Still I Love Him'' Do You Love An Apple Lyrics And Chords
Traditional. Sheet Music Notes below. Not too many singers play this old song anymore. Probably written around 1880s going by the conduct expressed in the lyrics. A reminder of days long gone, what woman would put up with a man like that anymore, still love is a strange thing. The first version here I learned from an old Dubliners record, the second version is by The Bothy Band's first album and sent to me by Marc Fahrbach who uses a different chord arrangement. The Bothy Band also sang The Maid Of Culmore .
O YOU LOVE AN APPLE? Still I Love Him 3/4
As played by The Bothy Band (First Album)
Intro: G-C-G-Am7
Do (G)you love an (C)apple, do (G)you love a (Am7)pear?
Do (G)you love a (C)laddie with (Em)curly brown (D)hair?
Chorus
And (G)still, I love him, I (C)can't deny him
(G)I'll be (C)with him where (D)ever he (G)goes
Bridge: C-G-Am7
Be(G)fore I got (C)married I (G)wore a black (Am7)shawl
But (G)since I got (C)married I (Em)wear bugger-(D)all
Chorus + Bridge
He (G)stood at the (C)corner, a (G)fag in his (Am7)mouth
Two (G)hands in his (C)pockets, he (Em)whistled me (D)out
Chorus
Play one chorus & one verse instrumentally
Bridge
He (G)works at the (C)pier, for (G)nine bob a (Am7)week,
On (G)Saturday (C)night he comes (Em)rolling home (D)drunk
Chorus + Bridge
Be(G)fore I got (C)married I'd (G)sport and I'd (Am7)play
(G)But now, the (C)cradle gets (Em)in me (D)way
Chorus + Bridge
Do (G)you love an (C)apple, do (G)you love a (Am7)pear?
Do (G)you love a (C)laddie with (Em)curly brown (D)hair?
As played by The Bothy Band (First Album)
Intro: G-C-G-Am7
Do (G)you love an (C)apple, do (G)you love a (Am7)pear?
Do (G)you love a (C)laddie with (Em)curly brown (D)hair?
Chorus
And (G)still, I love him, I (C)can't deny him
(G)I'll be (C)with him where (D)ever he (G)goes
Bridge: C-G-Am7
Be(G)fore I got (C)married I (G)wore a black (Am7)shawl
But (G)since I got (C)married I (Em)wear bugger-(D)all
Chorus + Bridge
He (G)stood at the (C)corner, a (G)fag in his (Am7)mouth
Two (G)hands in his (C)pockets, he (Em)whistled me (D)out
Chorus
Play one chorus & one verse instrumentally
Bridge
He (G)works at the (C)pier, for (G)nine bob a (Am7)week,
On (G)Saturday (C)night he comes (Em)rolling home (D)drunk
Chorus + Bridge
Be(G)fore I got (C)married I'd (G)sport and I'd (Am7)play
(G)But now, the (C)cradle gets (Em)in me (D)way
Chorus + Bridge
Do (G)you love an (C)apple, do (G)you love a (Am7)pear?
Do (G)you love a (C)laddie with (Em)curly brown (D)hair?
“Do You Love an Apple” is a bright, cheeky Irish tune that works great either strummed or fingerpicked. Here’s a setup that fits the folk style:
🎸 Strumming Pattern (for verses & chorus)
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: Moderate folk (≈ 100–110 BPM)
Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count it as:
1 2& &4&
You can also soften it for the verses:
↓ (mute) ↓↑ (slight accent on 4)
This gives it a lilting, dancing feel — like a reel slowed down a bit.
🎶 Fingerpicking Pattern (for first verse)
(Simple Travis-style pattern that alternates bass and treble for a lilting Irish feel.)
Right hand:
Thumb = Bass strings (E, A, D)
Index = G string
Middle = B string
Ring = high E string
First Verse Fingerpicking Tab
Intro: G - C - G - Am7
G
e|--------3-------------3---------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----|
D|--------------------------------|
A|--2-----------2-----------------|
E|3-----------------3-------------|
C
e|--------0-------------0---------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|3-----------------3-------------|
E|--------------------------------|
G
e|--------3-------------3---------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----|
D|--------------------------------|
A|--2-----------2-----------------|
E|3-----------------3-------------|
Am7
e|--------0-------------0---------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|0-----------------0-------------|
E|--------------------------------|
Verse:
Do (G)you love an (C)apple, do (G)you love a (Am7)pear?
Do (G)you love a (C)laddie with (Em)curly brown (D)hair?
Em
e|--------0-------------0---------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|2-----------------2-------------|
E|--------------------------------|
D
e|--------2-------------2---------|
B|------3---3---------3---3-------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2-----|
D|0-----------------0-------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
💡 Playing Tips
Let the thumb alternate steadily (like a heartbeat) to keep rhythm — perfect for accompanying singing.
Keep the melody flowing by lightly brushing the higher strings on beats 2 and 4.
For the instrumental verse, you can fingerpick the melody notes slightly louder.
🎸 Strumming Pattern (for verses & chorus)
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: Moderate folk (≈ 100–110 BPM)
Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count it as:
1 2& &4&
You can also soften it for the verses:
↓ (mute) ↓↑ (slight accent on 4)
This gives it a lilting, dancing feel — like a reel slowed down a bit.
🎶 Fingerpicking Pattern (for first verse)
(Simple Travis-style pattern that alternates bass and treble for a lilting Irish feel.)
Right hand:
Thumb = Bass strings (E, A, D)
Index = G string
Middle = B string
Ring = high E string
First Verse Fingerpicking Tab
Intro: G - C - G - Am7
G
e|--------3-------------3---------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----|
D|--------------------------------|
A|--2-----------2-----------------|
E|3-----------------3-------------|
C
e|--------0-------------0---------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|3-----------------3-------------|
E|--------------------------------|
G
e|--------3-------------3---------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----|
D|--------------------------------|
A|--2-----------2-----------------|
E|3-----------------3-------------|
Am7
e|--------0-------------0---------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|0-----------------0-------------|
E|--------------------------------|
Verse:
Do (G)you love an (C)apple, do (G)you love a (Am7)pear?
Do (G)you love a (C)laddie with (Em)curly brown (D)hair?
Em
e|--------0-------------0---------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|2-----------------2-------------|
E|--------------------------------|
D
e|--------2-------------2---------|
B|------3---3---------3---3-------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2-----|
D|0-----------------0-------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
💡 Playing Tips
Let the thumb alternate steadily (like a heartbeat) to keep rhythm — perfect for accompanying singing.
Keep the melody flowing by lightly brushing the higher strings on beats 2 and 4.
For the instrumental verse, you can fingerpick the melody notes slightly louder.
Second Version in the key of D Major
[D]When I was single, I [A]wore a black [D]shawl
Now that I am married, I've done[A] nothing at all.
[Chorus]
[G]Still I[D] love him. [G]I'll for[D]give him.
[G]I'll go[D] with him wher[A]ever he[D] goes.
He stands at the corner and whistles me out
His hands in his pockets, his shirt hanging out
He comes down our alley and he whispered me out,
And when I get out there he knocks me about.
He took me to the alehouse and bought me some stout
Before I could drink it he ordered me out
He bought me a handkerchief, red, white, and blue,
Then to clean windows, he tore it in two.
Me back is a-breaking. Me fingers is sore,
Gutting the herring he brings to the shore.
The storm is a-raging. His boat isn't in.
Dursn't one tell me what's happened to him.
If he's gone to heaven, he'll come to no harm.
If he's gone to hell, then he'll keep himself warm.
[D]When I was single, I [A]wore a black [D]shawl
Now that I am married, I've done[A] nothing at all.
[Chorus]
[G]Still I[D] love him. [G]I'll for[D]give him.
[G]I'll go[D] with him wher[A]ever he[D] goes.
He stands at the corner and whistles me out
His hands in his pockets, his shirt hanging out
He comes down our alley and he whispered me out,
And when I get out there he knocks me about.
He took me to the alehouse and bought me some stout
Before I could drink it he ordered me out
He bought me a handkerchief, red, white, and blue,
Then to clean windows, he tore it in two.
Me back is a-breaking. Me fingers is sore,
Gutting the herring he brings to the shore.
The storm is a-raging. His boat isn't in.
Dursn't one tell me what's happened to him.
If he's gone to heaven, he'll come to no harm.
If he's gone to hell, then he'll keep himself warm.
Chords for all verses.
Do (D)you love an (G)apple, do (D)you love a (Em7)pear?
Do (D)you love a (G)laddie with (Bm)curly brown (A)hair?
Chorus
And (D)still, I love him, I (G)can't deny him
(D)I'll be (G)with him where (A)ever he (D)goes
Be(D)fore I got (G)married I (D)wore a black (Em7)shawl
But (D)since I got (G)married I (Bm)wear bugger-(A)all
He (D)stood at the (G)corner, a (D)fag in his (Em7)mouth
Two (D)hands in his (G)pockets, he (Bm)whistled me (A)out
He (D)works at the (G)pier, for (D)nine bob a (Em7)week,
On (D)Saturday (G)night he comes (Bm)rolling home (A)drunk
Be(D)fore I got (G)married I'd (D)sport and I'd (Em7)play
(D)But now, the (G)cradle gets (Bm)in me (A)way
Do (D)you love an (G)apple, do (D)you love a (Em7)pear?
Do (D)you love a (G)laddie with (Bm)curly brown (A)hair?
Chords for the key of C
Do (C)you love an (F)apple, do (C)you love a (Dm7)pear?
Do (C)you love a (F)laddie with (Am)curly brown (G)hair?
Chorus
And (C)still, I love him, I (F)can't deny him
(C)I'll be (F)with him where (G)ever he (C)goes
Be(C)fore I got (F)married I (C)wore a black (Dm7)shawl
But (C)since I got (F)married I (Am)wear bugger-(G)all
He (C)stood at the (F)corner, a (C)fag in his (Dm7)mouth
Two (C)hands in his (F)pockets, he (Am)whistled me (G)out
He (C)works at the (F)pier, for (C)nine bob a (Dm7)week,
On (C)Saturday (F)night he comes (Am)rolling home (G)drunk
Be(C)fore I got (F)married I'd (C)sport and I'd (Dm7)play
(C)But now, the (F)cradle gets (Am)in me (G)way
Do (C)you love an (F)apple, do (C)you love a (Dm7)pear?
Do (C)you love a (F)laddie with (Am)curly brown (G)hair?
Do (D)you love an (G)apple, do (D)you love a (Em7)pear?
Do (D)you love a (G)laddie with (Bm)curly brown (A)hair?
Chorus
And (D)still, I love him, I (G)can't deny him
(D)I'll be (G)with him where (A)ever he (D)goes
Be(D)fore I got (G)married I (D)wore a black (Em7)shawl
But (D)since I got (G)married I (Bm)wear bugger-(A)all
He (D)stood at the (G)corner, a (D)fag in his (Em7)mouth
Two (D)hands in his (G)pockets, he (Bm)whistled me (A)out
He (D)works at the (G)pier, for (D)nine bob a (Em7)week,
On (D)Saturday (G)night he comes (Bm)rolling home (A)drunk
Be(D)fore I got (G)married I'd (D)sport and I'd (Em7)play
(D)But now, the (G)cradle gets (Bm)in me (A)way
Do (D)you love an (G)apple, do (D)you love a (Em7)pear?
Do (D)you love a (G)laddie with (Bm)curly brown (A)hair?
Chords for the key of C
Do (C)you love an (F)apple, do (C)you love a (Dm7)pear?
Do (C)you love a (F)laddie with (Am)curly brown (G)hair?
Chorus
And (C)still, I love him, I (F)can't deny him
(C)I'll be (F)with him where (G)ever he (C)goes
Be(C)fore I got (F)married I (C)wore a black (Dm7)shawl
But (C)since I got (F)married I (Am)wear bugger-(G)all
He (C)stood at the (F)corner, a (C)fag in his (Dm7)mouth
Two (C)hands in his (F)pockets, he (Am)whistled me (G)out
He (C)works at the (F)pier, for (C)nine bob a (Dm7)week,
On (C)Saturday (F)night he comes (Am)rolling home (G)drunk
Be(C)fore I got (F)married I'd (C)sport and I'd (Dm7)play
(C)But now, the (F)cradle gets (Am)in me (G)way
Do (C)you love an (F)apple, do (C)you love a (Dm7)pear?
Do (C)you love a (F)laddie with (Am)curly brown (G)hair?
When I Was Single Sheet Music Notes In C Major
