G D
'Twas there I learned readin' and writin'
C D G
At Dick Crowley's where I went to school
G D Am
And 'twas there I learned howlin' and fightin'
D G D7 G
From me schoolmaster Mr. O'Toole
G D
Him and me we had many a scrimmage
C D G
And devil a copy I wrote
G D Am
There was ne'er a gossoon in the village
Am G D7 G
Dare tread on the tail of me coat
[Chorus]
G D
Singin' mush mush mush toor-i-li-addy
C D G
Sing mush mush mush toor-i-li-ay
G D Am
There was ne'er a gossoon in the village
D G D G
Dare tread on the tail of me coat
[Verse 2]
G D
'Twas there I learned all of me courtin'
C D G
Many lessons I took in the art
G D Am
Till Cupid, the blackguard, while sportin'
D G D7 G
An arrow drove straight through me heart
G D
Molly O'Connor, she lived just forninst me
C D G
And tender lines to her I wrote
G D Am
If you dare say one hard word ag'in 'er
Am G D7 G
I'll tread on the tail of your coat
[Chorus]
G D
Singin' mush mush mush toor-i-li-addy
C D G
Mush mush mush toor-i-li-ay
G D Am
There was ne'er a gossoon in the village
D G D G
Dare tread on the tail of me coat
[Verse 3]
G D
But a blackguard called Mickey Maloney
C D G
Came stole her affections away
G D Am
For he'd money and I hadn't any
D G D7 G
So I sent him the challenge next day
G D
In the evening we met at the woodbine
C D G
The Shannon we crossed in a boat
G D Am
And I lathered him with my shillelagh
Am G D7 G
For he tread on the tail of me coat
[Chorus]
G D
Singin' mush mush mush toor-i-li-addy
C D G
Mush mush mush toor-i-li-ay
G D Am
There was ne'er a gossoon in the village
D G D G
Dare tread on the tail of me coat
[Solo In G]
[Verse 4]
G D
Oh me fame it went all through the nation
C D G
And folks came a flockin' to see
G D Am
And they cried out without hesitation
D G D7 G
'You¹re a fightin' man, Billy Magee!'
G D
I've cleaned out the Finnigan faction
C D G
Licked all the Murphys afloat
G D Am
If you're in for a row or a ruction
Am G D7 G
Just tread on the tail of me coat
[Chorus x 2]
G D
Singin' mush mush mush toor—i—li—addy
C D G
Mush mush mush toor—i—li—ay
G D Am
There was ne'er a gossoon in the village
D G D G
Dare tread on the tail of me coat