The Wren Song Lyrics And Guitar Chords
A traditional Irish folk song, recorded by The Clancy Brothers And The Furey Brothers.In the early days around 1969 when Tommy Makem left the Clancys to go solo two of The Furey Brothers, Eddey and Finbar were asked to join the group. Finbar played the uillean pipes, five string banjo and tin whistle while Eddie played the guitar. The new line up recorded 2 albums and toured America. The Fureys stayed with the Clancy Brothers just over a year. This is a song that's usually sang on St. Stephens Day. Recorded by Richie Kavanagh in 2015.
The piano sheet music with chords and bass is in the ebook here .
The piano sheet music with chords and bass is in the ebook here .
The[D] wren, the wren, the king of all birds
on St. [G]Stephen's Day got [A]caught in the furze
So it’s [D]up with the kettle and down with the pan
[G]give us a [A]penny to [D]burry the wren
As I was gone to Killenaule
I met the wren upon the wall
I upped with me wattle and knocked him down
and brought him into Carrick town
Little bird, little bird, where is your nest?
'Tis in the bush that I love best
It’s in the tree, the holly tree
where all the boys do follow me
We followed the wren three miles or more
three miles or more, three miles or more
We followed the wren three miles or more
at six o'clock in the morning
I have a little box under me arm
under me arm, under me arm
I have a little box under me arm
a penny or tuppence'll do it no harm
Mrs. O’Gill is a very good woman
a very good woman, a very good woman
Mrs. O’Gill is a very good woman
she gave us a penny to bury the wren
on St. [G]Stephen's Day got [A]caught in the furze
So it’s [D]up with the kettle and down with the pan
[G]give us a [A]penny to [D]burry the wren
As I was gone to Killenaule
I met the wren upon the wall
I upped with me wattle and knocked him down
and brought him into Carrick town
Little bird, little bird, where is your nest?
'Tis in the bush that I love best
It’s in the tree, the holly tree
where all the boys do follow me
We followed the wren three miles or more
three miles or more, three miles or more
We followed the wren three miles or more
at six o'clock in the morning
I have a little box under me arm
under me arm, under me arm
I have a little box under me arm
a penny or tuppence'll do it no harm
Mrs. O’Gill is a very good woman
a very good woman, a very good woman
Mrs. O’Gill is a very good woman
she gave us a penny to bury the wren
Here are the guitar chords in the key of G
Here’s the complete version with chords for all verses, transposed from D to G Major, plus a lively strumming pattern that fits the song’s upbeat folk character.
🎵 The Wren Song (in G Major)Verse 1
[G]The wren, the wren, the [C]king of all [G]birds
On St. [C]Stephen's Day got [D]caught in the furze
So it’s [G]up with the kettle and [C]down with the [G]pan
[C]Give us a [D]penny to [G]bury the wren
Verse 2
[G]As I was going to [C]Killena[G]ule
I met the [C]wren upon the [D]wall
I [G]upped with my wattle and [C]knocked him [G]down
And [C]brought him in[D]to Carrick [G]town
Verse 3
[G]Little bird, little [C]bird, where is your [G]nest?
“'Tis in the [C]bush that I [D]love best
It’s [G]in the tree, the [C]holly [G]tree
Where [C]all the boys [D]do follow [G]me.”
Verse 4
[G]We followed the wren [C]three miles or [G]more
Three miles or [C]more, three [D]miles or more
We [G]followed the wren [C]three miles or [G]more
At [C]six o'clock [D]in the [G]morning
Verse 5
[G]I have a little box [C]under my [G]arm
Under my [C]arm, under my [D]arm
I [G]have a little box [C]under my [G]arm
A [C]penny or tuppence [D]’ll do it no [G]harm
Verse 6
[G]Mrs. O’Gill is a [C]very good [G]woman
A very good [C]woman, a [D]very good woman
[G]Mrs. O’Gill is a [C]very good [G]woman
She [C]gave us a [D]penny to [G]bury the wren
🎸 Strumming PatternThis song is usually played in 2/4 or brisk 4/4 — think of an Irish street rhythm (like a jig-march feel).
Pattern (in 4/4):
D – DUDU
(Down – Down Up Down Up)
Keep it bright and bouncy, emphasizing beats 1 and 3.
Alternate pattern for a jig feel (2/4 time):
D-DU D-DU
(Short, choppy rhythm for hand drum / bodhrán effect)
Example count:1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
D D U D U
Use light palm-muting on the low strings to give a percussive “tap-tap” sound like Irish bodhrán.
💡 Performance Tips
Here’s the complete version with chords for all verses, transposed from D to G Major, plus a lively strumming pattern that fits the song’s upbeat folk character.
🎵 The Wren Song (in G Major)Verse 1
[G]The wren, the wren, the [C]king of all [G]birds
On St. [C]Stephen's Day got [D]caught in the furze
So it’s [G]up with the kettle and [C]down with the [G]pan
[C]Give us a [D]penny to [G]bury the wren
Verse 2
[G]As I was going to [C]Killena[G]ule
I met the [C]wren upon the [D]wall
I [G]upped with my wattle and [C]knocked him [G]down
And [C]brought him in[D]to Carrick [G]town
Verse 3
[G]Little bird, little [C]bird, where is your [G]nest?
“'Tis in the [C]bush that I [D]love best
It’s [G]in the tree, the [C]holly [G]tree
Where [C]all the boys [D]do follow [G]me.”
Verse 4
[G]We followed the wren [C]three miles or [G]more
Three miles or [C]more, three [D]miles or more
We [G]followed the wren [C]three miles or [G]more
At [C]six o'clock [D]in the [G]morning
Verse 5
[G]I have a little box [C]under my [G]arm
Under my [C]arm, under my [D]arm
I [G]have a little box [C]under my [G]arm
A [C]penny or tuppence [D]’ll do it no [G]harm
Verse 6
[G]Mrs. O’Gill is a [C]very good [G]woman
A very good [C]woman, a [D]very good woman
[G]Mrs. O’Gill is a [C]very good [G]woman
She [C]gave us a [D]penny to [G]bury the wren
🎸 Strumming PatternThis song is usually played in 2/4 or brisk 4/4 — think of an Irish street rhythm (like a jig-march feel).
Pattern (in 4/4):
D – DUDU
(Down – Down Up Down Up)
Keep it bright and bouncy, emphasizing beats 1 and 3.
Alternate pattern for a jig feel (2/4 time):
D-DU D-DU
(Short, choppy rhythm for hand drum / bodhrán effect)
Example count:1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
D D U D U
Use light palm-muting on the low strings to give a percussive “tap-tap” sound like Irish bodhrán.
💡 Performance Tips
- Strum strongly on the “up with the kettle” line — it gives a great pub singalong energy.
- Between verses, play a single G–C–G–D–G turnaround.
- This song is great for group singing — everyone can join in the “bury the wren” refrain.
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The Wren Song Sheet Music / Tin Whistle Notes Included.
The Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem - The Wren Song
