The Peeler And The Goat Lyrics And Chords
The Peeler And The Goat Folk Song Lyrics And Easy Guitar Chords The sheet music and tin whistle notes are included. Derek Warfield formally from The Wolfe Tones [ who are playing in the youtube video ] Irish lyrics and guitar chords in chordpro format, written by Darby Ryan. Recorded by The Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem and also by Oisin.
THIS is classic Irish nonsense: a policeman arresting a talking goat who argues for his civil rights like a furry barrister from County Tipperary. Let’s give it the full Irish commentary:
We open with the Bansha peeler — that’s an old Irish cop --
out patrolling one night, probably full of heroic purpose
and half-full of whiskey.
He sees a shape on the road --
and what is it?
A sneaky revolutionary?
A wandering vagrant?
No --
it’s a bleedin’ goat.
But our brave officer…
perhaps not blessed with eyesight…
thinks it’s a suspicious character “strolling–o.”
He goes full Rambo:
“With bayonet fixed… he caught him by the wizen.”
Imagine it:
a grown man
trying to arrest a goat
like he’s collaring a hardened criminal.
This is policing, 19th–century Irish style.
Then the goat — the absolute legend --
starts SPEAKING like he’s Oscar Wilde:
“Have mercy sir…
I am no rogue, no ribbonman, no Whig, or Tory-o!”
Basically saying:
“I’m not political — I’m just horny. Literally.”
Because:
“It is the mating season-o.”
Meaning:
he’s just out looking for romance --
not rebellion.
But the peeler goes full jobsworth:
“You’re absent from your dwelling place, idle, disorderly…”
He’s scolding a goat
for not having a fixed address.
What does he expect?
A billing statement?
A voting registration?
The cop threatens:
“The penal laws will transport you!”
He’s essentially threatening to deport a goat
for loitering.
You MIGHT be dealing with too much Guinness at that point.
Then the goat reveals his heritage:
“I’m of an honest working race --
that’s all the trade I’ve learned-o.”
He’s basically saying:
“I eat grass, and I headbutt things.
That’s my craft. Respect it.”
Then the goat flips it --
turning into a proper cheeky legend:
“I wager, sir, you are drunk on whiskey, rum, and brandy-o.”
He accuses the cop of being locked,
loaded,
and liquored.
Honestly?
He’s probably right.
Then the goat adds:
“If I had money handy --
I’d treat you to the parting glass…”
Meaning:
If he could pay a bribe,
they’d both be in the pub by now.
In summary:
This song is:
a goat outsmarts the law
and probably outdrinks it too.
God bless Ireland --
where even the livestock knows how to argue,
rhyme,
and insult authority with style.
We open with the Bansha peeler — that’s an old Irish cop --
out patrolling one night, probably full of heroic purpose
and half-full of whiskey.
He sees a shape on the road --
and what is it?
A sneaky revolutionary?
A wandering vagrant?
No --
it’s a bleedin’ goat.
But our brave officer…
perhaps not blessed with eyesight…
thinks it’s a suspicious character “strolling–o.”
He goes full Rambo:
“With bayonet fixed… he caught him by the wizen.”
Imagine it:
a grown man
trying to arrest a goat
like he’s collaring a hardened criminal.
This is policing, 19th–century Irish style.
Then the goat — the absolute legend --
starts SPEAKING like he’s Oscar Wilde:
“Have mercy sir…
I am no rogue, no ribbonman, no Whig, or Tory-o!”
Basically saying:
“I’m not political — I’m just horny. Literally.”
Because:
“It is the mating season-o.”
Meaning:
he’s just out looking for romance --
not rebellion.
But the peeler goes full jobsworth:
“You’re absent from your dwelling place, idle, disorderly…”
He’s scolding a goat
for not having a fixed address.
What does he expect?
A billing statement?
A voting registration?
The cop threatens:
“The penal laws will transport you!”
He’s essentially threatening to deport a goat
for loitering.
You MIGHT be dealing with too much Guinness at that point.
Then the goat reveals his heritage:
“I’m of an honest working race --
that’s all the trade I’ve learned-o.”
He’s basically saying:
“I eat grass, and I headbutt things.
That’s my craft. Respect it.”
Then the goat flips it --
turning into a proper cheeky legend:
“I wager, sir, you are drunk on whiskey, rum, and brandy-o.”
He accuses the cop of being locked,
loaded,
and liquored.
Honestly?
He’s probably right.
Then the goat adds:
“If I had money handy --
I’d treat you to the parting glass…”
Meaning:
If he could pay a bribe,
they’d both be in the pub by now.
In summary:
This song is:
- a goat sass–talking a policeman
- a drunken constable policing farm animals
- legal arguments delivered in farmyard Irish
- and a glorious example of Irish absurdity
a goat outsmarts the law
and probably outdrinks it too.
God bless Ireland --
where even the livestock knows how to argue,
rhyme,
and insult authority with style.
[Em]Oh, the Bansha[D] peeler went [Em]out one night on[G] duty and pa[D]trolling-o
He[Em] spied a[D] goat up[Em]on the road and[G] took him[D] for a-[Em]strolling-o
With bayonet fixed, he sallied forth and he caught him by the wizen-o
And there swore out a mighty oath he'd send him off to prison-o
Have mercy, sir, the goat replied and let me tell my story-o
I am no rogue, no ribbon man, no cocky, Whig, or Tory-o
I'm innocent of any crime, of petty or high treason-o
For my tribe is active at this time it is the mating season-o
"Do not complain," the peeler said but give your tongue a bridle-o
You're absent from your dwelling place, disorderly, and idle-o
Your hoary locks will not prevail nor your sublime oration-o
For the penal laws will you transport on your own information-o
No penal laws have I transgressed by deed or combination-o
It's true I have no place of rest, no home, or habitation-o
But Bansha is my dwelling place where I was bread and borne-o
I'm of an honest working race that's all the trade I've learned-o
I wager, sir, that you are drunk on whiskey, rum, and brandy-o
Or you wouldn't have such gallant spunk to be so bold and manly-o
You readily would let me pass If I had money handy-o
I'd take you to the parting glass its then I'd be the dandy-o
“The Bansha Peeler” — a classic Irish comic ballad, perfect for lively folk guitar accompaniment.
Here’s your complete G-major arrangement (transposed from Em to G Major for a warmer guitar sound) with:
✅ Chords for every verse
🎶 Irish folk strumming pattern (6/8 or 3/4 swing)
🎸 Intro fingerpicking tab for a traditional opening
🎼 Key: G Major
Tempo: Moderate (♩ = 90–100)
Time Signature: 6/8 (lilting Irish jig feel)
Style: Traditional Irish Folk
🎶 Strumming Pattern (6/8 time)
For the traditional Irish jig rhythm:
Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
(Counted: 1 2-and 3-and)
or for a waltz-like version (3/4):
Bass ↓ Strum ↓ Strum ↓
Keep it bouncy and swinging; accent beat 1 slightly.
🎸 Intro Fingerpicking Tab (G Major – 6/8 time)
A short intro to set the tone before the first verse:
G D G
e|--------3--------2--0-|--------2--3--2----------3---|
B|----0--------3--------|----3-----------3----0-------|
G|--0--------2----------|--2--------------------------|
D|----------------------|-----------------------------|
A|----------------------|-----------------------------|
E|3---------------------|-----------------------------|
Play this twice, softly, before singing.
🎵 Lyrics with Chords (in G Major)
Verse 1
[G]Oh, the Bansha [C]peeler went [G]out one night
On [D]duty and patroll[G]ing-o,
He [G]spied a [C]goat up [G]on the road
And [D]took him for a-[G]strolling-o.
Verse 2
With [G]bayonet fixed, he [C]sallied forth
And [G]caught him by the [D]wizen-o,
And [G]there swore [C]out a mighty [G]oath
He’d [D]send him off to [G]prison-o.
Verse 3
Have [G]mercy, sir, the [C]goat replied,
And [G]let me tell my [D]story-o,
I [G]am no rogue, no [C]ribbon man,
No [G]cocky, Whig, or [D]Tory-o.
Verse 4
I'm [G]innocent of [C]any crime,
Of [G]petty or high [D]treason-o,
For [G]my tribe is [C]active at this [G]time,
It [D]is the mating [G]season-o.
Verse 5
“Do [G]not complain,” the [C]peeler said,
“But [G]give your tongue a [D]bridle-o,
You're [G]absent from your [C]dwelling place,
Dis[G]orderly and [D]idle-o.”
Verse 6
“Your [G]hoary locks will [C]not prevail,
Nor [G]your sublime or[D]ation-o,
For [G]the penal laws will [C]you transport
On [G]your own infor[D]mation-o.”
Verse 7
“No [G]penal laws have [C]I transgressed
By [G]deed or combi[D]nation-o,
It’s [G]true I have no [C]place of rest,
No [G]home or habi[D]tation-o.”
Verse 8
“But [G]Bansha is my [C]dwelling place,
Where [G]I was bred and [D]borne-o,
I’m [G]of an honest [C]working race,
That’s [G]all the trade I’ve [D]learned-o.”
Verse 9
“I [G]wager, sir, that [C]you are drunk
On [G]whiskey, rum, and [D]brandy-o,
Or [G]you wouldn’t have such [C]gallant spunk
To [G]be so bold and [D]manly-o.”
Verse 10
“You [G]readily would [C]let me pass
If [G]I had money [D]handy-o,
I’d [G]take you to the [C]parting glass,
’Tis [G]then I’d be the [D]dandy-o.”
🎸 Outro
Repeat the intro tab or strum G–C–G–D–G softly to end.
He[Em] spied a[D] goat up[Em]on the road and[G] took him[D] for a-[Em]strolling-o
With bayonet fixed, he sallied forth and he caught him by the wizen-o
And there swore out a mighty oath he'd send him off to prison-o
Have mercy, sir, the goat replied and let me tell my story-o
I am no rogue, no ribbon man, no cocky, Whig, or Tory-o
I'm innocent of any crime, of petty or high treason-o
For my tribe is active at this time it is the mating season-o
"Do not complain," the peeler said but give your tongue a bridle-o
You're absent from your dwelling place, disorderly, and idle-o
Your hoary locks will not prevail nor your sublime oration-o
For the penal laws will you transport on your own information-o
No penal laws have I transgressed by deed or combination-o
It's true I have no place of rest, no home, or habitation-o
But Bansha is my dwelling place where I was bread and borne-o
I'm of an honest working race that's all the trade I've learned-o
I wager, sir, that you are drunk on whiskey, rum, and brandy-o
Or you wouldn't have such gallant spunk to be so bold and manly-o
You readily would let me pass If I had money handy-o
I'd take you to the parting glass its then I'd be the dandy-o
“The Bansha Peeler” — a classic Irish comic ballad, perfect for lively folk guitar accompaniment.
Here’s your complete G-major arrangement (transposed from Em to G Major for a warmer guitar sound) with:
✅ Chords for every verse
🎶 Irish folk strumming pattern (6/8 or 3/4 swing)
🎸 Intro fingerpicking tab for a traditional opening
🎼 Key: G Major
Tempo: Moderate (♩ = 90–100)
Time Signature: 6/8 (lilting Irish jig feel)
Style: Traditional Irish Folk
🎶 Strumming Pattern (6/8 time)
For the traditional Irish jig rhythm:
Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
(Counted: 1 2-and 3-and)
or for a waltz-like version (3/4):
Bass ↓ Strum ↓ Strum ↓
Keep it bouncy and swinging; accent beat 1 slightly.
🎸 Intro Fingerpicking Tab (G Major – 6/8 time)
A short intro to set the tone before the first verse:
G D G
e|--------3--------2--0-|--------2--3--2----------3---|
B|----0--------3--------|----3-----------3----0-------|
G|--0--------2----------|--2--------------------------|
D|----------------------|-----------------------------|
A|----------------------|-----------------------------|
E|3---------------------|-----------------------------|
Play this twice, softly, before singing.
🎵 Lyrics with Chords (in G Major)
Verse 1
[G]Oh, the Bansha [C]peeler went [G]out one night
On [D]duty and patroll[G]ing-o,
He [G]spied a [C]goat up [G]on the road
And [D]took him for a-[G]strolling-o.
Verse 2
With [G]bayonet fixed, he [C]sallied forth
And [G]caught him by the [D]wizen-o,
And [G]there swore [C]out a mighty [G]oath
He’d [D]send him off to [G]prison-o.
Verse 3
Have [G]mercy, sir, the [C]goat replied,
And [G]let me tell my [D]story-o,
I [G]am no rogue, no [C]ribbon man,
No [G]cocky, Whig, or [D]Tory-o.
Verse 4
I'm [G]innocent of [C]any crime,
Of [G]petty or high [D]treason-o,
For [G]my tribe is [C]active at this [G]time,
It [D]is the mating [G]season-o.
Verse 5
“Do [G]not complain,” the [C]peeler said,
“But [G]give your tongue a [D]bridle-o,
You're [G]absent from your [C]dwelling place,
Dis[G]orderly and [D]idle-o.”
Verse 6
“Your [G]hoary locks will [C]not prevail,
Nor [G]your sublime or[D]ation-o,
For [G]the penal laws will [C]you transport
On [G]your own infor[D]mation-o.”
Verse 7
“No [G]penal laws have [C]I transgressed
By [G]deed or combi[D]nation-o,
It’s [G]true I have no [C]place of rest,
No [G]home or habi[D]tation-o.”
Verse 8
“But [G]Bansha is my [C]dwelling place,
Where [G]I was bred and [D]borne-o,
I’m [G]of an honest [C]working race,
That’s [G]all the trade I’ve [D]learned-o.”
Verse 9
“I [G]wager, sir, that [C]you are drunk
On [G]whiskey, rum, and [D]brandy-o,
Or [G]you wouldn’t have such [C]gallant spunk
To [G]be so bold and [D]manly-o.”
Verse 10
“You [G]readily would [C]let me pass
If [G]I had money [D]handy-o,
I’d [G]take you to the [C]parting glass,
’Tis [G]then I’d be the [D]dandy-o.”
🎸 Outro
Repeat the intro tab or strum G–C–G–D–G softly to end.
The Peeler And The Goat Chords In Am
[Am]Oh, the Bansha[G] peeler went [Am]out one night on[C] duty and pa[G]trolling-o
He[Am] spied a[G] goat up[Am]on the road and[C] took him[G] for a-[Am]strolling-o
[Am]Oh, the Bansha[G] peeler went [Am]out one night on[C] duty and pa[G]trolling-o
He[Am] spied a[G] goat up[Am]on the road and[C] took him[G] for a-[Am]strolling-o
Peeler And The Goat Irish Sheet Music
The peeler and the goat sheet music for tin whistle
