Trad. belongs to a family of musicians who have been active for a very long time. Although the lines of descendancy are not entirely clear, Trad. appears to be related to the famous Anonymous family from the European Middle Ages.
A E
Happy birthday to you
E D A
Happy birthday to you
A D Am7-5
Happy birthday dear Brian
A Esus4 D A Am7-5 (D) A
Happy birthday to you
G D Am G
It was down by Christ Church that I first met with Annie
G Em C D
A neat little girl and not a bit shy
G D G C/g C/g G
She told me her father who came from Dungannon
G Em C G
would take her back home in the sweet bye and bye
C/g G
And what's it to any man, whether or no
C/g G D C2
Whether I'm easy, or whether I'm true
D A7
I am weak but Thou art strong
A7 D
Jesus keep me from all wrong
D7 G
I'll be satisfied as long
D A7 D
as I walk, let me walk close to Thee
Just a closer walk with Thee Grant it, Jesus, if you please Daily walking close to Thee Let it be, dear Lord, let it be
When my feeble life is o'er Time for me will be no more Guide me gently, safely home to Thy kingdom's shores, to Thy shore
D D7
I was born in East Virginia
G D
North Carolina I did go
G D
There I met the fairest maiden
A D
and my age I did not know. *)
Her hair it was the darkest colour
Cheeks they were a-ruby red
On her breast she wore a white lily
Where I longed to lay my head
I'd rather be in some dark hollow
where the sun don't ever shine
than to see you love another
and to know you'll never be mine.
I don't want your green back dollar
I don't want your diamond ring
All I want is your love, darling
Won't you take me back again?
Won't you take me back again?
G . . . Em G . . .
G
Well I'll sing you a song, ain't very long, *|-----0---0-----------0---0-
Em* |-----0---0-----------0---0-
'Bout an old man who never done wrong. |-----0---0-----------0---0-
G |-----2---2-----------2---2-
How he died nobody can say, |-------------0h2-----------
[1 verse instr. intro]
G C
She promised to meet him at Adams' Spring
D G
Expecting some money or some other fine things
No money, no money to flatter the case
We'll have to get married so there'll be no disgrace
So jump you up Omie, and away we will ride
To yonder fair country and I'll make you my bride
She jumped up behind him and away they did go
to yonder far country where the deep waters flow
Now jump you down Omie and I'll telly my mind
My mind is to drowned you and to leave you behind
These are the basic figures that are played throughout the song. The second string is always an alternative to the first; it adds flavour to the G/b and A chords (but, as with all spices: add with caution):
G
G C G
The water is wide and I can't cross over
Em D
Neither have I wings to fly
[n.c.] Bm C
Build me a boat that can carry two
G D C G/b Am G (C/g G)
And both shall row my love and I.
There is a ship and it sails on the sea
Loaded deep as deep can be
But not as deep as the love I'm in
I know not if I sink or swim.
I leaned my back up against an oak
Thinkin' it was a trusty tree
But first it bent and then it broke
Just like my own false love to me.
C
G G7 F G
C Csus4 C Csus4 F/c C
G F C
In Newry town, where I was bred and born,
G F G
Stephen's Green now I lie in scorn.
C F C
I served my time there to the saddlers' trade,
G F C
And I always was a roving blade.
At seventeen I took a wife,
And I loved her dearer than I loved my life;
And for to keep her both neat and gay,
I went a-robbing on the King's highway.
I never robbed any poor man yet,
Nor any tradesman did I beset;*)