Em         D       Em                G          D
A bunch of Peelers went one night on duty and patrolin’-O,
         Em    D      Em               G        D           Em
And they met a goat upon the road, and took her for bein’ a strolling-O.
         G                   D
And with bayonets fixed they sallied forth,
    G                  D
And caught them by the wizzen-O,
    Em        D       Em                   G        D      Em
And then they swore a mighty oath, “They’d send her off to prison-O.”


[Chorus]
Em
Hey, two, three, four (shouted)
Em            D        Em                   G               D
Hey heggle de digg let go of me leg Or I’ll poke ya with me hordin’-O
    Em         D       Em
Hey diddle lee dee let go of me
        G         D           Em
Or I’ll leave you bruised and torn an’ all.


[Verse 2]
Em          D         Em                     G              D
“Oh, mercy, sir!” the goat complained, “Come let me tell me story-O!
Em      D         Em            G       D        Em
I am no rogue, no Ribbonman, no Croppy, Whig, or Tory-O;
         G                   D    G                 D
 And I’m guilty not of any crime of petty high treason-O,
    Em        D    Em                G       D        Em
Me tribe is wanted at this time, for this is ruttin’ season-O.”


[Chorus]
Em
Hey, two, three, four (shouted)
Em            D        Em                   G               D
Hey heggle de digg let go of me leg Or I’ll poke ya with me hordin’-O
    Em         D       Em
Hey diddle lee dee let go of me
        G         D           Em
Or I’ll leave you bruised and torn an’ all.
 


[Verse 3]
Em           D        Em             G                     D
 “O it is in vain for to complain or give your tongue such bridle-O,
Em      D               Em                 G           D   Em
You’re absent from your dwellin’ place, disorderly and idle-O.
         G                D    G                           D
And your hoary locks will not prevail, your sublime oration-O,
    Em              D       Em        G             D     Em
For Peel’s Act will you transport, on your own information-O.”


[Chorus]
Em
Hey, two, three, four (shouted)
Em            D        Em                   G               D
Hey heggle de digg let go of me leg Or I’ll poke ya with me hordin’-O
    Em         D       Em
Hey diddle lee dee let go of me
        G         D           Em
Or I’ll leave you bruised and torn an’ all.


[Verse 4]
Em        D      Em                G             D
“No penal laws I did transgress by deed or combination-O,
  Em      D       Em                G             D    Em
I have no certain place of rest, no home or habitation-O
    G            D        Em          G              D    Em
But Bansha is my dwelling place where I was bred and born-O
    Em            D      Em           G                   D     Em
Descended from an honest race, that’s all the trade I’ve learned-O.”


[Chorus]
Em
Hey, two, three, four (shouted)
Em            D        Em                   G               D
Hey heggle de digg let go of me leg Or I’ll poke ya with me hordin’-O
    Em         D       Em
Hey diddle lee dee let go of me
        G         D           Em
Or I’ll leave you bruised and torn an’ all.
 


[Verse 5]
Em              D         Em            G         D
“Oh, I will chastise your insolence and violent behavior-O
      Em       D      Em                    G                D    Em
We’ll bound to Cashel you’ll be sent, where you will gain no favor-O
    G           D    Em             G               D     Em
The magistrates will all consent to sign your condemnation-O
     Em       D        Em               G              D     Em
From there to Cork you will be sent for speedy transportation-O.”


[Chorus]
Em
Hey, two, three, four (shouted)
Em            D        Em                   G               D
Hey heggle de digg let go of me leg Or I’ll poke ya with me hordin’-O
    Em         D       Em
Hey diddle lee dee let go of me
        G         D           Em
Or I’ll leave you bruised and torn an’ all.


[Verse 6]
Em           D        Em               G             D
“This parish and this neighborhood are peaceable and tranquil-O
     Em       D        Em                   G              D     Em
There’s no disturbance here, thank God, and long may it continue so
  G                 D    Em             G               D     Em
I don’t regard your oath a pin, or sign for my committal-O
   Em   D       Em            G             D      Em
My jury will be gentlemen and grant me my acquittal-O.”


[Chorus]
Em
Hey, two, three, four (shouted)
Em            D        Em                   G               D
Hey heggle de digg let go of me leg Or I’ll poke ya with me hordin’-O
    Em         D       Em
Hey diddle lee dee let go of me
        G         D           Em
Or I’ll leave you bruised and torn an’ all.
 


[Verse 7]
Em            D         Em              G                   D
“Oh, the consequence be what it will, a Peeler’s power I’ll let you know
     Em       D      Em              G                D         Em
I’ll handcuff you at all events, and march you off to Bridewell-O
    G                 D    Em             G               D     Em
And sure there, you rogue, you can deny before the judge and jury-O
   Em   D    Em                  G                   D    Em
Intimidation with your horns and threatening me with fury-O.


[Chorus]
Em
Hey, two, three, four (shouted)
Em            D        Em                   G               D
Hey heggle de digg let go of me leg Or I’ll poke ya with me hordin’-O
    Em         D       Em
Hey diddle lee dee let go of me
        G         D           Em
Or I’ll leave you bruised and torn an’ all.


[Verse 8]
Em           D         Em                 G                   D
I’ll make no doubt but you are drunk with whiskey, rum or brandy-O
       Em       D           Em                G                D   Em
Or you wouldn’t have such a gallant spunk, to be so bold and manly-O
        G             D      Em      G           D     Em
For you readily would let me pass if I had money handy-O
       Em    D        Em                        G             D    Em
For to treat you to a parting glass--- Oh! It’s then I’d be a dandy O.”


[Outro]
Em            D        Em                   G               D
Hey heggle de digg let go of me leg Or I’ll poke ya with me hordin’-O
    Em         D       Em
Hey diddle lee dee let go of me
        G         D           Em
Or I’ll leave you bruised and torn an’ all.