The Old Dungarvan Oak Lyrics And Chords
The song was recorded by Fiddlers Green who are the group in the youtube video, The Bards, Daniel O'Donnell, Susan McCann who's my favorite Irish folk singer and dose a great rendition of The Village Of Astee song. Also sang by Hugo Duncan to name a few. Fiddlers Green play it in the key of G. The sheet music and tin whistle notes are included. The song started out as The Carmarthen Oak which I believe was written by Frank Hennessy from Wales. I don't know who changed the title from ''The Carmarthen Oak'' to ''The Old Dungarvan Oak'' , but anyway, the song is named after a tree that was located in Carmarthen town, called Merlin's Oak. The key of the sheet music is in G with a version in a low D with letter notes. Guitar chords in C in chordpro.
[C]As I roved out one morning
Going[F] to Dungarvon Fair
I spied a pretty[C] maiden
With the sunlight in her[G] hair
Her[C] way was so delightful
Her[F] voice wrang like a bell
And as I over[C]took her
I[G] asked if she was[C] well
Chorus
Lay[G] down your woollen shawl me love
I[C] swear it is no[F] joke
And I'll tell to you the[C] story of
The[G] Old Dungarvon[C] Oak
As we approached Dungarvon
The girl at me did stare
And she asked me why I raised my hat
To a tree so old and bare
I told her of the legend
If the tree should e'er come down
There'd be a great disaster
And Dungarvon would be drowned
Then she started laughing
My face grew very red
And she said that only fools believed
What those old legends said
Her laughter was contagious
For the truth to you I'll tell
By the time I reached the market place
I began to laugh as well
As I sit here by my fireside
It's the autumn of my life
And the darling girl I met that day
Is now my darling wife
I have a lovely daughter
And a son to push my yoke
And all because I raised my hat
To the Old Dungarvon Oak
Going[F] to Dungarvon Fair
I spied a pretty[C] maiden
With the sunlight in her[G] hair
Her[C] way was so delightful
Her[F] voice wrang like a bell
And as I over[C]took her
I[G] asked if she was[C] well
Chorus
Lay[G] down your woollen shawl me love
I[C] swear it is no[F] joke
And I'll tell to you the[C] story of
The[G] Old Dungarvon[C] Oak
As we approached Dungarvon
The girl at me did stare
And she asked me why I raised my hat
To a tree so old and bare
I told her of the legend
If the tree should e'er come down
There'd be a great disaster
And Dungarvon would be drowned
Then she started laughing
My face grew very red
And she said that only fools believed
What those old legends said
Her laughter was contagious
For the truth to you I'll tell
By the time I reached the market place
I began to laugh as well
As I sit here by my fireside
It's the autumn of my life
And the darling girl I met that day
Is now my darling wife
I have a lovely daughter
And a son to push my yoke
And all because I raised my hat
To the Old Dungarvon Oak
🎸 Key: G Major
Tempo: Moderate (♩ = 90–100)
Time Signature: 3/4 (folk waltz feel)
Style: Irish ballad / folk waltz
🎶 Strumming Pattern (3/4 time)
Basic Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
(counted as: 1 2& 3&)
Simpler folk waltz version (traditional feel):
Bass ↓ Strum ↓ Strum ↓
Play the root note of the chord first (e.g. 6th string for G, 5th for C or F, 4th for D).
🎸 Intro Fingerpicking Tab (G major)
This intro reflects the first melodic phrase (“As I roved out one morning”):
G C G
e|--------3---------0--|--------0--1--0----------3---|
B|----0--------1-------|----1-----------3----0-------|
G|--0--------0---------|--0--------------------------|
D|---------------------|-----------------------------|
A|----------------3----|3----------------------------|
E|3--------------------|-----------------------------|
Play gently twice before the first verse.
🎵 Lyrics with Chords (Key of G)
Verse 1
[G]As I roved out one morning
Going[C] to Dungarvon Fair
I spied a pretty [G]maiden
With the sunlight in her [D]hair
Her [G]way was so delightful
Her [C]voice rang like a bell
And as I over[G]took her
I [D]asked if she was [G]well
Chorus
Lay [D]down your woollen shawl, me love
I [G]swear it is no [C]joke
And I'll tell to you the [G]story of
The [D]Old Dungarvon [G]Oak
Verse 2
As we [G]approached Dungarvon
The [C]girl at me did stare
And she [G]asked me why I raised my hat
To a [D]tree so old and bare
I [G]told her of the legend
If the [C]tree should e’er come down
There’d be a [G]great disaster
And [D]Dungarvon would be [G]drowned
Chorus
Lay [D]down your woollen shawl, me love
I [G]swear it is no [C]joke
And I'll tell to you the [G]story of
The [D]Old Dungarvon [G]Oak
Verse 3
Then she [G]started laughing
My [C]face grew very red
And she [G]said that only fools believed
What [D]those old legends said
Her [G]laughter was contagious
For the [C]truth to you I'll tell
By the [G]time I reached the market place
I [D]began to laugh as [G]well
Chorus
Lay [D]down your woollen shawl, me love
I [G]swear it is no [C]joke
And I'll tell to you the [G]story of
The [D]Old Dungarvon [G]Oak
Verse 4
As I [G]sit here by my fireside
It's the [C]autumn of my life
And the [G]darling girl I met that day
Is [D]now my darling wife
I [G]have a lovely daughter
And a [C]son to push my yoke
And [G]all because I raised my hat
To the [D]Old Dungarvon [G]Oak
Final Chorus (optional gentle ending)
Lay [D]down your woollen shawl, me love
I [G]swear it is no [C]joke
And I'll tell to you the [G]story of
The [D]Old Dungarvon [G]Oak
Tempo: Moderate (♩ = 90–100)
Time Signature: 3/4 (folk waltz feel)
Style: Irish ballad / folk waltz
🎶 Strumming Pattern (3/4 time)
Basic Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
(counted as: 1 2& 3&)
Simpler folk waltz version (traditional feel):
Bass ↓ Strum ↓ Strum ↓
Play the root note of the chord first (e.g. 6th string for G, 5th for C or F, 4th for D).
🎸 Intro Fingerpicking Tab (G major)
This intro reflects the first melodic phrase (“As I roved out one morning”):
G C G
e|--------3---------0--|--------0--1--0----------3---|
B|----0--------1-------|----1-----------3----0-------|
G|--0--------0---------|--0--------------------------|
D|---------------------|-----------------------------|
A|----------------3----|3----------------------------|
E|3--------------------|-----------------------------|
Play gently twice before the first verse.
🎵 Lyrics with Chords (Key of G)
Verse 1
[G]As I roved out one morning
Going[C] to Dungarvon Fair
I spied a pretty [G]maiden
With the sunlight in her [D]hair
Her [G]way was so delightful
Her [C]voice rang like a bell
And as I over[G]took her
I [D]asked if she was [G]well
Chorus
Lay [D]down your woollen shawl, me love
I [G]swear it is no [C]joke
And I'll tell to you the [G]story of
The [D]Old Dungarvon [G]Oak
Verse 2
As we [G]approached Dungarvon
The [C]girl at me did stare
And she [G]asked me why I raised my hat
To a [D]tree so old and bare
I [G]told her of the legend
If the [C]tree should e’er come down
There’d be a [G]great disaster
And [D]Dungarvon would be [G]drowned
Chorus
Lay [D]down your woollen shawl, me love
I [G]swear it is no [C]joke
And I'll tell to you the [G]story of
The [D]Old Dungarvon [G]Oak
Verse 3
Then she [G]started laughing
My [C]face grew very red
And she [G]said that only fools believed
What [D]those old legends said
Her [G]laughter was contagious
For the [C]truth to you I'll tell
By the [G]time I reached the market place
I [D]began to laugh as [G]well
Chorus
Lay [D]down your woollen shawl, me love
I [G]swear it is no [C]joke
And I'll tell to you the [G]story of
The [D]Old Dungarvon [G]Oak
Verse 4
As I [G]sit here by my fireside
It's the [C]autumn of my life
And the [G]darling girl I met that day
Is [D]now my darling wife
I [G]have a lovely daughter
And a [C]son to push my yoke
And [G]all because I raised my hat
To the [D]Old Dungarvon [G]Oak
Final Chorus (optional gentle ending)
Lay [D]down your woollen shawl, me love
I [G]swear it is no [C]joke
And I'll tell to you the [G]story of
The [D]Old Dungarvon [G]Oak
The Bards Song The Old Dungarvan Oak
The Old Dungarvan Oak Tin Whistle Sheet Music Notes
The sheet music for The Old Dungarvan Oak is in the pdf Irish sheet Music song book here, and the tin whistle notes are here.
The mandolin / tenor banjo tab is also available and is here .
The mandolin / tenor banjo tab is also available and is here .
The old Dungarvan Oak road sign
And below is the standard sheet music that I have taken the above tin whistle notes from
