The Lakes Of Coolfin Lyrics And Chords
The Lakes Of Coolfin Lyrics And Easy Guitar Chords. Both pieces of sheet music can be played on the flute and accordion.Traditional, From around 1850 , The Grehan Sisters from the west of Ireland made this famous , Susan McCann does a lovely version as she does with all her songs including When The Sun Says Goodbye To The Mountains Song ,also Charlie And The Bhoys and The Barleycorn. The tin whistle sheet music is now included. The first set of guitar chords in chordpro are in D and also included are the chords in G Major. The lakes of Coolfin guitar tab in CGDA tuning now added..
The Lakes Of Coolfin Lyrics And Easy Guitar Chords
[D]It was early one[G] morn[D]ing Willie [G]Leonard a[D]rose,
And[A] straight to his[G] com[D]rade's bed[G]cham[D]ber he [A]goes,
Crying,"Comrade, loyal[G] comr[D]ade, let[G] no[D]body [A]know,
'Tis a[D] fine summer's[G] morn[D]ing, and a-[G]bathing we'll[D] go".
To the Lake of Coolfin the comrades soon came
And who should they meet but the keeper of game.
"Turn back, Willie Leonard, do not venture in,
There are deep and false waters in the Lake of Coolfin."
But Willie jumped in and he swum the lake round,
He soon reached an island, 'twas soft, boggy ground,
"Oh comrade, loyal comrade, don't follow me in
There are deep and false waters in the Lake of Coolfin."
It was very soon after, Willie's sister awoke
And unto her mother all sadly she spoke,
"Oh I dreamt a sad dream about Willie last night
He came to my room in a shroud of snow white."
Willie's mother arose, and she went to the lake,
She called her son's name, and she wept for his sake.
"Oh, sad was the hour when my Willie plunged in,
There are deep and false waters in the Lake of Coolfin."
Oh, to see Willie's funeral, it was a grand sight
There were four-and-twenty young men, they were all dressed in white.
There were four-and-twenty young maids, they were all dressed in green.
Just to show that he was drowned in the Lake of Coolfin.
[D]It was early one[G] morn[D]ing Willie [G]Leonard a[D]rose,
And[A] straight to his[G] com[D]rade's bed[G]cham[D]ber he [A]goes,
Crying,"Comrade, loyal[G] comr[D]ade, let[G] no[D]body [A]know,
'Tis a[D] fine summer's[G] morn[D]ing, and a-[G]bathing we'll[D] go".
To the Lake of Coolfin the comrades soon came
And who should they meet but the keeper of game.
"Turn back, Willie Leonard, do not venture in,
There are deep and false waters in the Lake of Coolfin."
But Willie jumped in and he swum the lake round,
He soon reached an island, 'twas soft, boggy ground,
"Oh comrade, loyal comrade, don't follow me in
There are deep and false waters in the Lake of Coolfin."
It was very soon after, Willie's sister awoke
And unto her mother all sadly she spoke,
"Oh I dreamt a sad dream about Willie last night
He came to my room in a shroud of snow white."
Willie's mother arose, and she went to the lake,
She called her son's name, and she wept for his sake.
"Oh, sad was the hour when my Willie plunged in,
There are deep and false waters in the Lake of Coolfin."
Oh, to see Willie's funeral, it was a grand sight
There were four-and-twenty young men, they were all dressed in white.
There were four-and-twenty young maids, they were all dressed in green.
Just to show that he was drowned in the Lake of Coolfin.
A haunting Irish ballad — beautifully told.
Here’s “The Lake of Coolfin” with chords added to all verses in D Major, a natural key for this song’s tone and for guitar accompaniment.
The chord progression has been kept simple and traditional to preserve the old ballad flow.
🎵 The Lake of Coolfin(Traditional – Key of D Major)
[Verse 1][D]It was early one [G]morn[D]ing, Willie [G]Leonard a[D]rose,
And [A]straight to his [G]com[D]rade’s bed[G]cham[D]ber he [A]goes,
Crying, “Comrade, loyal [G]com[D]rade, let [G]no[D]body [A]know,
’Tis a [D]fine summer’s [G]morn[D]ing, and a-[G]bathing we’ll [D]go.”
[Verse 2]To the [D]Lake of Cool[G]fin the com[D]rades soon [G]came,
And [A]who should they [G]meet but the [D]keeper of [G]game.
“Turn [D]back, Willie [G]Leonard, do [D]not venture [A]in,
There are [D]deep and false [G]waters in the [A]Lake of Cool[D]fin.”
[Verse 3]But [D]Willie jumped [G]in and he [D]swum the lake [G]round,
He [A]soon reached an [G]island, ’twas [D]soft, boggy [G]ground,
“Oh [D]comrade, loyal [G]com[D]rade, don’t [G]follow me [A]in,
There are [D]deep and false [G]waters in the [A]Lake of Cool[D]fin.”
[Verse 4]It was [D]very soon [G]after, Will[D]ie’s sister a[G]woke,
And [A]unto her [G]mother all [D]sadly she [G]spoke,
“Oh I [D]dreamt a sad [G]dream a[D]bout Willie last [A]night,
He [D]came to my [G]room in a [A]shroud of snow [D]white.”
[Verse 5]Willie’s [D]mother a[G]rose, and she [D]went to the [G]lake,
She [A]called her son’s [G]name, and she [D]wept for his [G]sake,
“Oh [D]sad was the [G]hour when my [D]Willie plunged [A]in,
There are [D]deep and false [G]waters in the [A]Lake of Cool[D]fin.”
[Verse 6]Oh, to [D]see Willie’s [G]funeral, it [D]was a grand [G]sight,
There were [A]four-and-twenty [G]young men, they [D]were all dressed in [G]white,
There were [D]four-and-twenty [G]young maids, they [D]were all dressed in [A]green,
Just to [D]show that he [G]was drowned in the [A]Lake of Cool[D]fin.
🎸 Suggested Strumming Pattern (3/4 Ballad Feel)↓ ↓ ↑ | ↓ ↓ ↑
Count: 1-2-3 | 1-2-3, slow and flowing.
Alternate (fingerpicked or slow arpeggio):
Bass – Treble – Treble | Bass – Treble – Treble
💡 Performance Tips
Here’s “The Lake of Coolfin” with chords added to all verses in D Major, a natural key for this song’s tone and for guitar accompaniment.
The chord progression has been kept simple and traditional to preserve the old ballad flow.
🎵 The Lake of Coolfin(Traditional – Key of D Major)
[Verse 1][D]It was early one [G]morn[D]ing, Willie [G]Leonard a[D]rose,
And [A]straight to his [G]com[D]rade’s bed[G]cham[D]ber he [A]goes,
Crying, “Comrade, loyal [G]com[D]rade, let [G]no[D]body [A]know,
’Tis a [D]fine summer’s [G]morn[D]ing, and a-[G]bathing we’ll [D]go.”
[Verse 2]To the [D]Lake of Cool[G]fin the com[D]rades soon [G]came,
And [A]who should they [G]meet but the [D]keeper of [G]game.
“Turn [D]back, Willie [G]Leonard, do [D]not venture [A]in,
There are [D]deep and false [G]waters in the [A]Lake of Cool[D]fin.”
[Verse 3]But [D]Willie jumped [G]in and he [D]swum the lake [G]round,
He [A]soon reached an [G]island, ’twas [D]soft, boggy [G]ground,
“Oh [D]comrade, loyal [G]com[D]rade, don’t [G]follow me [A]in,
There are [D]deep and false [G]waters in the [A]Lake of Cool[D]fin.”
[Verse 4]It was [D]very soon [G]after, Will[D]ie’s sister a[G]woke,
And [A]unto her [G]mother all [D]sadly she [G]spoke,
“Oh I [D]dreamt a sad [G]dream a[D]bout Willie last [A]night,
He [D]came to my [G]room in a [A]shroud of snow [D]white.”
[Verse 5]Willie’s [D]mother a[G]rose, and she [D]went to the [G]lake,
She [A]called her son’s [G]name, and she [D]wept for his [G]sake,
“Oh [D]sad was the [G]hour when my [D]Willie plunged [A]in,
There are [D]deep and false [G]waters in the [A]Lake of Cool[D]fin.”
[Verse 6]Oh, to [D]see Willie’s [G]funeral, it [D]was a grand [G]sight,
There were [A]four-and-twenty [G]young men, they [D]were all dressed in [G]white,
There were [D]four-and-twenty [G]young maids, they [D]were all dressed in [A]green,
Just to [D]show that he [G]was drowned in the [A]Lake of Cool[D]fin.
🎸 Suggested Strumming Pattern (3/4 Ballad Feel)↓ ↓ ↑ | ↓ ↓ ↑
Count: 1-2-3 | 1-2-3, slow and flowing.
Alternate (fingerpicked or slow arpeggio):
Bass – Treble – Treble | Bass – Treble – Treble
💡 Performance Tips
- Keep the tempo slow and steady (~70–80 BPM).
- Emphasize the emotion on verses 4–6; they tell the tragedy.
- End softly on a D → G → D progression for a mournful fade.
- Optional: play a short fiddle or whistle instrumental between verses.
here’s “The Lake of Coolfin” transposed beautifully to G Major, the most comfortable and natural key for guitarists and singers alike.
All verses are fully chorded, keeping the haunting flow of this Irish ballad intact.
🎵 The Lake of Coolfin(Traditional – Key of G Major)
[Verse 1][G]It was early one [C]morn[G]ing, Willie [C]Leonard a[G]rose,
And [D]straight to his [C]com[G]rade’s bed[C]cham[G]ber he [D]goes,
Crying, “Comrade, loyal [C]com[G]rade, let [C]no[G]body [D]know,
’Tis a [G]fine summer’s [C]morn[G]ing, and a-[C]bathing we’ll [G]go.”
[Verse 2]To the [G]Lake of Cool[C]fin the com[G]rades soon [C]came,
And [D]who should they [C]meet but the [G]keeper of [C]game.
“Turn [G]back, Willie [C]Leonard, do [G]not venture [D]in,
There are [G]deep and false [C]waters in the [D]Lake of Cool[G]fin.”
[Verse 3]But [G]Willie jumped [C]in and he [G]swum the lake [C]round,
He [D]soon reached an [C]island, ’twas [G]soft, boggy [C]ground,
“Oh [G]comrade, loyal [C]com[G]rade, don’t [C]follow me [D]in,
There are [G]deep and false [C]waters in the [D]Lake of Cool[G]fin.”
[Verse 4]It was [G]very soon [C]after, Will[G]ie’s sister a[C]woke,
And [D]unto her [C]mother all [G]sadly she [C]spoke,
“Oh I [G]dreamt a sad [C]dream a[G]bout Willie last [D]night,
He [G]came to my [C]room in a [D]shroud of snow [G]white.”
[Verse 5]Willie’s [G]mother a[C]rose, and she [G]went to the [C]lake,
She [D]called her son’s [C]name, and she [G]wept for his [C]sake,
“Oh [G]sad was the [C]hour when my [G]Willie plunged [D]in,
There are [G]deep and false [C]waters in the [D]Lake of Cool[G]fin.”
[Verse 6]Oh, to [G]see Willie’s [C]funeral, it [G]was a grand [C]sight,
There were [D]four-and-twenty [C]young men, they [G]were all dressed in [C]white,
There were [G]four-and-twenty [C]young maids, they [G]were all dressed in [D]green,
Just to [G]show that he [C]was drowned in the [D]Lake of Cool[G]fin.
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Ballad)↓ ↓ ↑ | ↓ ↓ ↑
Count: 1-2-3 | 1-2-3, soft and steady.
Alternate (fingerpicking):
Bass – Treble – Treble | Bass – Treble – Treble
💡 Performance Tips
All verses are fully chorded, keeping the haunting flow of this Irish ballad intact.
🎵 The Lake of Coolfin(Traditional – Key of G Major)
[Verse 1][G]It was early one [C]morn[G]ing, Willie [C]Leonard a[G]rose,
And [D]straight to his [C]com[G]rade’s bed[C]cham[G]ber he [D]goes,
Crying, “Comrade, loyal [C]com[G]rade, let [C]no[G]body [D]know,
’Tis a [G]fine summer’s [C]morn[G]ing, and a-[C]bathing we’ll [G]go.”
[Verse 2]To the [G]Lake of Cool[C]fin the com[G]rades soon [C]came,
And [D]who should they [C]meet but the [G]keeper of [C]game.
“Turn [G]back, Willie [C]Leonard, do [G]not venture [D]in,
There are [G]deep and false [C]waters in the [D]Lake of Cool[G]fin.”
[Verse 3]But [G]Willie jumped [C]in and he [G]swum the lake [C]round,
He [D]soon reached an [C]island, ’twas [G]soft, boggy [C]ground,
“Oh [G]comrade, loyal [C]com[G]rade, don’t [C]follow me [D]in,
There are [G]deep and false [C]waters in the [D]Lake of Cool[G]fin.”
[Verse 4]It was [G]very soon [C]after, Will[G]ie’s sister a[C]woke,
And [D]unto her [C]mother all [G]sadly she [C]spoke,
“Oh I [G]dreamt a sad [C]dream a[G]bout Willie last [D]night,
He [G]came to my [C]room in a [D]shroud of snow [G]white.”
[Verse 5]Willie’s [G]mother a[C]rose, and she [G]went to the [C]lake,
She [D]called her son’s [C]name, and she [G]wept for his [C]sake,
“Oh [G]sad was the [C]hour when my [G]Willie plunged [D]in,
There are [G]deep and false [C]waters in the [D]Lake of Cool[G]fin.”
[Verse 6]Oh, to [G]see Willie’s [C]funeral, it [G]was a grand [C]sight,
There were [D]four-and-twenty [C]young men, they [G]were all dressed in [C]white,
There were [G]four-and-twenty [C]young maids, they [G]were all dressed in [D]green,
Just to [G]show that he [C]was drowned in the [D]Lake of Cool[G]fin.
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Ballad)↓ ↓ ↑ | ↓ ↓ ↑
Count: 1-2-3 | 1-2-3, soft and steady.
Alternate (fingerpicking):
Bass – Treble – Treble | Bass – Treble – Treble
💡 Performance Tips
- Tempo: slow and steady (70–80 BPM) for storytelling.
- Let the bass notes (G, C, D) ring clear on each measure for that droning Irish feel.
- Optional ending:
Repeat “There are deep and false waters in the Lake of Coolfin”
softly and fade out on G → C → G.
The lakes of Coolfin guitar tab in CGDA
The lakes of Coolfin road sign
Lakes Of Coolfin Words And chords for the key of G
[G]It was early one[C] morn[G]ing Willie [C]Leonard a[G]rose,
And[D] straight to his[C] com[G]rade's bed[C]cham[G]ber he [D]goes,
Crying,"Comrade, loyal[C] comr[G]ade, let[C] no[G]body [D]know,
'Tis a[G] fine summer's[C] morn[G]ing, and a-[C]bathing we'll[G] go"
Lyrics and chords K - M
[G]It was early one[C] morn[G]ing Willie [C]Leonard a[G]rose,
And[D] straight to his[C] com[G]rade's bed[C]cham[G]ber he [D]goes,
Crying,"Comrade, loyal[C] comr[G]ade, let[C] no[G]body [D]know,
'Tis a[G] fine summer's[C] morn[G]ing, and a-[C]bathing we'll[G] go"
Lyrics and chords K - M
The Lakes Of Coolfin Tin Whistle Sheet Music Notes
