, [D7]can’t you dance the [G]polka
Verse 3
[G]Says she - You lime-juice [C]sailor, now [D]see me home you [G]may
But when we reached her [C]cottage door, she [D7]unto me did [G]say
Chorus:
[G]And away you [C]Johnnie – My [D]dear [G]Annie
O you [C]New York girls, [D7]can’t you dance the [G]polka
Verse 4
[G]She says her man’s a [C]Yankee, with his [D]hair cut short be[G]hind
And he wears a pair of [C]tall sea boots and he [D7]sails in the Blackball [G]Line
Chorus:
[G]And away you [C]Johnnie – My [D]dear [G]Annie
O you [C]New York girls, [D7]can’t you dance the [G]polka
Performance Notes
Between verses, a quick D7 → G turnaround sounds great.
For a folk band feel, a fiddle or whistle can double the melody on the intro.
Try finishing with a slow, strong final G strum.
New York girls can you dance the polka sheet music notes
Here are the guitar chords for the Finbar Furey version in the youtube video.
[E]As I walked down through Chatham Street a [E]fair maid I did [A]meet
She asked me to [D]see her home she [E]lived in Bleeker [A]Street
[A]And away [D]Santy – [E]My dear[A] Annie
O you[D] New York girls,[E] can't you dance the[A] polka.
Lyrics And Chords list N-R
[E]As I walked down through Chatham Street a [E]fair maid I did [A]meet
She asked me to [D]see her home she [E]lived in Bleeker [A]Street
[A]And away [D]Santy – [E]My dear[A] Annie
O you[D] New York girls,[E] can't you dance the[A] polka.
Lyrics And Chords list N-R
New York Girls Can You Dance The Polka Sheet / Flute Music In The Key Of G Major
| new-york-girls-piano-sheet-music-pdf.pdf |
New york girls can you dance the polka tenor guitar tab in CGDA
About The Song.
this one’s a cracking tale of an innocent Irish sailor getting absolutely made a fool of in New York City, and told with that fine tradition of maritime humiliation the Irish know all too well.
We start with our seafaring lad strutting down Broadway in July:
probably sunburnt, broke, and smelling faintly of rope and rum.
He meets a Yankee lass with attitude and eyeliner sharp enough to cut anchor rope.
She asks his trade.
He replies proudly:
“A sailor, John — says I.”
Meaning:
“I work for low wages and high seas — and I’ll fall for any woman who smiles at me.”
Then comes the musical catcall:
“Oh you New York girls — can’t you dance the polka!”
Which has the energy of:
“Ah Jaysus girls, you’re wild — but you’ve no rhythm.”
Then — disaster.
He takes her to Tiffany’s --
and buys earrings for the princely sum of fifty cents.
Which tells us this is either 1890
or Tiffany’s had a very questionable clearance bin.
And to him, this is:
She then calls him:
“You lime–juice sailor.”
Which is American for:
“British Navy type — soft lad — easily fooled — will pay for things.”
He walks her home, dreaming of romance.
She reaches the door and hits him with:
“No further — thanks — goodnight now.”
He’s left outside like a confused spaniel.
Then the punchline:
She casually mentions she already has a man --
a tough Yankee type
with short hair
big boots
and a job on the Black Ball Line.
Meaning:
“He could fold you in half and use you as a bookmark.”
Our sailor suddenly realizes
he’s been played like a cheap tin whistle.
And thus the chorus returns:
“Away you Johnny — my dear Annie --
Oh you New York girls can’t you dance the polka!”
Which now sounds less flirtation
and more bitter complaint
mixed with heartbreak
and mild financial regret.
In summary:
This song is:
“Never trust a smiling woman in a strange port --
unless she buys YOU the earrings.”
this one’s a cracking tale of an innocent Irish sailor getting absolutely made a fool of in New York City, and told with that fine tradition of maritime humiliation the Irish know all too well.
We start with our seafaring lad strutting down Broadway in July:
probably sunburnt, broke, and smelling faintly of rope and rum.
He meets a Yankee lass with attitude and eyeliner sharp enough to cut anchor rope.
She asks his trade.
He replies proudly:
“A sailor, John — says I.”
Meaning:
“I work for low wages and high seas — and I’ll fall for any woman who smiles at me.”
Then comes the musical catcall:
“Oh you New York girls — can’t you dance the polka!”
Which has the energy of:
“Ah Jaysus girls, you’re wild — but you’ve no rhythm.”
Then — disaster.
He takes her to Tiffany’s --
and buys earrings for the princely sum of fifty cents.
Which tells us this is either 1890
or Tiffany’s had a very questionable clearance bin.
And to him, this is:
- romance
- generosity
- financial ruin
- free jewellery
- and a free escort home.
She then calls him:
“You lime–juice sailor.”
Which is American for:
“British Navy type — soft lad — easily fooled — will pay for things.”
He walks her home, dreaming of romance.
She reaches the door and hits him with:
“No further — thanks — goodnight now.”
He’s left outside like a confused spaniel.
Then the punchline:
She casually mentions she already has a man --
a tough Yankee type
with short hair
big boots
and a job on the Black Ball Line.
Meaning:
“He could fold you in half and use you as a bookmark.”
Our sailor suddenly realizes
he’s been played like a cheap tin whistle.
And thus the chorus returns:
“Away you Johnny — my dear Annie --
Oh you New York girls can’t you dance the polka!”
Which now sounds less flirtation
and more bitter complaint
mixed with heartbreak
and mild financial regret.
In summary:
This song is:
- boy meets girl
- girl charms boy
- boy buys earrings
- girl goes home
- boyfriend exists
- boy gets nothing
- except the receipt.
“Never trust a smiling woman in a strange port --
unless she buys YOU the earrings.”
