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Galway Farmer

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I Emwork my days on a Galway farm,
In the sun Dand rain, wind and storm,
But oncEme a year I'll chance my arm
And crosDs the sea to England.A  
I'll scrimp and save two thousand pounds,
Spend a week in Cheltenham town,
But the racing over, always down,
I come back poor from England
I dreEmamt one night before I left,
CA coal-black mare with a white-star chest,
DCrossed the line and beat the rest,
BmI came back rich to Galway.C  
I rose at dawn and drove all day,
Thinking, wondering all the way,
"Lady Luck, have you come to stay,
Or steal away my morning."
When I got to Cheltenham town,
Irish faces all around,
No bed or mattress to be found,
I slept on the hillside.
Spent three days in the viewing ring,
Saw the horses they let in,
Just as I was giving in,
I stood and stared in wonder.
With stamping hooves and steaming breath,
A coal-black mare with a white star chest
I ran my finger down the list
Matched the name and the number
Lady Luck had come half-way
The horse's name was Galway Bay
Twenty-to-one the odds that day
I went to make my wager
I counted out two thousand pounds
Held it high, slapped it down
The bookie smiled but made no sounds
I knew what he was thinking
The biggest loser in the land
A pounding heart, a shaking hand
I made my way up to the stand
The horses came to order
But at the first she nearly fell
I cursed my farmer's luck to hell
The second and third took quite well
Way behind the leader
Then moving sweetly from the back
She found her rails and caught the pack
Ten to go and from the track
The hooves were drumming thunder.
She's catching horses one by one
Bridle flashing in the sun
A' hain to go, a mile to run
Two were up before her
On the straight down they sped
Left one at the last for dead
Caught the next and by a head
She came home the winner
So I came back to my Galway farm
A wiser and richer man
Never again I'll chance my arm
Or cross the sea to England
'Cause Lady Luck was mine that day
I held her close, I went my way
Now I raise my glass to Galway Bay
And the dream of a Galway farmer

All chords in this song (5)

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Galway Farmer

by Show of Hands

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

I work my days on a Galway farm,

In the sun and rain, wind and storm,

But once a year I'll chance my arm

D A

And cross the sea to England.

I'll scrimp and save two thousand pounds,

Spend a week in Cheltenham town,

But the racing over, always down,

I come back poor from England

I dreamt one night before I left,

A coal-black mare with a white-star chest,

Crossed the line and beat the rest,

Bm C

I came back rich to Galway.

I rose at dawn and drove all day,

Thinking, wondering all the way,

"Lady Luck, have you come to stay,

Or steal away my morning."

When I got to Cheltenham town,

Irish faces all around,

No bed or mattress to be found,

I slept on the hillside.

Spent three days in the viewing ring,

Saw the horses they let in,

Just as I was giving in,

I stood and stared in wonder.

With stamping hooves and steaming breath,

A coal-black mare with a white star chest

I ran my finger down the list

Matched the name and the number

Lady Luck had come half-way

The horse's name was Galway Bay

Twenty-to-one the odds that day

I went to make my wager

I counted out two thousand pounds

Held it high, slapped it down

The bookie smiled but made no sounds

I knew what he was thinking

The biggest loser in the land

A pounding heart, a shaking hand

I made my way up to the stand

The horses came to order

But at the first she nearly fell

I cursed my farmer's luck to hell

The second and third took quite well

Way behind the leader

Then moving sweetly from the back

She found her rails and caught the pack

Ten to go and from the track

The hooves were drumming thunder.

She's catching horses one by one

Bridle flashing in the sun

A' hain to go, a mile to run

Two were up before her

On the straight down they sped

Left one at the last for dead

Caught the next and by a head

She came home the winner

So I came back to my Galway farm

A wiser and richer man

Never again I'll chance my arm

Or cross the sea to England

'Cause Lady Luck was mine that day

I held her close, I went my way

Now I raise my glass to Galway Bay

And the dream of a Galway farmer

About Galway Farmer Chords by Show of Hands

Learn how to play Galway Farmer by Show of Hands with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Galway Farmer chords”, “Galway Farmer guitar chords”, or “Show of Hands Galway Farmer chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Galway Farmer chords and for experienced players who want accurate Galway Farmer lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em, D, A, C, Bm.

FAQ — Galway Farmer by Show of Hands

How do I play "Galway Farmer" by Show of Hands on guitar?

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Can I transpose "Galway Farmer" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Galway Farmer" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Galway Farmer"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Galway Farmer" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Galway Farmer" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Galway Farmer" in?

The chords for "Galway Farmer" show the original chord names (including Em, D, A, C, Bm). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.