Verse 1
 
Em 
In the town of Athy one Jeremy Lanigan 
 D 
Battered away 'til he hadn't a pound 
Em 
His father he died and made him a man again 
D 
Left him a farm and ten acres of ground 
Em 
He threw a grand party for friends and relations 
D 
Who didn't desert him when come to the will 
Em 
And if you'll listen I'll make your eyes glisten 
D 
And spin you a tale of Lanigan's Ball 
 
Hook
Em 
Six whole months I spent in Dublin 
 D 
Six whole months doing nothing at all 
 Em 
Six whole months I spent in Dublin 
D 
Learning to dance for Lanigan's ball 
Em 
I stepped out and he stepped in again 
D 
He stepped out and I stepped in again 
Em 
I stepped out and he stepped in again 
D 
Learning to dance to Lanigan's ball 
 
BREAK
EM D Em D 
 
Verse 2
Em 
Myself to be sure got free invitations 
 D 
For all the nice colleens and boys I might ask 
Em 
And just in a minute both friends and relations 
D 
Were dancing as merry as bees 'round a cask 
 Em 
'cause there were lashings of punch and wine for the ladies 
D 
Potatoes and cakes; there was bacon and tea 
Em 
There were the Nolans, Dolans, O'Gradys 
 D 
Courting the girls and dancing away 
 
Hook
Em 
Six whole months I spent in Dublin 
D 
Six whole months doing nothing at all 
Em 
Six whole months I spent in Dublin 
 D 
Learning to dance for Lanigan's ball 
 Em 
I stepped out and he stepped in again 
D 
He stepped out and I stepped in again 
Em 
I stepped out and he stepped in again 
D 
Learning to dance to Lanigan's ball 
 
Break
EM D Em D 
 
Verse 3
Em 
They were doing all kinds of nonsensical polkas 
D 
Around the room in a whirligig 
Em 
But Julia and I, we banished their nonsense 
 D 
And gave them a taste of a real Irish jig 
 Em 
Oh, how the girls got all mad at me 
D 
Danced 'til we thought that the ceiling would fall 
Em 
For I spent three weeks at Brooks' Academy 
D 
Learning to dance for Lanigan's Ball 
 
Hook
Em    N.C. 
Six whole months I spent in Dublin 
 D        N.C. 
Six whole months doing nothing at all 
Em          N.C. 
Six whole months I spent in Dublin 
 D          N.C. 
Learning to dance for Lanigan's ball 
Em           N.C. 
I stepped out and he stepped in again 
D           N.C. 
He stepped out and I stepped in again 
Em           N.C. 
I stepped out and he stepped in again 
 D            N.C. 
LEARNING TO DANCE TO LANIGAN'S BALL!