The lyrics to Mrs McGrath tell the story of a woman whose son loses both his legs while fighting in a foreign war.
Mrs McGrath
Bruce Springsteen
Videos
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics and chords
The chords are presented here in the key of G Major.
Both Tommy Makem and The Dubliners with Ronnie Drew on lead vocals performed Mrs McGrath in C major.
The Clancys on their Isn’t Grand Boys album sang the song in D Major. The Weavers also performed the song in D on their Kisses Sweeter than Wine album.
Use our key converter if you would like to play the chords presented here in a different key.
Bruce Springsteen’s brilliant version is in FMinor. Click here for the Bruce Springsteen lyrics and chords for Mrs McGrath and more information of the capo positions he uses.
Chorus
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Chorus
Now Mrs McGrath lived on the seashore
For the space of seven long years or more,
Till she saw a big ship sailing into the bay,
“Here’s my son Ted, will you clear the way.”
Chorus
Oh captain, dear, where have you been,
Have you been sailing in the Meditereen,
And have you any news of my son Ted,
Is the poor boy living or is he dead?
Chorus
Well, up comes Ted, without any legs,
And in their place he had two wooden pegs.
She kissed him a dozen times or two,
Saying, Glory be to God sure it wouldn’t be you?
Chorus
Oh then were you drunk, or were you blind,
When you left your two fine legs behind,
Or was it from walking by the sea,
A big fish ate your legs from the knees away?
Chorus
No, I was not drunk, and I was not blind
When I left my two fine legs behind,
A cannon ball on the fifth of May,
Blew my two fine legs from the knees away.
Chorus
Oh Teddy, my boy, the widow cried,
Your two fine legs were your mammy’s pride.
The stumps of a tree won’t do at all,
Why didn’t you run from the cannon ball?
Chorus
All foreign wars, I do proclaim,
Between Don Juan and the King of Spain,
And I’ll make them rue the time,
They took two legs from a child of mine.
Chorus
Well then, if I had you back again,
I’d never let you go to fight the King of Spain,
For I’d rather have me Ted as he used to be,
Than the King of France and his whole navy.
Chorus
Mrs McGrath
Bruce Springsteen
Videos
Lyrics and chords
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics and chords
Mrs McGrath lyrics and chords print version
Chorus
Now Mrs McGrath lived on the seashore
For the space of seven long years or more,
Till she saw a big ship sailing into the bay,
“Here’s my son Ted, will you clear the way.”
Chorus
Oh captain, dear, where have you been,
Have you been sailing in the Meditereen,
And have you any news of my son Ted,
Is the poor boy living or is he dead?
Chorus
Well, up comes Ted, without any legs,
And in their place he had two wooden pegs.
She kissed him a dozen times or two,
Saying, Glory be to God sure it wouldn’t be you?
Chorus
Oh then were you drunk, or were you blind,
When you left your two fine legs behind,
Or was it from walking by the sea,
A big fish ate your legs from the knees away?
Chorus
No, I was not drunk, and I was not blind
When I left my two fine legs behind,
A cannon ball on the fifth of May,
Blew my two fine legs from the knees away,
Chorus
Oh Teddy, my boy, the widow cried,
Your two fine legs were your mammy’s pride.
The stumps of a tree won’t do at all,
Why didn’t you run from the cannon ball?
Chorus
All foreign wars, I do proclaim,
Between Don Juan and the King of Spain,
And I’ll make them rue the time,
They took two legs from a child of mine,
Chorus
Well then, if I had you back again,
I’d never let you go to fight the King of Spain,
For I’d rather have me Ted as he used to be,
Than the King of France and his whole navy,
Chorus
Mrs McGrath
Bruce Springsteen
Videos
Lyrics and chords
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics and chords
