Peggy-O

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American folk song with many variations derived from the traditional Irish ballad “The Bonnie Lass of Fyvie”. 

G

As we marched down, as we marched down

                                                 D

As we marched down to Fennario 

       G                                           C 

Our captain fell in love with a lady like a dove

              D                                                     G

And the name that she had was pretty Peggy-O

Come a-running down your stairs, come a-running down your stairs 

Come a-running down your stairs pretty Peggy-O

Come a-running down your stairs, comb back your yellow hair

And say this winter’s day that you will marry me-O

I will not marry you, I could not marry you

I will not marry you my pretty William-O

I could not marry you in your uniform of blue

And I never will marry a soldier-O

What will your mama say, what will your mama say 

What will your mama say, pretty Peggy-O?

What will your mama say, you know you’re gone gone away

And you’re never ever ever comin’ back-y-O

(solos)

The lieutenant is gone, the lieutenant is gone

The lieutenant is gone pretty Peggy-O

The lieutenant is gone, he’s gone wrong

He’s a-ridin’ down to Texas with the rodeo

Our captain is dead, our captain is dead

Our captain is dead pretty Peggy-O

Our captain is dead, he died for me

He’s a-buried somewheres in Louisiana-O

Notes on the music:

We will be using the same chord progression throughout including instrumental between verses and solos.

Typical 8 bars:

G                   D

1xxx2xxx3xxx4xxx

G     C        D    G

1xxx2xxx3xxx4xxx

Instrumental between every verse 8 bars, solos 16 bars, as many as needed.

Links:

More on the song and its history here.

Grateful Dead version here, with similar tribute to that by The National here.

Version of The Bonnie Lass of Fyvie by the Dubliners here and the Clancy Brothers here. 

Other versions by Joan Baez, Simon and Garfunkel, Judy Collins and many more.