Lyrics and Chords

Spanish Lady

We don’t know who wrote the lyrics to the Spanish Lady but they probably date back to the late 18th century.

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This is the best known version of the song, made popular by Irish performers such as The Dubliners.

It is set in Dublin and the lyrics make several references to local landmarks such as the home of Napper Tandy, an Irish rebel leader.

Spanish Lady lyrics and chords

 

G 

As I went down through  

Em 

Dublin 

 

City

 

C 

At the hour of

D7 

twelve at night

 

G 

Who should I see but a  

Em 

Spanish 

 

Lady

 

C 

Washing her feet by  

D7 

candlelight

 

G 

First she washed them,  

C 

then she dried them,

 

G 

Over a fire of amber  

D7 

coal.

 

In  

G 

all my life I  

Em 

ne’er did see

 

A

C 

maid so sweet  

D7 

about the sole.

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Chorus

 

G 

Whack for the too ra  

Em 

looraladdy

 

C 

Whack for the toora  

D7 

looralay

 

G 

Whack for the toora  

Em 

looraladdy,

C 

 

Whack for the toora  

D7 

loora 

 

lay.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I went back through Dublin city

At the hour of half-past eight

Who should I see but the Spanish Lady

Brushing her hair outside the gate.

First she brushed it, then she combed it,

On her hand was a silver comb.

In all my life I ne’er did see

A maid so fair since I did roam.

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Chorus

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I stopped to look but the Watchman passed

He said “Young fellah, now the night is late

Along with ye home or I will wrestle you

Straight back through the Bridewell gate”

I threw a kiss to the Spanish lady

Hot as a fire of angry coal

In all my life I ne’er did see

A maid so sweet about the sole.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chorus

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I came back through Dublin city

As the sun began to set

Who should I see but the Spanish Lady

Catching a moth in a golden net.

When she saw me then she fled me

Lifting her petticoat over her knee

In all my life I ne’er did see

A maid so shy as the Spanish Lady.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chorus

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’ve wandered north and I’ve wandered south

By Stoneybatter and Patrick’s Close

Up and around by the Gloucester Diamond

And back by Napper Tandy’s house.

Old age has laid her hand on me

Cold as a fire of ashy coals

But where o where is the Spanish Lady,

Neat and sweet about the soul?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chorus

Information on The Spanish Lady