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The Rake

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Aminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
Am Am C F   C G Em G   Am Am C F   C G Am Am
[Verse 1]
I Amam a young fellow from the CCounty TyFrone,
In the Ctown of StraGbane sure I'm Emvery well Gknown,
For Amdown to the alehouse I'm Cfrequently Fgoin',
With CKitty and GGinny and AmMary.
My Amfather rebuked me for Cbeing such a rake,
And for Amspending me Gmoney on whiskey and cakes,
But the Amlassies are sweet and it's Call for their Fsakes,
And it Ckeeps me lightGhearted and Ammerry.
[Chorus]
I'll Ameat when I'm Chungry, I'll Emdrink when I'm Gdry,
I will Amcourt all the Glassies or at Emleast I will Gtry,
And I'll Amnever conform 'til the Cday that I Fdie,
Agus Cfagaimid Gsuid mar aAmtá sé
[Bridge]
C G Am
[Verse 2]
If I Amchance for to wander on Cdown to the Ffair,
All the Classies all aGround me do Emflock on the Gsquare,
I'll Ampull out me fiddle and Cplay an auld Fair,
And Csoon we're all Goff on the Amspree.
There's AmPeggy and Jane from the Cbanks of Loch Nee,
There's AmKitty and GMolly down Dungannon Way,
And there's aAmnother one from Cookstown who Cmakes me head Fsway,
Such a Cfuss they all Gmake over Amme.
[Chorus]
I'll Ameat when I'm Chungry, I'll Emdrink when I'm Gdry,
I will Amcourt all the Glassies or at Emleast I will Gtry,
And I'll Amnever conform 'til the Cday that I Fdie,
Agus Cfagaimid Gsuid mar aAmtá sé
[Bridge]
C G Am
[Verse 3]
To Amquarrel for riches I Cne'er was inFclined,
For the Cgreatest of Gmisers must Emleave them beGhind,
So me Ammoney I spend with no Cthought in me Fmind,
But to Ckick up our Gheels and carAmouse.
For the Amrich never spend any Cgold of their own,
Sure they Amhold it aGway like a dog and it's bone,
But they Amend on their back among Cnettles and Fstones,
And I Chear there're no Gpockets in Amshrouds.
[Chorus]
I'll Ameat when I'm Chungry, I'll Emdrink when I'm Gdry,
I will Amcourt all the Glassies or at Emleast I will Gtry,
And I'll Amnever conform 'til the Cday that I Fdie,
Agus Cfagaimid Gsuid mar aAmtá sé
[Bridge]
Am Am C F   C G Em G   Am Am C F   C G Am Am
[Verse 4]
Now Amsome say I'm foolish and Csome say I'm Fwise,
For Cloving the Gwomen and the Emwhiskey likewGise,
But the Amson of King David had Cten hundred Fwives,
And Chis wisdom was Ghighly reAmgarded!
So I'll Amcall for the lassies and Cask them to wed,
And we'll Amall be conGtent in the one marriage bed,
While the Amrich count their gold we'll count Cchildren inFstead,
And we'll Craise them up Gtrue and stout-Amhearted.
[Chorus]
I'll Ameat when I'm Chungry, I'll Emdrink when I'm Gdry,
I will Amcourt all the Glassies or at Emleast I will Gtry,
And I'll Amnever conform 'til the Cday that I Fdie,
Agus Cfagaimid Gsuid mar aAmtá sé
Agus Cfagaimid Gsuid mar aAmtá sé
[Outro]
Am Am C F   C G Em G   Am Am C F   C G Am Am

All chords in this song (5)

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The Rake

by The Irish Rovers

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

Am Am C F C G Em G Am Am C F C G Am Am

[Verse 1]

Am C F

I am a young fellow from the County Tyrone,

C G Em G

In the town of Strabane sure I'm very well known,

Am C F

For down to the alehouse I'm frequently goin',

C G Am

With Kitty and Ginny and Mary.

Am C

My father rebuked me for being such a rake,

Am G

And for spending me money on whiskey and cakes,

Am C F

But the lassies are sweet and it's all for their sakes,

C G Am

And it keeps me lighthearted and merry.

[Chorus]

Am C Em G

I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry,

Am G Em G

I will court all the lassies or at least I will try,

Am C F

And I'll never conform 'til the day that I die,

C G Am

Agus fagaimid suid mar atá sé

[Bridge]

C G Am

[Verse 2]

Am C F

If I chance for to wander on down to the fair,

C G Em G

All the lassies all around me do flock on the square,

Am C F

I'll pull out me fiddle and play an auld air,

C G Am

And soon we're all off on the spree.

Am C

There's Peggy and Jane from the banks of Loch Nee,

Am G

There's Kitty and Molly down Dungannon Way,

Am C F

And there's another one from Cookstown who makes me head sway,

C G Am

Such a fuss they all make over me.

[Chorus]

Am C Em G

I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry,

Am G Em G

I will court all the lassies or at least I will try,

Am C F

And I'll never conform 'til the day that I die,

C G Am

Agus fagaimid suid mar atá sé

[Bridge]

C G Am

[Verse 3]

Am C F

To quarrel for riches I ne'er was inclined,

C G Em G

For the greatest of misers must leave them behind,

Am C F

So me money I spend with no thought in me mind,

C G Am

But to kick up our heels and carouse.

Am C

For the rich never spend any gold of their own,

Am G

Sure they hold it away like a dog and it's bone,

Am C F

But they end on their back among nettles and stones,

C G Am

And I hear there're no pockets in shrouds.

[Chorus]

Am C Em G

I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry,

Am G Em G

I will court all the lassies or at least I will try,

Am C F

And I'll never conform 'til the day that I die,

C G Am

Agus fagaimid suid mar atá sé

[Bridge]

Am Am C F C G Em G Am Am C F C G Am Am

[Verse 4]

Am C F

Now some say I'm foolish and some say I'm wise,

C G Em G

For loving the women and the whiskey likewise,

Am C F

But the son of King David had ten hundred wives,

C G Am

And his wisdom was highly regarded!

Am C

So I'll call for the lassies and ask them to wed,

Am G

And we'll all be content in the one marriage bed,

Am C F

While the rich count their gold we'll count children instead,

C G Am

And we'll raise them up true and stout-hearted.

[Chorus]

Am C Em G

I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry,

Am G Em G

I will court all the lassies or at least I will try,

Am C F

And I'll never conform 'til the day that I die,

C G Am

Agus fagaimid suid mar atá sé

C G Am

Agus fagaimid suid mar atá sé

[Outro]

Am Am C F C G Em G Am Am C F C G Am Am

About The Rake Chords by The Irish Rovers

Learn how to play The Rake by The Irish Rovers with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Rake chords”, “The Rake guitar chords”, or “The Irish Rovers The Rake 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 The Rake chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Rake lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, C, F, G, Em.

FAQ — The Rake by The Irish Rovers

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What key is "The Rake" in?

The chords for "The Rake" show the original chord names (including Am, C, F, G, Em). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.