The Zoological Gardens Lyrics And Chords

A traditional Irish song. There's a lot of Dublin wit and slang in this funny song.It was recorded by The Dubliners with Ronnie Drew on vocals and The Wolfe Tones. The song ''Zoological Gardens'' was written by Dominic Behan. The sheet music and tin whistle notes are included. [ Guitar chords in chordpro style]

The Zoological Gardens Lyrics And Guitar Chords In D Major

​[Chorus]
Oh[D] thunder and lightning[G] is no[A] lark
When Dublin City is[G] in the[A] dark
If you[D] have any[G] money go[D] up to the[A] park
And[D] view the zoo[A7]ligical[D] gardens
 
Last Sunday night we had no dough
So I took the mot up to see the zoo
We saw the lions and kangaroos
Inside the zoological gardens
 
We went up there by Castleknock
Said the mot to me sure we'll court by the lough
And I knew she was one of the rare old stock
Inside the zooligical gardens
 
Said the mot to me ''My dear friend Jack''
Would you like a ride on the elephant's back
If you dont get outta that I'll give ye such a smack
Inside the zooligical gardens
 
We went up there on our honeymoon
Says she to me if you dont come back
Sure I'll have to jump in with the hairy baboon
Inside the zooligical gardens

​Guitar chords for the key of C

Oh[C] thunder and lightning[F] is no[G] lark
When Dublin City is[F] in the[G] dark
If you[C] have any[F] money go[C] up to the[G] park
And[C] view the zoo[G7]ligical[C] gardens

this is the lively Dublin street ballad “The Zoological Gardens”, famously sung by the Dubliners.
Below you’ll find the full song in G major with chords, plus a strumming pattern and a fingerstyle tab for the first verse and chorus arranged for solo guitar.

🎵 1. Full Song With Chords (in G Major)
[Chorus]
Oh [G]thunder and lightning [C]is no [D]lark
When [G]Dublin City [C]is in the [D]dark
If you [G]have any [C]money go [G]up to the [D]park
And [G]view the zoo[D7]logical [G]gardens

[Verse 1]
Last [G]Sunday night we [C]had no [D]dough
So I [G]took the mot [C]up to see the [D]zoo
We [G]saw the lions and [C]kangaroos
In[G]side the zoo[D7]logical [G]gardens

[Verse 2]
We [G]went up there by [C]Castle[D]knock
Said the [G]mot to me, sure [C]we’ll court by the [D]lough
And I [G]knew she was one of the [C]rare old stock
In[G]side the zoo[D7]logical [G]gardens

[Verse 3]
Said the [G]mot to me, “My [C]dear friend [D]Jack
Would you [G]like a ride on the [C]elephant’s [D]back?”
“If you [G]don’t get out o’ [C]that I’ll give ye such a smack”
In[G]side the zoo[D7]logical [G]gardens

[Verse 4]
We [G]went up there on [C]our honey[D]moon
Says [G]she to me, “If you [C]don’t come back [D]soon
Sure I’ll [G]have to jump in with the [C]hairy baboon”
In[G]side the zoo[D7]logical [G]gardens

🎸 2. Strumming Pattern

Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: ~100–110 BPM (cheerful, steady march)

➤ Pattern:

↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count: 1 2& &4&

Keep a light, bouncing swing — this tune has a cheeky, storytelling rhythm.

For verses, play softly with a slight palm mute on the bass.
For chorus, play open, brighter strums.

You can also use a bass–strum pattern for a folkier sound:

Bass ↓ – Strum ↓↑ – Bass ↓ – Strum ↑↓↑

🎶 3. Fingerstyle Guitar Tab

(First Verse + Chorus – in G Major)

Right-hand pattern (per bar):

Bass → G → B → high E → B → G
(Thumb = E/A/D strings; fingers = G/B/E strings)

FIRST VERSE TAB

Lyrics:

Last [G]Sunday night we [C]had no [D]dough
So I [G]took the mot [C]up to see the [D]zoo
We [G]saw the lions and [C]kangaroos
In[G]side the zoo[D7]logical [G]gardens

   G
e|--------3-------------3-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|3-----------------3-----------------|

   C
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|3-----------------3-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|

   D
e|--------2-------------2-------------|
B|------3---3---------3---3-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|0-----------------0-----------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|

   D7
e|--------2-------------2-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|

CHORUS TAB

Lyrics:

Oh [G]thunder and lightning [C]is no [D]lark
When [G]Dublin City [C]is in the [D]dark
If you [G]have any [C]money go [G]up to the [D]park
And [G]view the zoo[D7]logical [G]gardens

   G
e|--------3-------------3-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|3-----------------3-----------------|

   C
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|3-----------------3-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|

   D
e|--------2-------------2-------------|
B|------3---3---------3---3-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|0-----------------0-----------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|

   D7
e|--------2-------------2-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|

💡 Playing Tips

Feel the bounce: it’s a cheeky song — accent beats 2 and 4 slightly for that Irish jig swing.

Keep your thumb alternating steadily for a traditional folk feel.

Use fingerpicking on verses and open strumming on choruses — that’s how many Irish players perform it live.

On the last line (“Inside the zoological gardens”), let the final G chord ring fully.

​The zoological gardens sheet music and tin whistle notes

Zoological Gardens tin whistle sheet music