The Night Pat Murphy Died

Words & Music:

Traditional

arr. Great Big Sea

 

A                                       D              A

Oh, the night that Paddy Murphy died is one I'll never forget.

A                                          D                E7

Some of the boys got loaded drunk and they ain't got sober, yet.

A                                              D               A

As long as the bottle was passed around, every man was feeling gay.

A                                          D     E7

O'Leary came with the bagpipes, and music for to play!

 

CHORUS:

A                            D                  A

That's how they showed their respect for Paddy Murphy.

A                            D               E7

That's how they showed their honor and their pride.

     A                                       D                A

They said it was a sin and a shame, and they winked at one another.

    A     E            D          A       D         E       A

And every drink in the place was full the night Pat Murphy died.

 

As Mrs. Murphy sat in the corner pouring out her grief

Kelly and his gang came tearing down the street.

They went into an empty room and a bottle of whiskey stole

And put that bottle with the corpse to keep that whiskey cold!

 

CHORUS

 

About two o'clock in the morning, after emptying the jug

Doyle rolls up the icebox there to see poor Paddy's mug.

They stopped the clock so Mrs. Murphy couldn't tell the time.

And at a quarter after two, we argued it was nine!

 

CHORUS

 

Well, they stopped the hearse on George Street outside Sundance saloon.

They all went in at half past eight and staggered out at noon.

They went up to the graveyard, so holy and sublime.

Found out when they got there, they'd left the corpse behind!

 

CHORUS

 

Oh, the night that Paddy Murphy died is one I'll never forget.

Some of the boys got loaded drunk and they ain't got sober, yet.

As long as the bottle was passed around, every man was feeling gay.

O'Leary came with the bagpipes, and music for to play!

 

CHORUS





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