Verse 1Am
There was a wealthy merchant,
Am
In London he did dwell.
Am
He had an onli daughter,
EAm
And the truth to you I’ll tell.
EAm
Play the lily o, play the lily o.
Verse 2Am
Her sweetheart left the country,
Am
With trouble on his mind
AmA leavin’ of his family
EAm
And his own true love behind.
EAm
Play the lily o, play the lily o.
Verse 3Am
This girl, she dressed herself
Am
All up in men’s array
Am
And to the war department
EAm
Straight way she marched away
EAm
Play the lily o, play the lily o.
Verse 4Am
“Your waist is slim and slender,
Am
Your fingers they are small,
Am
Your cheeks too red and rosy
EAm
To face the cannon ball.”
EAm
Play the lily o, play the lily o.
Verse 5]
Am
“I know my waist is slender,
Am
My fingers they are small
Am
But it would not make me tremble
EAm
To see ten thousand fall.”
EAm
Play the lily o, play the lily o.
Verse 6]
Am
When the war soon was over,
Am
This girl, she searched the ground
Am
Among the dead and wounded,
EAm
Till her own true love she found.
EAm
Play the lily o, play the lily o.
Verse 7]
Am
This couple they got married,
Am
So well they did agree
Am
This couple, they got married
EAm
So, why not you and me.
EAm
Play the lily o, play the lily o.
This arrangement for the song is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the song. You may only use this for private study, scholarship, or research.