Old Maid in the Garret --- Trad.
I have [G]often heard it said by my [C]father and my [G]mother,
That [D]goin’ to a wedding is the [C]makin’ of a-[G]nother.
Well, [G]if this be [C]so, then I’ll [G]go without [Em]bidding.
Oh [G]kind providence, won’t you [C]take me to a [D]wedding?
And it’s [G]Oh, [C]dear [G]me! How would it [C]be if I [G]died an old maid in the [D]gar-[G]ret?
I’ve a [G]sister named Kathleen, and she’s [C]younger than [G]I am –
Has [D]so many sweethearts that she [C]has to de-[G]ny them.
But [G]as for my-[C]self, well you [G]know I haven’t [Em]many –
And [G]if I spoke the truth, I’d be [C]bloody glad for [D]any!
And it’s [G]Oh, [C]dear [G]me! How would it [C]be if I [G]died an old maid in the [D]gar-[G]ret?
Well, now [G]there’s my sister Jean; she is [C]ugly and mis-[G]shapen,
[D]Scarcely sixteen, and al-[C]ready she was [G]taken.
[G]Now she’s twenty-[C]four with a [G]son and a [Em]daughter.
Here am [G]I , forty-four, and I’ve [C]never had an [D]offer!
And it’s [G]Oh, [C]dear [G]me! How would it [C]be if I [G]died an old maid in the [D]gar-[G]ret?
I can [G]cook, I can sew, I can [C]keep the house right [G]tidy.
[D]Rise up in the morning and [C]get the breakfast [G]ready.
There’s [G]nothing in this [C]whole world would [G]make me half so [Em]cheery
As a [G]wee, fat man who would [C]call me his own [D]“dearie.”
And it’s [G]Oh, [C]dear [G]me! How would it [C]be if I [G]died an old maid in the [D]gar-[G]ret?
No, I [G]never would be scolding; I [C]never would be [G]jealous.
My [D]husband would have money for to [C]go out to the [G]alehouse.
[G]He’d go out a-[C]spendin’ while [G]I’d stay home a-[Em]savin’
And I [G]leave it up to you if [C]I am not worth [D]havin’
And it’s [G]Oh, [C]dear [G]me! How would it [C]be if I [G]died an old maid in the [D]gar-[G]ret?
So come [G]landsman, come townsman, come [C]tinker, or come [G]tailor,
Come [D]fiddler, come dancer, come [C]soldier, or come [G]sailor,
Come [G]rich man come [C]poor man, come [G]fool, or come [Em]witty.
Come [G]any man at all that will [C]marry me for [D]pity!
And it’s [G]Oh, [C]dear [G]me! How would it [C]be if I [G]died an old maid in the [D]gar-[G]ret?
But now [G]I’ll away home, for there’s [C]nobody [G]heeding,
There’s [D]nobody heeding a [C]poor old nanny’s [G]bleating.
[G]I’ll away [C]home to my [G]own wee bit [Em]garret.
If I [G]can’t get a man, then I’ll [C]surely get a [D]carrot!
And it’s [G]Oh, [C]dear [G]me! How would it [C]be if I [G]died an old maid in the [D]gar-[G]ret?