Lady Be Gay

Traditional (Child 278)

Lyrics [pdf]

Am Em Am
\N: There  was an old man who lived  under the  hill
G D Em
\A:  O  Lady be  gay
Am Em Am
\N: There  was an old man who lived  under the  hill
\N: If he'd not gone away he'd be livin' there still
Am Em Am
\A:  Lady be  gay if you  can be.

\G: One day the devil came down to his plow
\A: O Lady be gay
\G: One day the devil came down to his plow
\G: Said (S:) ``One of your family I'll have to have now,''
\A: Lady be gay if you can be.

\S: ``And it isn't your son or daughter I crave,''
\A: O Lady be gay
\S: ``It isn't your son or your daughter I crave
\S: But your old naggin' wife I'll carry away,''
\A: Lady be gay if you can be

\G: "Ah, take her away with all of my heart,"
\A: O Lady be gay
\G: ``Take her away with all of my heart
\G: And I'll bet the two of you never will part,''
\A: Lady be gay if you can be

\N: He set her down at the fork in the road
\A: O Lady be gay
\N: He set her down at the fork in the road
\N: He said (S:) ``Old woman you're a hell of a load,''
\A: Lady be gay if you can be

\G: Then he carried her down to the gates of hell
\A: O Lady be gay
\G: He carried her down to the gates of hell
\G: Said, (S:) ``Rake up the coals and we'll roast her well,''
\A: Lady be gay if you can be

\N: Two little devils were playing with chains
\A: O Lady be gay
\N: Two little devils were playing with chains
\N: She up with her foot and she kicked out their brains,
\A: Lady be gay if you can be

\S: One poor little devil peeked over the wall
\A: O Lady be gay
\S: One poor little devil peeked over the wall
\S: Said, (N:) ``Take her home, Daddy; she'll murder us all!''
\A: Lady be gay if you can be

\N: So the devil he hoisted her up on his back
\A: O Lady be gay
\N: The devil he hoisted her up on his back
\N: And home again with her in a pack
\A: Lady be gay if you can be

\G: The woman went whistlin' over the hill
\A: O Lady be gay
\G: The woman went a whistlin' over the hill
\N: ``If the devil won't have me, I've done pretty well,''
\A: Lady be gay if you can be

\N: There is an advantage we have over men
\A: O Lady be gay
There is an advantage we have over men
\N: We can go down to hell and come back again
\A: Lady be gay if you can be

\A: Lady be gay...
\N: ... if you can be.