Peggy Gordon Lyrics And Chords
Peggy Gordon is a traditional folk song which comes from Scotland. The song was made famous by 'The Dubliners' ,a classic folk song that will live forever , and so will The Dubliners music. Luke Kelly sings on vocals. Luke sings this song in the key of G Major. The song was also recorded by The Corries, Paddy Reilly, The Coors, Sinead O'Connor, Donna Taggart and The Chieftains. Peggy Gordon Sheet Music .
Guitar chords for all the verses.
Oh[D] Peggy Gordon you[G] are my[D] dar[A]ling,
[G]Come sit you[D] down upon my[A] knee,
[G]Come tell to[D] me the[G] very[D] reas[A]on,
[G]Why I am[D] slighted[A],so by[D] thee,
[2]
I wish I was in some lonesome valley,where woman kind cannot be found,
Where the pretty small birds,do change their voices,and every moment a different sound.
[3]
Im so in love that I cant deny it,my heart lies smothered in my breast,
But its not for you to lrt the world know it,a troubled mind can know no rest.
[4]
I did put my head to a cask of brandy,it was my fancy I do declare,
For when im drinking I am always thinking,and wishing Peggy Gordon was here.
Oh[D] Peggy Gordon you[G] are my[D] dar[A]ling,
[G]Come sit you[D] down upon my[A] knee,
[G]Come tell to[D] me the [G]very [D]reas[A]on,
[G]Why I am[D] slighted [A]so by [D]thee.
I [D]wish I was in some [G]lonesome [D]val[A]ley,
[G]Where woman [D]kind cannot [A]be found,
[G]Where the pretty [D]small birds [G]change their [D]voi[A]ces,
[G]And every [D]moment [A]a different [D]sound.
I’m [D]so in love that I [G]can’t de[D]ny [A]it,
[G]My heart lies [D]smothered in [A]my breast,
[G]But it’s not for [D]you to [G]let the [D]world [A]know it,
[G]A troubled [D]mind can [A]know no [D]rest.
I [D]did put my head to a [G]cask of [D]bran[A]dy,
[G]It was my [D]fancy I [A]do declare,
[G]For when I’m [D]drinking I [G]am al[D]ways [A]thinking,
[G]And wishing [D]Peggy [A]Gordon was [D]here.
Here's the chords for The Coors version.
[C]O Peggy Gor[G]don you[C] are my da[G]rling
Come [Dm]sit you [C]down upon my [G]knee
[C]Come [Dm]tell to [C]me the very rea[G]son
Why [Dm]I am [C]slighted [G]so by [C].thee.
Oh[D] Peggy Gordon you[G] are my[D] dar[A]ling,
[G]Come sit you[D] down upon my[A] knee,
[G]Come tell to[D] me the[G] very[D] reas[A]on,
[G]Why I am[D] slighted[A],so by[D] thee,
[2]
I wish I was in some lonesome valley,where woman kind cannot be found,
Where the pretty small birds,do change their voices,and every moment a different sound.
[3]
Im so in love that I cant deny it,my heart lies smothered in my breast,
But its not for you to lrt the world know it,a troubled mind can know no rest.
[4]
I did put my head to a cask of brandy,it was my fancy I do declare,
For when im drinking I am always thinking,and wishing Peggy Gordon was here.
Oh[D] Peggy Gordon you[G] are my[D] dar[A]ling,
[G]Come sit you[D] down upon my[A] knee,
[G]Come tell to[D] me the [G]very [D]reas[A]on,
[G]Why I am[D] slighted [A]so by [D]thee.
I [D]wish I was in some [G]lonesome [D]val[A]ley,
[G]Where woman [D]kind cannot [A]be found,
[G]Where the pretty [D]small birds [G]change their [D]voi[A]ces,
[G]And every [D]moment [A]a different [D]sound.
I’m [D]so in love that I [G]can’t de[D]ny [A]it,
[G]My heart lies [D]smothered in [A]my breast,
[G]But it’s not for [D]you to [G]let the [D]world [A]know it,
[G]A troubled [D]mind can [A]know no [D]rest.
I [D]did put my head to a [G]cask of [D]bran[A]dy,
[G]It was my [D]fancy I [A]do declare,
[G]For when I’m [D]drinking I [G]am al[D]ways [A]thinking,
[G]And wishing [D]Peggy [A]Gordon was [D]here.
Here's the chords for The Coors version.
[C]O Peggy Gor[G]don you[C] are my da[G]rling
Come [Dm]sit you [C]down upon my [G]knee
[C]Come [Dm]tell to [C]me the very rea[G]son
Why [Dm]I am [C]slighted [G]so by [C].thee.
Donna Taggart who is just one of many singers of Peggy Gordon
Key of G Major
Oh[G] Peggy Gordon you[C] are my[G] dar[D]ling,
[C]Come sit you[G] down upon my[D] knee,
[C]Come tell to[G] me the [C]very [G]reas[D]on,
[C]Why I am[G] slighted [D]so by [G]thee.
I [G]wish I was in some [C]lonesome [G]val[D]ley,
[C]Where woman [G]kind cannot [D]be found,
[C]Where the pretty [G]small birds [C]change their [G]voi[D]ces,
[C]And every [G]moment [D]a different [G]sound.
I'm [G]so in love that I [C]can't de[G]ny [D]it,
[C]My heart lies [G]smothered in [D]my breast,
[C]But it's not for [G]you to [C]let the [G]world [D]know it,
[C]A troubled [G]mind can [D]know no [G]rest.
I [G]did put my head to a [C]cask of [G]bran[D]dy,
[C]It was my [G]fancy I [D]do declare,
[C]For when I'm [G]drinking I [C]am al[G]ways [D]thinking,
[C]And wishing [G]Peggy [D]Gordon was [G]here.
Key of C Major
Oh[C] Peggy Gordon you[F] are my[C] dar[G]ling,
[F]Come sit you[C] down upon my[G] knee,
[F]Come tell to[C] me the [F]very [C]reas[G]on,
[F]Why I am[C] slighted [G]so by [C]thee.
I [C]wish I was in some [F]lonesome [C]val[G]ley,
[F]Where woman [C]kind cannot [G]be found,
[F]Where the pretty [C]small birds [F]change their [C]voi[G]ces,
[F]And every [C]moment [G]a different [C]sound.
I'm [C]so in love that I [F]can't de[C]ny [G]it,
[F]My heart lies [C]smothered in [G]my breast,
[F]But it's not for [C]you to [F]let the [C]world [G]know it,
[F]A troubled [C]mind can [G]know no [C]rest.
I [C]did put my head to a [F]cask of [C]bran[G]dy,
[F]It was my [C]fancy I [G]do declare,
[F]For when I'm [C]drinking I [F]am al[C]ways [G]thinking,
[F]And wishing [C]Peggy [G]Gordon was [C]here.
Oh[G] Peggy Gordon you[C] are my[G] dar[D]ling,
[C]Come sit you[G] down upon my[D] knee,
[C]Come tell to[G] me the [C]very [G]reas[D]on,
[C]Why I am[G] slighted [D]so by [G]thee.
I [G]wish I was in some [C]lonesome [G]val[D]ley,
[C]Where woman [G]kind cannot [D]be found,
[C]Where the pretty [G]small birds [C]change their [G]voi[D]ces,
[C]And every [G]moment [D]a different [G]sound.
I'm [G]so in love that I [C]can't de[G]ny [D]it,
[C]My heart lies [G]smothered in [D]my breast,
[C]But it's not for [G]you to [C]let the [G]world [D]know it,
[C]A troubled [G]mind can [D]know no [G]rest.
I [G]did put my head to a [C]cask of [G]bran[D]dy,
[C]It was my [G]fancy I [D]do declare,
[C]For when I'm [G]drinking I [C]am al[G]ways [D]thinking,
[C]And wishing [G]Peggy [D]Gordon was [G]here.
Key of C Major
Oh[C] Peggy Gordon you[F] are my[C] dar[G]ling,
[F]Come sit you[C] down upon my[G] knee,
[F]Come tell to[C] me the [F]very [C]reas[G]on,
[F]Why I am[C] slighted [G]so by [C]thee.
I [C]wish I was in some [F]lonesome [C]val[G]ley,
[F]Where woman [C]kind cannot [G]be found,
[F]Where the pretty [C]small birds [F]change their [C]voi[G]ces,
[F]And every [C]moment [G]a different [C]sound.
I'm [C]so in love that I [F]can't de[C]ny [G]it,
[F]My heart lies [C]smothered in [G]my breast,
[F]But it's not for [C]you to [F]let the [C]world [G]know it,
[F]A troubled [C]mind can [G]know no [C]rest.
I [C]did put my head to a [F]cask of [C]bran[G]dy,
[F]It was my [C]fancy I [G]do declare,
[F]For when I'm [C]drinking I [F]am al[C]ways [G]thinking,
[F]And wishing [C]Peggy [G]Gordon was [C]here.
Luke Kelly used to drink in O'Donughue's pub in Baggot Street, he had a friendly personality and when he began to sing people took notice and loved it. Luke Kelly was the type of character you could not ignore. He had great integrity and always stood up for what he believed in.
The first gig with Ronnie Drew and luke kelly happened in O' Donoghue's with Barney McKenna and Ciaran Bourke who was an agricultural student in university, in those days you had to ask permission to sing in a pub, well said Ronnie can we play a few tunes to Paddy O Donoghue and they still haven't stopped playing.
Back to The Dubliner's Song Lyrics
The first gig with Ronnie Drew and luke kelly happened in O' Donoghue's with Barney McKenna and Ciaran Bourke who was an agricultural student in university, in those days you had to ask permission to sing in a pub, well said Ronnie can we play a few tunes to Paddy O Donoghue and they still haven't stopped playing.
Back to The Dubliner's Song Lyrics
Key Of G Major
Oh[G] Peggy Gordon you[C] are my[G] dar[D]ling,
[C]Come sit you[G] down upon my[D] knee,
[C]Come tell to[G] me the[C] very[G] reas[D]on,
[C]Why I am[G] slighted[D],so by[G] thee,
Key Of C.
Oh[C] Peggy Gordon you[F] are my[C] dar[G]ling,
[F]Come sit you[C] down upon my[G] knee,
[F]Come tell to[C] me the[F] very[C] reas[G]on,
[F]Why I am[C] slighted[G],so by[C] thee,
Oh[G] Peggy Gordon you[C] are my[G] dar[D]ling,
[C]Come sit you[G] down upon my[D] knee,
[C]Come tell to[G] me the[C] very[G] reas[D]on,
[C]Why I am[G] slighted[D],so by[G] thee,
Key Of C.
Oh[C] Peggy Gordon you[F] are my[C] dar[G]ling,
[F]Come sit you[C] down upon my[G] knee,
[F]Come tell to[C] me the[F] very[C] reas[G]on,
[F]Why I am[C] slighted[G],so by[C] thee,
Below is the PDF Ebook of folk songs lyrics and chords. The songs are in 3 different keys, There's over 500 songs in the ebook. Most have only 3 easy chords.
Price €8.90 . I'll email the ebook after payment.
Price €8.90 . I'll email the ebook after payment.
Peggy my love lyrics
Peggy my love, with eyes so bright
You light up my world, like stars in the night
Your smile, it shines like the sun
With you by my side, I know we've won
Chorus:
Peggy my love, you mean everything to me
With you by my side, I feel so free
You're my rock, my guiding light
Peggy my love, you make everything right
Verse 2:
With every step, I feel your hand in mine
Together we'll face any mountain to climb
You bring out the best in me
With you, I feel like I can be anything I want to be
Chorus:
Peggy my love, you mean everything to me
With you by my side, I feel so free
You're my rock, my guiding light
Peggy my love, you make everything right
Bridge:
Through ups and downs, you've stood by my side
With your love and support, I can conquer any tide
Peggy my love, you complete me
With you, I've found my happy destiny
Chorus:
Peggy my love, you mean everything to me
With you by my side, I feel so free
You're my rock, my guiding light
Peggy my love, you make everything right
Outro:
Peggy my love, I'll love you forevermore
With you, my heart has found its core
You're my everything, my shining star
Peggy my love, you'll always have my heart.
Peggy my love, with eyes so bright
You light up my world, like stars in the night
Your smile, it shines like the sun
With you by my side, I know we've won
Chorus:
Peggy my love, you mean everything to me
With you by my side, I feel so free
You're my rock, my guiding light
Peggy my love, you make everything right
Verse 2:
With every step, I feel your hand in mine
Together we'll face any mountain to climb
You bring out the best in me
With you, I feel like I can be anything I want to be
Chorus:
Peggy my love, you mean everything to me
With you by my side, I feel so free
You're my rock, my guiding light
Peggy my love, you make everything right
Bridge:
Through ups and downs, you've stood by my side
With your love and support, I can conquer any tide
Peggy my love, you complete me
With you, I've found my happy destiny
Chorus:
Peggy my love, you mean everything to me
With you by my side, I feel so free
You're my rock, my guiding light
Peggy my love, you make everything right
Outro:
Peggy my love, I'll love you forevermore
With you, my heart has found its core
You're my everything, my shining star
Peggy my love, you'll always have my heart.
The Dubliners Original Line up
The author is unknown. It is often described as a traditional Irish song, though some scholars argue it may have Scottish or even Canadian roots. The song spread widely through oral tradition, evolving in melody and lyrics along the way.
Historical Origins and Transmission“Peggy Gordon” likely originated as a broadside ballad in the British Isles in the early 1800s. Versions appeared in both Ireland and Scotland, with alternate titles such as “Sweet Peggy Gordon” or “The Water is Wide (Peggy Gordon)”.
By the mid-19th century, it was being sung in Canada and the northeastern United States, carried by Irish and Scottish immigrants. It was collected in the Maritime Provinces of Canada (especially Nova Scotia and Newfoundland) where it became a local folk standard.
The song’s maritime flavor — references to the sea, sailing, and parting lovers — helped it take root among sailors, emigrants, and the Irish diaspora.
Lyrics and Themes“Peggy Gordon” is a lament of unrequited love. The narrator expresses deep longing for Peggy Gordon, wishing they were together again. Themes of separation, emigration, and emotional distance are central — common in Irish and Scottish folk traditions.
Melody and Structure
Many versions have a slow waltz rhythm, and the phrasing allows for deep vocal ornamentation — especially in Irish sean-nós style or Scottish airs.
🇮🇪 Irish Versions:Most Irish renditions (such as those by The Dubliners, Sinéad O’Connor, or The Clancy Brothers) emphasize sorrow and longing, often accompanied by guitar or fiddle.
🇨🇦 Canadian Versions:In Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, the song evolved into local ballads. Some versions merge it with “The Water Is Wide” or “Sweet Maggie Gordon”, with slight lyric differences but the same melody.
🇬🇧 Scottish Versions:Older Scottish broadsides from the early 1800s mention “Peggy Gordon” or “The Bonnie Lass o’ Fyvie,” suggesting overlapping folk sources.
Notable Recordings
Interpretation“Peggy Gordon” captures:
Musical Traits (for musicians)ElementTypical FeatureTime Signature3/4 (slow waltz)
KeyG or D major
FormVerse only (no chorus)
TempoAndante (~70–80 BPM)
Chord Pattern (in G)G – C – D – G (common)
MoodSad, nostalgic, lyrical
✒️ Summary“Peggy Gordon” is:
Historical Origins and Transmission“Peggy Gordon” likely originated as a broadside ballad in the British Isles in the early 1800s. Versions appeared in both Ireland and Scotland, with alternate titles such as “Sweet Peggy Gordon” or “The Water is Wide (Peggy Gordon)”.
By the mid-19th century, it was being sung in Canada and the northeastern United States, carried by Irish and Scottish immigrants. It was collected in the Maritime Provinces of Canada (especially Nova Scotia and Newfoundland) where it became a local folk standard.
The song’s maritime flavor — references to the sea, sailing, and parting lovers — helped it take root among sailors, emigrants, and the Irish diaspora.
Lyrics and Themes“Peggy Gordon” is a lament of unrequited love. The narrator expresses deep longing for Peggy Gordon, wishing they were together again. Themes of separation, emigration, and emotional distance are central — common in Irish and Scottish folk traditions.
Melody and Structure
- Meter: Typically in 3/4 (waltz-like feel)
- Key: Often sung in D major or G major
- Style: Slow, lyrical, mournful
- Mode: Mixolydian or major depending on region (some versions have a Dorian flavor)
Many versions have a slow waltz rhythm, and the phrasing allows for deep vocal ornamentation — especially in Irish sean-nós style or Scottish airs.
🇮🇪 Irish Versions:Most Irish renditions (such as those by The Dubliners, Sinéad O’Connor, or The Clancy Brothers) emphasize sorrow and longing, often accompanied by guitar or fiddle.
🇨🇦 Canadian Versions:In Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, the song evolved into local ballads. Some versions merge it with “The Water Is Wide” or “Sweet Maggie Gordon”, with slight lyric differences but the same melody.
🇬🇧 Scottish Versions:Older Scottish broadsides from the early 1800s mention “Peggy Gordon” or “The Bonnie Lass o’ Fyvie,” suggesting overlapping folk sources.
Notable Recordings
- The Dubliners (Luke Kelly’s version is iconic — deeply emotional and expressive)
- The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem
- The Corries
- Sinéad O’Connor
- Mary Black
- Brian Kennedy
- The Irish Rovers
- Stan Rogers (Canadian folk interpretation)
- The High Kings
Interpretation“Peggy Gordon” captures:
- Lost love and emotional exile
- Separation across the sea (often symbolic of emigration)
- The ache of memory and the impossibility of return
Musical Traits (for musicians)ElementTypical FeatureTime Signature3/4 (slow waltz)
KeyG or D major
FormVerse only (no chorus)
TempoAndante (~70–80 BPM)
Chord Pattern (in G)G – C – D – G (common)
MoodSad, nostalgic, lyrical
✒️ Summary“Peggy Gordon” is:
- A traditional folk ballad of Irish / Scottish origin
- Rooted in themes of love, longing, and exile
- Preserved through oral tradition in Ireland, Scotland, and Canada
- A musical emblem of the Irish diaspora
- Best known through The Dubliners’ haunting performance
