Maggie In The Woods

polka

Key signature: Gmajor

Submitted on September 24th 2001 by glauber.

This tune has been added to 238 tunebooks.

Also known as An BhFaca Tú Mo Shéamaisin?, If I Had Maggie In The Wood, Maggie In The Corner, Maggie In The Wood, Mussels In The Corner, Nancy Wants Her Own Share.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• An Mileoidean Scaoilte by Johnny Connolly
• Clare Concertinas by Bernard O'Sullivan And Tommy McMahon
• Clear The Dresser And Take The Floor by Emerald Ceili Band
• Dance Music Of Ireland: Volume 2 by Matt Cunningham
• Dance Music Of Ireland: Volume 3 by Matt Cunningham
• Dance Music Of Ireland: Volume 4 by Matt Cunningham
• Farewell To Ireland CD 3 (Of A Box Set Of 4) by Various Artists
• Foinn Seisiun 1 by Ceoltóirí Cultúrlainne
• Her Mantle So Green by Margaret Barry And Michael Gorman
• In China by The Chieftains
• Irish Dance Time by Jackie Roche And His Irish Dance Band
• Jigs To The Moon by Dordan
• Midnight On The Water by The Kings River Band
• On Oiche Go Maidin by O'aces
• Set Dances Of Ireland, Volume I by Various Artists
• Show The Lady: Music For The Sets Volume 5 by Various Artists
• Southwind by Glenn Morgan
• The Chieftains 8 by The Chieftains
• The Michael Sexton Ceili Band by The Michael Sexton Ceili Band
• The Rare Old Times by Foggy Dew
• Tree by Gaelic Storm

X: 1
T: Maggie In The Woods
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Gmaj
BA|G2D2 G2A2|B2e2 efge|d2B2 BAGA|B2A2 AcBA| G2D2 G2A2|B2e2 efge| d2B2 A2BA|G4 G2:|
d2|g3f e2d2|e2f2 g3e| d2B2 BAGA|B2A2 A3d|g3f e2d2|e2f2 g3e|d2B2 A2B2|G4 G2:|

Maggie In The Woods

This is from John Walsh's "Session Tunes" document. I was surprised it's not already in the collection. It's a nice polka, easy to play.

Walsh comments: "There are some slightly rowdy lyrics on one of the early Chieftains albums."

I looked for the lyrics but couldn't find them.

# Posted on September 24th 2001 by glauber

These are the lyrics sung on the Chieftains album:

"If I had Maggie in the woods
I'd do her all the good I coud
If I had Maggie in the woods
I'd keep here there til morning"

We have a male and female voice in our group
so we wrote an answer verse:

"You won't have me, not in the woods
For I fear that you mean me no good
So go on back to yer dear old mum
And I'll see you in the morning"

# Posted on February 4th 2002 by Dave McGrath

Maggie in the Wood=The Scartaglen Polka

This tune bears a strong resemblance to the Scartaglen Polka, which I can incidentally not find in The Session's Archives. The Scartaglen only differs slightly from Maggie in the Wood, and in fact adds onto it with a third part. I'm not sure if Maggie was derived from the Scartaglen or if it was the other way around, but you can find a recording of the latter on The Chieftains 2, played along with Sweeney's and Dennis Murphy's. Oh, and as I understand it, Paddy Moloney wrote the original lyrics to Maggie in the Woods, or at least that's what I seem to recall having read in the liner notes to The Chieftains 8.

# Posted on June 7th 2003 by Tommy McCarty

Princess Maggie

I think, although Im not sure, that The Chieftains lyrics were written in honour of Princess Margaret who called the irish "Pigs" and so The Chieftains honoured her in song, ha!

Johnathan

# Posted on January 2nd 2004 by Harper_Lad

As a Jig

I play this tune as a jig.
I think i prefer it to a polka.

# Posted on July 8th 2006 by Ruaraidh Park

"Maggie in the Woods" ~ do you mean the slide?

Submitted on July 8th 2006 by ceolachan.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/5945

I'm sure we had another name or two for this, and I am surprised I didn't find it on site, but it may still be here elsewhere. Anyway, see if this is what you're thinking of. If you've another take on it, please add it in the comments. I'd be very interested to see as would others. It is also played in A...

# Posted on July 8th 2006 by ceolachan

"Maggie in the Woods" ~ same transcript / usual ABC's for a 2/4 polka

M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: G Major
B/A/ |
GD GA | Be e/f/g/e/ | dB B/A/G/A/ | BA A/c/B/A/ |
GD GA | Be e/f/g/e/ | dB AB/A/ | G2 G :|
d |
g>f ed | ef g>e | dB B/A/G/A/ | BA A>d |
g>f ed | ef g>e | dB AB | G2 G :|

# Posted on July 8th 2006 by ceolachan

@: http://www.stmoroky.com/reviews/music/chief-8.htm

they report that <<Moloney wrote these lyrics in mischievous response to a comment reportedly made by Princess Margaret (Queen Elizabeth's sister), characterizing the Irish as pigs>>!

# Posted on September 30th 2006 by birlibirdie

Maggie In The Wood - This tune seems related

The following tune on Will Atkinson's album "Mouthorgan", where it is simply called Untitled, has a first part that is essentially the same as that of the polka Maggie In The Wood:

X: 1
T: Untitled
L: 1/8
R: 2/4
K: G

|:GD G>A|Be e g/e/|d B/d/ c/b/a/g/|BA A B/A/|GD G>A|Be e g/e/|d B/d/ c/B/A/B/|1 G2 G B/A/:|2 G2 G B/d/|

|:Ge e/d/e/f/|gB B g/e/|d B/d/ c/B/A/G/|BA A B/d/|ge e/d/e/f/|gB B g/e/|d B/d/ c/B/A/B/|1 G2 G B/d/:|2 G2 G2|

Maybe 4/4 would be a better time for this tune - I really don't know. As played by Will Atkinson, the late Northumbrian musician, its feel and tempo are more like those of a Lowland Scottish reel than anything else.

# Posted on April 29th 2007 by nicholas

Lowland Scottish reel?! Lowland Scottish reels do not sound like this tune.

# Posted on September 4th 2007 by Dow