The Old Woman From Wexford lyrics and guitar chords
The Old Woman From Wexford Irish Folk Song lyrics and easy guitar chords A traditional song recorded by Patsy Watchorn from The Dublin City Ramblers and by The Clancy's and Tommy Makem. Also recorded by The Dubliners with Ronnie Drew on vocals. The youtube video is of The Dubliners. Guitar chords in chordpro are in C with other versions in G and A.
[C]There was an old woman from Wexford
In Wexford[G7] town did [C]dwell
She loved her[F] husband dearly
But a[G]nother man twice as[F] well
Chorus:
With me[C] right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [G7]low-rel[C] lee
One day she went to the doctor
Some medicine for to find
Saying "Doctor give me something
That'll make me ould man blind"
"Oh, feed him eggs and marrow bones
And make him sup them all
And it won't be so very long after
That'll he won't see you at all"
So she fed him eggs and marrow bones
And made him sup them all
And it wasn't so very long after
That'll he couldn't see the wall
"O," says he "I'd go and drown meself
But that might be a sin"
"Well," says she "I'll go along with you
And I'll help to push you in"
The old woman she went back a bit
To get a running go
The old man blithely stepped aside
And she went in below
Oh, how loudly did she roar
And how loudly did she bawl
"Arrah hould yer whisht ould woman," says he
"Sure I can't see you at all"
She swam and swam and swam and swam
'Till she came to the further brim
The old man got a long, larch pole
And he pushed her further in
O eggs are eggs and marrow bones
Will make your old man blind
But if you want to drown him
You must creep up close behind.
Song lyrics from N-R
In Wexford[G7] town did [C]dwell
She loved her[F] husband dearly
But a[G]nother man twice as[F] well
Chorus:
With me[C] right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [G7]low-rel[C] lee
One day she went to the doctor
Some medicine for to find
Saying "Doctor give me something
That'll make me ould man blind"
"Oh, feed him eggs and marrow bones
And make him sup them all
And it won't be so very long after
That'll he won't see you at all"
So she fed him eggs and marrow bones
And made him sup them all
And it wasn't so very long after
That'll he couldn't see the wall
"O," says he "I'd go and drown meself
But that might be a sin"
"Well," says she "I'll go along with you
And I'll help to push you in"
The old woman she went back a bit
To get a running go
The old man blithely stepped aside
And she went in below
Oh, how loudly did she roar
And how loudly did she bawl
"Arrah hould yer whisht ould woman," says he
"Sure I can't see you at all"
She swam and swam and swam and swam
'Till she came to the further brim
The old man got a long, larch pole
And he pushed her further in
O eggs are eggs and marrow bones
Will make your old man blind
But if you want to drown him
You must creep up close behind.
Song lyrics from N-R
here’s a full G major folk arrangement of “The Old Woman from Wexford” (also known as Eggs and Marrowbones).
This version includes:
✅ All verses fully chorded
🎸 Folk-style strumming pattern (3/4)
🎵 Intro fingerpicking tab that fits the melody
🎶 Traditional Irish ballad feel
🎼 Key: G Major
Tempo: Moderate (♩ = 90–100)
Time Signature: 3/4
Style: Traditional Irish Folk / Waltz
🎶 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Time)
Folk Waltz Feel:
Simple version:
Bass ↓ Strum ↓ Strum ↓
(1 2 3)
Or alternate:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
(count: 1 2& 3&)
👉 Use alternating bass notes (root–fifth) for a bouncier folk sound:
G chord → alternate 6th & 4th strings
C chord → alternate 5th & 4th
D or D7 chord → alternate 4th & 5th
🎸 Intro Fingerpicking Tab (G major – 3/4 time)
This follows the opening melodic line, “There was an old woman from Wexford…”
G C G
e|--------3---------2--0-|--------0--1--0----------3---|
B|----0--------1---------|----1-----------3----0-------|
G|--0--------0-----------|--0--------------------------|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------------|
A|-----------------------|3----------------------------|
E|3----------------------|-----------------------------|
Play softly twice before the first verse.
🎵 Full Lyrics with Chords (Key of G)
Verse 1
[G]There was an old woman from [D7]Wexford
In [G]Wexford town did [G7]dwell
She [C]loved her husband dearly
But a [D]nother man twice as [C]well
Chorus
With me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
Verse 2
One [G]day she went to the [D7]doctor
Some [G]medicine for to [G7]find
Sayin’ [C]“Doctor give me something
That’ll [D]make me ould man [C]blind”
Chorus
With me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
Verse 3
“Oh, [G]feed him eggs and [D7]marrow bones
And [G]make him sup them [G7]all
And it [C]won’t be so very long after
That he [D]won’t see you at [C]all”
Chorus
With me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
Verse 4
So she [G]fed him eggs and [D7]marrow bones
And [G]made him sup them [G7]all
And it [C]wasn’t so very long after
That he [D]couldn’t see the [C]wall
Chorus
With me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
Verse 5
“Oh,” says [G]he, “I’d go and [D7]drown meself
But [G]that might be a [G7]sin”
“Well,” says [C]she, “I’ll go along with you
And I’ll [D]help to push you [C]in”
Chorus
With me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
Verse 6
The old [G]woman she went [D7]back a bit
To [G]get a running [G7]go
The [C]old man blithely stepped aside
And she [D]went in be[C]low
Chorus
With me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
Verse 7
Oh, how [G]loudly did she [D7]roar
And how [G]loudly did she [G7]bawl
“Arrah [C]hould yer whisht, ould woman,” says he,
“Sure I [D]can’t see you at [C]all”
Chorus
With me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
Verse 8
She [G]swam and swam and [D7]swam and swam
’Till she [G]came to the further [G7]brim
The [C]old man got a long, larch pole
And he [D]pushed her further [C]in
Chorus
With me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
Verse 9
O [G]eggs are eggs and [D7]marrow bones
Will [G]make your old man [G7]blind
But if [C]you want to drown him
You must [D]creep up close be[C]hind
Final Chorus (slower)
With me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
Aye with me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
This version includes:
✅ All verses fully chorded
🎸 Folk-style strumming pattern (3/4)
🎵 Intro fingerpicking tab that fits the melody
🎶 Traditional Irish ballad feel
🎼 Key: G Major
Tempo: Moderate (♩ = 90–100)
Time Signature: 3/4
Style: Traditional Irish Folk / Waltz
🎶 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Time)
Folk Waltz Feel:
Simple version:
Bass ↓ Strum ↓ Strum ↓
(1 2 3)
Or alternate:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
(count: 1 2& 3&)
👉 Use alternating bass notes (root–fifth) for a bouncier folk sound:
G chord → alternate 6th & 4th strings
C chord → alternate 5th & 4th
D or D7 chord → alternate 4th & 5th
🎸 Intro Fingerpicking Tab (G major – 3/4 time)
This follows the opening melodic line, “There was an old woman from Wexford…”
G C G
e|--------3---------2--0-|--------0--1--0----------3---|
B|----0--------1---------|----1-----------3----0-------|
G|--0--------0-----------|--0--------------------------|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------------|
A|-----------------------|3----------------------------|
E|3----------------------|-----------------------------|
Play softly twice before the first verse.
🎵 Full Lyrics with Chords (Key of G)
Verse 1
[G]There was an old woman from [D7]Wexford
In [G]Wexford town did [G7]dwell
She [C]loved her husband dearly
But a [D]nother man twice as [C]well
Chorus
With me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
Verse 2
One [G]day she went to the [D7]doctor
Some [G]medicine for to [G7]find
Sayin’ [C]“Doctor give me something
That’ll [D]make me ould man [C]blind”
Chorus
With me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
Verse 3
“Oh, [G]feed him eggs and [D7]marrow bones
And [G]make him sup them [G7]all
And it [C]won’t be so very long after
That he [D]won’t see you at [C]all”
Chorus
With me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
Verse 4
So she [G]fed him eggs and [D7]marrow bones
And [G]made him sup them [G7]all
And it [C]wasn’t so very long after
That he [D]couldn’t see the [C]wall
Chorus
With me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
Verse 5
“Oh,” says [G]he, “I’d go and [D7]drown meself
But [G]that might be a [G7]sin”
“Well,” says [C]she, “I’ll go along with you
And I’ll [D]help to push you [C]in”
Chorus
With me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
Verse 6
The old [G]woman she went [D7]back a bit
To [G]get a running [G7]go
The [C]old man blithely stepped aside
And she [D]went in be[C]low
Chorus
With me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
Verse 7
Oh, how [G]loudly did she [D7]roar
And how [G]loudly did she [G7]bawl
“Arrah [C]hould yer whisht, ould woman,” says he,
“Sure I [D]can’t see you at [C]all”
Chorus
With me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
Verse 8
She [G]swam and swam and [D7]swam and swam
’Till she [G]came to the further [G7]brim
The [C]old man got a long, larch pole
And he [D]pushed her further [C]in
Chorus
With me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
Verse 9
O [G]eggs are eggs and [D7]marrow bones
Will [G]make your old man [G7]blind
But if [C]you want to drown him
You must [D]creep up close be[C]hind
Final Chorus (slower)
With me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
Aye with me [G]right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [D7]low-rel [G]lee
The Dubliners play this song in the key of A Major. [ Ronnie Drew Version ]
[A]There was an old woman from Wexford
In Wexford[E7] town did [A]dwell
She loved her[D] husband dearly
But a[E]nother man twice as[D] well
Chorus:
With me[A] right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [E7]low-rel[A] lee
[A]There was an old woman from Wexford
In Wexford[E7] town did [A]dwell
She loved her[D] husband dearly
But a[E]nother man twice as[D] well
Chorus:
With me[A] right fol lid-der-al ar-yl
And me right fol [E7]low-rel[A] lee
Ah now — this is peak dark Irish humour, with a moral lesson so wicked it could only come from a land where comedy and tragedy sit drinking together at the same table.
Let’s retell it with Irish wit and a wink:
We begin with an old woman in Wexford --
married, yes --
but with a wandering romantic imagination, shall we say.
She loves her husband…
but loves another fellow twice as much.
Meaning:
one lad for cooking,
one lad for cuddling --
and she thinks she’s living the dream.
She goes to the doctor, scheming like a Bond villain in a shawl:
“Give me something that’ll make the old man blind.”
She’s not looking for marriage counseling.
She wants him visually deactivated.
The doctor, being helpful in the worst possible way, says:
“Feed him eggs and marrow bones.”
Which, in Wexford tradition, is apparently
the budget version of instant blindness.
She stuffs him full:
eggs for breakfast,
marrow bones for supper,
and sure enough --
the poor fella can’t see the wall.
He’s stumbling around like a drunk man in a dark cellar.
Now he says:
“I’d go and drown meself — but that might be a sin.”
She replies sweetly:
“I’ll help you, love.”
Which is Irish for:
“One shove, and I’ll be free to enjoy my toyboy in peace.”
So she takes a run up --
like a GAA forward charging for goal --
and just as she boosts for the big push…
The old man — blind as he is --
sidesteps her like Muhammad Ali
and SPLASH!
straight into the water she goes!
She roars like a banshee,
screams like a goose in a grinder…
And he calmly says:
“Hold your whisht, woman — I can’t see you at all!”
Translation:
“Stop the drama — you tried to drown me first.”
She swims one direction,
he gets a big pole
and kindly gives her…
assistance in the opposite direction.
He’s basically playing aquatic hurling --
and she’s the sliotar.
Let’s retell it with Irish wit and a wink:
We begin with an old woman in Wexford --
married, yes --
but with a wandering romantic imagination, shall we say.
She loves her husband…
but loves another fellow twice as much.
Meaning:
one lad for cooking,
one lad for cuddling --
and she thinks she’s living the dream.
She goes to the doctor, scheming like a Bond villain in a shawl:
“Give me something that’ll make the old man blind.”
She’s not looking for marriage counseling.
She wants him visually deactivated.
The doctor, being helpful in the worst possible way, says:
“Feed him eggs and marrow bones.”
Which, in Wexford tradition, is apparently
the budget version of instant blindness.
She stuffs him full:
eggs for breakfast,
marrow bones for supper,
and sure enough --
the poor fella can’t see the wall.
He’s stumbling around like a drunk man in a dark cellar.
Now he says:
“I’d go and drown meself — but that might be a sin.”
She replies sweetly:
“I’ll help you, love.”
Which is Irish for:
“One shove, and I’ll be free to enjoy my toyboy in peace.”
So she takes a run up --
like a GAA forward charging for goal --
and just as she boosts for the big push…
The old man — blind as he is --
sidesteps her like Muhammad Ali
and SPLASH!
straight into the water she goes!
She roars like a banshee,
screams like a goose in a grinder…
And he calmly says:
“Hold your whisht, woman — I can’t see you at all!”
Translation:
“Stop the drama — you tried to drown me first.”
She swims one direction,
he gets a big pole
and kindly gives her…
assistance in the opposite direction.
He’s basically playing aquatic hurling --
and she’s the sliotar.
