Peggy Gordon
The Chieftains Lyrics


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O Peggy Gordon, you are my darling
Come sit you down upon my knee
And tell to me the very reason
Why I am slighted so by thee

I'm so deep in love that I can't deny it
My heart lies smothered in my breast
But it's not for you to let the world know it
A troubled mind can find no rest

I leaned myself on a cask of brandy
It was my fancy, I do declare
For when I'm drinking, I'm always thinking
Wishing Peggy Gordon was there

O Peggy Gordon, you are my darling
Come sit you down upon my knee
And tell to me the very reason
Why I am slighted so by thee

I wished I was in a lonesome valley
Where womankind cannot be found
And the pretty small birds do change their voices
And every moment a different sound

O Peggy Gordon, you are my darling
Come sit you down upon my knee




And tell to me the very reason
Why I am slighted so by thee

Overall Meaning

The Chieftains’ version of the traditional Irish song “Peggy Gordon” is a melancholic reflection of a heartbroken lover expressing his pain and frustration to Peggy Gordon, his beloved. The song begins with the lover addressing Peggy Gordon directly, imploring her to sit on his knee and explain why she has been “slighting him so”. He admits that he is deeply in love with her and cannot deny his feelings, but he is troubled by the fact that she has not reciprocated. He keeps his feelings hidden from the world, but the unrequited love is causing him great mental anguish.


The second verse reveals that the lover has turned to drinking as a solace for his pain. He leans on a cask of brandy, which is “his fancy”, and confesses that he is always thinking about Peggy Gordon when he drinks. The third verse reveals the depth of the lover’s despair, as he wishes he were in a “lonesome valley” where there are no women to be found, and only the sounds of the birds singing can be heard. The song ends with the lover appealing to Peggy Gordon once again, asking her to reveal the reason behind her rejection of his love, and asking her to sit on his knee and comfort him.


Overall, “Peggy Gordon” is a poignant reflection on unrequited love and the pain and anguish it can cause, as well as the way in which people turn to different sources of comfort to alleviate their suffering.


Line by Line Meaning

O Peggy Gordon, you are my darling
The singer is expressing love and devotion towards Peggy Gordon.


Come sit you down upon my knee
The singer is inviting Peggy Gordon to sit with him.


And tell to me the very reason
The singer is asking Peggy Gordon to explain why she is treating him poorly.


Why I am slighted so by thee
The artist is confused and hurt by Peggy Gordon's actions towards him.


I'm so deep in love that I can't deny it
The artist is admitting that he is deeply in love with Peggy Gordon.


My heart lies smothered in my breast
The singer's love for Peggy Gordon is intense and painful.


But it's not for you to let the world know it
The singer wants to keep his love for Peggy Gordon private and not reveal it to others.


A troubled mind can find no rest
The artist's conflicted emotions are causing him distress.


I leaned myself on a cask of brandy
The artist is drinking alcohol to cope with his emotional turmoil.


It was my fancy, I do declare
The artist is admitting that his desire for alcohol is a personal indulgence.


For when I'm drinking, I'm always thinking
The singer uses alcohol as a way to distract himself from his thoughts and emotions.


Wishing Peggy Gordon was there
The artist longs for Peggy Gordon's presence even while under the influence of alcohol.


I wished I was in a lonesome valley
The singer expresses a desire to be isolated and away from people.


Where womankind cannot be found
The singer is specifically trying to distance himself from women, likely including Peggy Gordon.


And the pretty small birds do change their voices
The singer is seeking a world where even nature changes to offer new experiences, unlike his own stagnant situation with Peggy Gordon.


And every moment a different sound
The artist seeks to escape from the monotony of his current existence.




Contributed by Brody W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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tom canterbury


on North Amerikay

the great accapella version by kevin on tribute to their harpist