The Louse House of Kilkenny    (Listen to sample)

 

                 Em

1. Oh, the first of me downfall, I set out the door,

          D

    I straight made me way on for Carrick-on-Suir,

              Em

    going out by Rathronan, 'twas late in the night,

 

    going out the West gate for to view the gaslight.

                G                                        D                   Em    D - Em

    Faddly fal-da-diddle-ay-do, laddly fal-da-diddle-dero.

 

       Em

2. I went to the town's hall to see the big lamp,

               D

    and whom should I meet but a bloody big tramp.

      Em

    I finally stepped over and to him I said:

 

    'Will you kindly direct me to where I'll get a bed'.

                 G                                       D                   Em    D - Em

    Faddly fal-da-diddle-ay-do, laddly fal-da-diddle-dero.

 

               Em

3. 'Twas then he directed me down to Cooks Lane,

             D

    to where old Buck St.John kept an old sleeping cage.

              Em

    From out of the door was a small piece of board,

 

    hung out on two nails with a short piece of cord.

                 G                                       D                  Em      D - Em

    Faddly fal-da-diddle-ay-do, laddly fal-da-diddle-dero.

 

               Em

4. Well, I looked up and down till I found out the door,

                   D

    and a queerer old household sure I ne'er saw before.

                    Em

    Then the Misses came out and these words to me said:

 

    'If you give me three coppers, sure I'll give you a bed'.

                 G                                       D                   Em     D - Em

    Faddly fal-da-diddle-ay-do, laddly fal-da-diddle-dero.

 

 

                Em

5. Well, I then stood aside with me back to the wall,

                   D

    and the next thing I saw was an oul cobbler's stall.

             Em

    And there was the cobbler and he mended his brogues,

 

    with his hammers and pinchers all laid in a row.

                 G                                       D                   Em     D - Em

    Faddly fal-da-diddle-ay-do, laddly fal-da-diddle-dero.

 

                      Em

6. Then she brought me upstairs and she put out the light,

                D

    and in less than five minutes I had to show fight.

                Em

    And in less than five more when the story was best,

 

    the fleas came around me and brought me a curse.

                 G                                       D                   Em     D – Em

    Faddly fal-da-diddle-ay-do, laddly fal-da-diddle-dero.

 

             Em

7. 'twas all around me body they formed a march,

             D

    'twas all around me body they played the Death march.

                  Em

    For the bloody oul major gave me such a pick,

 

    that he nearly made away with half of me hip.

                G                                        D                   Em    D - Em

    Faddly fal-da-diddle-ay-do, laddly fal-da-diddle-dero.

 

                   Em

8. Now I'm going to me study, these lines to pen down,

                D

    and if any poor traveller should e'er come to town,

               Em

    and if any poor traveller should be knighted like me,

 

    beware of Buck St.John and his black cavalry.

                G                                        D                   Em  - D - Em

    Faddly fal-da-diddle-ay-do, laddly fal-da-diddle-dero.

 

(capo 3rd)                         (Dubliners)