WHEN WE WERE UNDER THE KING Lyrics And Chords
4/4 (traditional Irish Folk Song)This song is also known as ‚Three Jolly Rogues of Lynne’ and ‚Three Roguish Chaps’ with the last one using slightly different lyrics and four verses. For Clancy Brothers’ version use capo on 3rd fret. Guitar chords by Marc Fahrbach
In the (D)good old (A)colony (D)days,
When we were (A)under the (D)king
Lived a miller and a (A)weaver and a (Bm)little tai(A)lor,
Three (G)jolly (A)rogues of (D)Lynne
Three (D)jolly (A)rogues of (D)Lynne,
Three jolly (A)rogues of (D)Lynne
Lived a miller and a (A)weaver and a (Bm)little tai(A)lor,
Three (G)jolly (A)rogues of (D)Lynne
Now the (D)miller (A)he stole (D)corn,
And the weaver (A)he stole (D)yarn
And the little tail(A)or he (Bm)stole braod(A)cloth
To (G)keep these (A)three rogues (D)warm
To (D)keep these (A)three rogues (D)warm,
To (D)keep these (A)three rogues (D)warm
And the little tail(A)or he (Bm)stole braod(A)cloth
To (G)keep these (A)three rogues (D)warm
Now the (D)miller was (A)drowned in his (D)dam
And the weaver was (A)hung in his (D)yarn
And the devil got his (A)claw on the (Bm)little tail(A)or
With his (G)braodcloth (A)under his (D)arm
With his (D)braodcloth (A)under his (D)arm,
With his braodcloth (A)under his (D)arm
And the little tail(A)or still (Bm)runs through (A)hell,
With his (G)braodcloth (A)under his (D)arm.
Here are the chords in the key of G
In the (G)good old (D)colony (G)days,
When we were (D)under the (G)king
Lived a miller and a (D)weaver and a (Em)little tai(D)lor,
Three (C)jolly (D)rogues of (G)Lynne
Three (G)jolly (D)rogues of (G)Lynne,
Three jolly (D)rogues of (G)Lynne
Lived a miller and a (D)weaver and a (Em)little tai(D)lor,
Three (C)jolly (D)rogues of (G)Lynne
Now the (G)miller (D)he stole (G)corn,
And the weaver (D)he stole (G)yarn
And the little tail(D)or he (Em)stole braod(D)cloth
To (C)keep these (D)three rogues (G)warm
To (G)keep these (D)three rogues (G)warm,
To (G)keep these (D)three rogues (G)warm
And the little tail(D)or he (Em)stole braod(D)cloth
To (C)keep these (D)three rogues (G)warm
Now the (G)miller was (D)drowned in his (G)dam
And the weaver was (D)hung in his (G)yarn
And the devil got his (D)claw on the (Em)little tail(D)or
With his (C)braodcloth (D)under his (G)arm
With his (G)braodcloth (D)under his (G)arm,
With his braodcloth (D)under his (G)arm
And the little tail(D)or still (Em)runs through (D)hell,
With his (C)braodcloth (D)under his (G)arm
In the (G)good old (D)colony (G)days,
When we were (D)under the (G)king
Lived a miller and a (D)weaver and a (Em)little tai(D)lor,
Three (C)jolly (D)rogues of (G)Lynne
Three (G)jolly (D)rogues of (G)Lynne,
Three jolly (D)rogues of (G)Lynne
Lived a miller and a (D)weaver and a (Em)little tai(D)lor,
Three (C)jolly (D)rogues of (G)Lynne
Now the (G)miller (D)he stole (G)corn,
And the weaver (D)he stole (G)yarn
And the little tail(D)or he (Em)stole braod(D)cloth
To (C)keep these (D)three rogues (G)warm
To (G)keep these (D)three rogues (G)warm,
To (G)keep these (D)three rogues (G)warm
And the little tail(D)or he (Em)stole braod(D)cloth
To (C)keep these (D)three rogues (G)warm
Now the (G)miller was (D)drowned in his (G)dam
And the weaver was (D)hung in his (G)yarn
And the devil got his (D)claw on the (Em)little tail(D)or
With his (C)braodcloth (D)under his (G)arm
With his (G)braodcloth (D)under his (G)arm,
With his braodcloth (D)under his (G)arm
And the little tail(D)or still (Em)runs through (D)hell,
With his (C)braodcloth (D)under his (G)arm
🎸 Strumming Pattern (Key of G Major)
🎵 Recommended Pattern:
4/4 time — steady and lively (folk tempo ~100–110 BPM)
👉 Pattern:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
(counted as: 1 2 & & 4 &)
Accent: Lightly emphasize the first downstroke (beat 1) and the “4 &” to give it that lilting folk bounce.
You can also think of it as:
Bass – Down – Up – Up – Down – Up
💬 Example (played over one measure of G):
G chord
e|--3------------------------|
B|--0------------------------|
G|--0------------------------|
D|--0------------------------|
A|--2------------------------|
E|--3------------------------|
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
(1) (2) (&) (&) (4) (&)
🪘 How to Apply It to the Song
Let’s look at the first few lines so you can hear the rhythm:
In the (G)good old (D)colony (G)days,
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
When we were (D)under the (G)king
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Lived a miller and a (D)weaver and a (Em)little tai(D)lor,
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Three (C)jolly (D)rogues of (G)Lynne
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Each chord symbol = 1 measure (4 beats) unless the lyrics move quickly — then split the measure naturally (you’ll feel the pulse).
🔄 Optional Folk Variation:
If you want a more old-time bounce (like The Dubliners or sea shanty style), you can use this alternating bass pattern:
Bass–Down–Up–Down–Up
(Root note → chord strum → up → down → up)
So for G:
e|--3----------------|
B|--0----------------|
G|--0----------------|
D|--0----------------|
A|--2----------------|
E|--3----------------|
B D U D U
And for D:
Alternate between open D string (4th) and A string (5th) for the bass motion.
That pattern gives a “bouncy storytelling swing” — ideal for this song.
💡 Tips:
Keep your wrist loose — let the rhythm “flow” instead of punching each beat.
Use a light pick or your fingertips for warmth.
Add a slight palm mute on the bass for a vintage folk feel.
Clap or tap your foot on beats 1 and 3 to stay grounded.
🎵 Recommended Pattern:
4/4 time — steady and lively (folk tempo ~100–110 BPM)
👉 Pattern:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
(counted as: 1 2 & & 4 &)
Accent: Lightly emphasize the first downstroke (beat 1) and the “4 &” to give it that lilting folk bounce.
You can also think of it as:
Bass – Down – Up – Up – Down – Up
💬 Example (played over one measure of G):
G chord
e|--3------------------------|
B|--0------------------------|
G|--0------------------------|
D|--0------------------------|
A|--2------------------------|
E|--3------------------------|
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
(1) (2) (&) (&) (4) (&)
🪘 How to Apply It to the Song
Let’s look at the first few lines so you can hear the rhythm:
In the (G)good old (D)colony (G)days,
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
When we were (D)under the (G)king
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Lived a miller and a (D)weaver and a (Em)little tai(D)lor,
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Three (C)jolly (D)rogues of (G)Lynne
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Each chord symbol = 1 measure (4 beats) unless the lyrics move quickly — then split the measure naturally (you’ll feel the pulse).
🔄 Optional Folk Variation:
If you want a more old-time bounce (like The Dubliners or sea shanty style), you can use this alternating bass pattern:
Bass–Down–Up–Down–Up
(Root note → chord strum → up → down → up)
So for G:
e|--3----------------|
B|--0----------------|
G|--0----------------|
D|--0----------------|
A|--2----------------|
E|--3----------------|
B D U D U
And for D:
Alternate between open D string (4th) and A string (5th) for the bass motion.
That pattern gives a “bouncy storytelling swing” — ideal for this song.
💡 Tips:
Keep your wrist loose — let the rhythm “flow” instead of punching each beat.
Use a light pick or your fingertips for warmth.
Add a slight palm mute on the bass for a vintage folk feel.
Clap or tap your foot on beats 1 and 3 to stay grounded.
