Songbook/Spanish Lady

Guitar Guitar/G Em C D

Spanish Lady

Irish Folk – Text and melody: trad. since 17th century in England / published in the USA since 1883, arranged by Mjchael  

The 4th verse of the original lyrics of this old folk song refers to historical places and figures who lived at the end of the 18th century and were part of the first revolutionary movement in Irish history.

Guitar chords

Ukulele (gcea)

G	Em	C	D

The Spanish Lady

1^st

As [G]I came down through [Em]Dublin City [C]at the hour of [D]twelve at night
[G]Who should I see but a [Em]Spanish lady [C]washing her feet by [D]candle light
[G]First she washed them, [Em]then she dried them [G]over a fire of [D]amber coal
In [G]all my life I [Em]never did see a [C]maid so sweet a-[D]bout the sole

Chorus

[G]Whack for the toora [Em]loora laddy, [C]whack for the toora [D]loora lay
[G]Whack for the toora [Em]loora laddy, [C]whack for the toora [D]loora lay

2^nd

As [G]I came back through [Em]Dublin city [C]at the hour of [D]half past eight
[G]Who should I spy but the [Em]Spanish lady [C]brushing her hair in [D]broad daylight
[G]First she tossed it, [Em]then she brushed it [G]on her lap was a [D]silver comb
In [G]all my life I [Em]never did see a [C]maid so fair since [D]I did roam

3^rd

As [G]I went back through [Em]Dublin city [C]as the sun be-[D]gan to set
[G]Who should I spy but the [Em]Spanish lady [C]catching a moth in a [D]golden net
[G]When she saw me [Em]then she fled me [G]lifting her petticoat [D]over her knee
In [G]all my life I [Em]never did see a [C]maid so shy as the[D]Spanish lady

4^th

I’ve [G]wandered north and I’ve [Em]wandered south through [C]Stonybatter and[D]Patrick’s Close
[G]Up and around the [Em]Glouster diamond and [C]back by Napper [D]Tandy’s house
[G]Old age has her [Em]hand laid on me, [G]cold as a fire of [D]ashy coals
But in [G]all my life I [Em]never did see a [C]maid so sweet as the [D]Spanish lady

Since the places in the fourth verse are not so well known outside Ireland, and the text is not easy to interpret (does an old man remember a pretty Spanish woman, did he marry her, or have his once hot embers died out in the meantime?

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