The lyrics to the Salley Gardens are among the simplest you will find in Irish music. They tell the story of a young man who falls in love with a girl but loses her because he tries to push the relationship on too quickly.
The lyrics were originally written by W B Yeats as a poem. The music was added later. Salley means willow so the salley gardens are simply an area where willows were grown for use in making thatched roofs.
The chords are presented here in the key of C major. Use our chord converter to play the song in other keys.
In a field down by the river, My love and I did stand And on my leaning shoulder, She laid her snow-white hand. She bid me take life easy, As the grass grows on the weirs But I was young and foolish, And now am full of tears.
Down by the Salley Gardens, My love and I did meet. She crossed the Salley Gardens With little snow-white feet. She bid me take love easy, As the leaves grow on the tree, But I was young and foolish, And with her did not agree.
The Salley Gardens lyrics and chords print version
C
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D
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Down by the
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Salley
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Gar
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dens,My
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love and
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I did
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meet.She crossed the
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Salley
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Gar
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densWith
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little
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snow-white
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feet.She
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Em
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bid me
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take love
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easy,As the
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leaves grow
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on the
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tree,But I was
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young and
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fool
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ish,And with
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her did
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not
a
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gree.
In a field down by the river, My love and I did stand And on my leaning shoulder, She laid her snow-white hand. She bid me take life easy, As the grass grows on the weirs But I was young and foolish, And now am full of tears.
Down by the Salley Gardens, My love and I did meet. She crossed the Salley Gardens With little snow-white feet. She bid me take love easy, As the leaves grow on the tree, But I was young and foolish, And with her did not agree.
