The Pretty Maid Lyrics And Chords
(MILKING HER COW) 3/4 guitar chordpro Chords similar to those used in the version by Clannad. This is a request sent in by David Fink, the guitar chords are by Marc Fahrbach. The youtube video is by Clannad. The song was written by Thomas Moore around 1800 but it was originally an Irish song written as gaeilge. Amoung the other Thomas Moore songs here are The Meeting Of The Waters song from Co. Wicklow and The Last Rose Of Summer Song which are still being recorded by folk singers even though Thomas Moore died over 180 years ago..These lyrics are from the Clannad version, as there are many different versions. Sheet music notes included for tin whistle. A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow version by Judy Garland Tin Whistle Notes and mandolin sheet music tab included.
🎸 The Pretty Maid Milking Her Cow — Fingerpicking (3 bars per line)
(Dm) (C) (Bb)
e|-----1---------1---------|-----0---------0---------|-----1---------1---------|
B|-----3---------3---------|-----1---------1---------|-----3---------3---------|
G|-----2---------2---------|-----0---------0---------|-----3---------3---------|
D|---0-----0---0-----0-----|---2-----2---2-----2-----|---3-----3---3-----3-----|
A|-0-----------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
E|-------------------------|-0------------------------|-1------------------------|
The birds sweetly tune on each bough
(Dm) (C) (G)
e|-----1---------1---------|-----0---------0---------|-----3---------3---------|
B|-----3---------3---------|-----1---------1---------|-----3---------3---------|
G|-----2---------2---------|-----0---------0---------|-----0---------0---------|
D|---0-----0---0-----0-----|---2-----2---2-----2-----|---0-----0---0-----0-----|
A|-0-----------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
E|-------------------------|-0------------------------|-3------------------------|
And as I walked out for my pleasure
(Dm) (C) (Bb)
e|-----1---------1---------|-----0---------0---------|-----1---------1---------|
B|-----3---------3---------|-----1---------1---------|-----3---------3---------|
G|-----2---------2---------|-----0---------0---------|-----3---------3---------|
D|---0-----0---0-----0-----|---2-----2---2-----2-----|---3-----3---3-----3-----|
A|-0-----------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
E|-------------------------|-0------------------------|-1------------------------|
I saw a maid milking a cow
(Dm) (Am) (Dm)
e|-----1---------1---------|-----0---------0---------|-----1---------1---------|
B|-----3---------3---------|-----1---------1---------|-----3---------3---------|
G|-----2---------2---------|-----2---------2---------|-----2---------2---------|
D|---0-----0---0-----0-----|---2-----2---2-----2-----|---0-----0---0-----0-----|
A|-0-----------------------|--------------------------|-0------------------------|
E|-------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
Her voice was so enchanting, melodious
(F) (Am) (Bb)
e|-----1---------1---------|-----0---------0---------|-----1---------1---------|
B|-----1---------1---------|-----1---------1---------|-----3---------3---------|
G|-----2---------2---------|-----2---------2---------|-----3---------3---------|
D|---3-----3---3-----3-----|---2-----2---2-----2-----|---3-----3---3-----3-----|
A|-3-----------------------|--------------------------|-1------------------------|
E|-------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
Left me quite unable to go
(Dm) (Am) (G)
e|-----1---------1---------|-----0---------0---------|-----3---------3---------|
B|-----3---------3---------|-----1---------1---------|-----3---------3---------|
G|-----2---------2---------|-----2---------2---------|-----0---------0---------|
D|---0-----0---0-----0-----|---2-----2---2-----2-----|---0-----0---0-----0-----|
A|-0-----------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
E|-------------------------|--------------------------|-3------------------------|
My heart, it was loaded with sorrow
(Dm) (Gm) (Am)
e|-----1---------1---------|-----3---------3---------|-----0---------0---------|
B|-----3---------3---------|-----3---------3---------|-----1---------1---------|
G|-----2---------2---------|-----3---------3---------|-----2---------2---------|
D|---0-----0---0-----0-----|---5-----5---5-----5-----|---2-----2---2-----2-----|
A|-0-----------------------|-5------------------------|--------------------------|
E|-------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
For the pretty maid milking her cow
(Dm) (Am) (Dm)
e|-----1---------1---------|-----0---------0---------|-----1---------1---------|
B|-----3---------3---------|-----1---------1---------|-----3---------3---------|
G|-----2---------2---------|-----2---------2---------|-----2---------2---------|
D|---0-----0---0-----0-----|---2-----2---2-----2-----|---0-----0---0-----0-----|
A|-0-----------------------|--------------------------|-0------------------------|
E|-------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
Dm-Am-Dm
It (Dm)was on a fine (C)summer's (Bb)morning
The (Dm)birds’ sweetly (C)tune on each (G)bough
And (Dm)as I walked (C)out for my (Bb)pleasure
I (Dm)saw a maid (Am)milking a (Dm)cow
Her (F)voice was so en(Am)chanting, me(Bb)lodious
Left (Dm)me quite un(Am)able to (G)go
My (Dm)heart, it was (Gm)loaded with (Am)sorrow
For the (Dm)pretty maid (Am)milking her (Dm)cow
Dm-Am-Dm
Then (Dm)to her I (C)made my ad(Bb)vances
"Good (Dm)morrow most (C)beautiful (G)maid
Your (Dm)beauty my (C)heart so en(Bb)trances"
"Pray (Dm)sir do not (Am)banter," she (Dm)said
"I'm (F)not such a (Am)rare precious (Bb)jewel
That (Dm)I should en(Am)amour you (G)so
I (Dm)am but a (Gm)poor little (Am)milk girl,"
Says the (Dm)pretty maid (Am)milking her (Dm)cow
Dm-Am-Dm
The (Dm)Indies a(C)fford no such (Bb)jewel
So (Dm)bright, so trans(C)parently (G)clear
I (Dm)do not add (C)things to my (Bb)funeral
Con(Dm)sent but to (Am)know me my (Dm)dear
Oh, (F)had I the (Am)Lamp of A(Bb)laddin
Or the (Dm)wealth that gold (Am)mines can be(G)stow
I'd (Dm)rather be (BGm)poor in a (Am)cottage
With the (Dm)pretty girl (Am)milking her (Dm)cow
Dm-Am-Dm.
There's another song on the site that has a name similar
to this song called ''The Pretty Young Maid'' [ Lyrics Here ]
Ah now, here’s a classic Irish rural love scene --
a lad strolling through the countryside, minding his own business, when suddenly he’s ambushed by beauty, dairy, and despair all in one.
☘️ Scene 1: The Milkmaid of Mass DestructionIt’s a grand summer morning --
birds chirping like they’re auditioning for The Celtic X-Factor.
Our lad is just out for a stroll when he spots her --
a girl milking a cow with the grace of an angel
and the wrist strength of a professional hurler.
Her voice is so sweet it practically butters the grass.
He’s instantly smitten --
heart pounding, knees weak, brain melted
like Kerrygold in July.
He tries to walk away
but his legs mutiny,
saying:
“We’re staying right here, boss --
we’re not missing this.”
☘️ Scene 2: The Cheese–Powered Chat UpHe approaches with charm turned up to eleven:
“Good morrow, most beautiful maid...”
Which in modern Irish translates to:
“Howya love, you’re class and I’m desperate.”
She shuts him down with quick precision:
“Pray sir do not banter.”
Meaning:
“Save the compliments, Romeo --
I’m only here to milk a cow, not an eejit.”
She says she’s just a poor milk girl --
as if that makes her less attractive.
If anything, in Ireland that just adds bonus points.
☘️ Scene 3: Our Lad Goes Full Poet LaureateNow he pulls out the heavy artillery --
the old romantic exaggeration:
“The Indies afford no such jewel!”
Basically:
“Forget diamonds and gold --
you, love, are the top of the shop!”
Then he escalates:
“Had I the Lamp of Aladdin...”
He’s basically saying:
“If I could rub a magic lamp and summon a genie,
I’d wish for YOU, not an iPhone,
not eternal youth,
not a tractor — YOU!”
Finally, he drops the ultimate Irish love statement:
“I’d rather be poor in a cottage with you…”
Ah, stop.
That’s peak romance right there --
poverty with passion!
misery with affection!
a leaking thatched roof, but we’ll kiss under it!
☘️ Final ThoughtThis whole song is pure Irish courtship:
like every rural flirtation Ireland ever produced.
In short:
It’s a lad with poetic delusions and a milkmaid with both feet on the ground --
and a cow that just wishes everyone would stop talking and let her finish.
a lad strolling through the countryside, minding his own business, when suddenly he’s ambushed by beauty, dairy, and despair all in one.
☘️ Scene 1: The Milkmaid of Mass DestructionIt’s a grand summer morning --
birds chirping like they’re auditioning for The Celtic X-Factor.
Our lad is just out for a stroll when he spots her --
a girl milking a cow with the grace of an angel
and the wrist strength of a professional hurler.
Her voice is so sweet it practically butters the grass.
He’s instantly smitten --
heart pounding, knees weak, brain melted
like Kerrygold in July.
He tries to walk away
but his legs mutiny,
saying:
“We’re staying right here, boss --
we’re not missing this.”
☘️ Scene 2: The Cheese–Powered Chat UpHe approaches with charm turned up to eleven:
“Good morrow, most beautiful maid...”
Which in modern Irish translates to:
“Howya love, you’re class and I’m desperate.”
She shuts him down with quick precision:
“Pray sir do not banter.”
Meaning:
“Save the compliments, Romeo --
I’m only here to milk a cow, not an eejit.”
She says she’s just a poor milk girl --
as if that makes her less attractive.
If anything, in Ireland that just adds bonus points.
☘️ Scene 3: Our Lad Goes Full Poet LaureateNow he pulls out the heavy artillery --
the old romantic exaggeration:
“The Indies afford no such jewel!”
Basically:
“Forget diamonds and gold --
you, love, are the top of the shop!”
Then he escalates:
“Had I the Lamp of Aladdin...”
He’s basically saying:
“If I could rub a magic lamp and summon a genie,
I’d wish for YOU, not an iPhone,
not eternal youth,
not a tractor — YOU!”
Finally, he drops the ultimate Irish love statement:
“I’d rather be poor in a cottage with you…”
Ah, stop.
That’s peak romance right there --
poverty with passion!
misery with affection!
a leaking thatched roof, but we’ll kiss under it!
☘️ Final ThoughtThis whole song is pure Irish courtship:
- Boy falls in love dramatically
- Girl remains sensible and skeptical
- Cow remains unimpressed
- Nature witnesses and silently judges
like every rural flirtation Ireland ever produced.
In short:
It’s a lad with poetic delusions and a milkmaid with both feet on the ground --
and a cow that just wishes everyone would stop talking and let her finish.
A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow -Judy Garland Version
A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow Mandolin Sheet Music Tab
A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow Tin Whistle Notes
