Let Mr. McGuire Sit Down
The Irish Rovers Lyrics


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Me name is Mick Maguire and I'll quickly tell to you
Of a young girl I admired one Katie Donoghue
She was fair and fat and forty and believe me when I say
Whenever I'd come in at the door you could hear her mother say

Johnny get up from the fire get up and give your man a seat
Can't you see it's Mick Maguire and he's courtin' your sister Kate
You know very well he owns a farm a wee bit out of the town
Ah get out of that ya impudent brat and let Mister Maguire sit down

Well the first time I met her was at a dance in Donnahadee
I very kindly ask her would she dance a step with me
I asked if I could see her home if she'd be going my way
But whenever I'd come in at the door you could hear the ould one say

Johnny get up from the fire get up and give your man a seat
Can't you see it's Mick Maguire and he's courtin' your sister Kate
You know very well he owns a farm a wee bit out of the town
Ah get out of that ya impudent brat and let Mister Maguire sit down

But now that we are married her mammy's changed her mind
Just because I spent the money that me daddy left behind
Now she hasn't got the decency to me time of the day
And whenever I'd come in at the door you could hear her mammy say

Johnny come up to the fire come you're sitting in the draft
Can't you see it's ould Maguire and he nearly drives me daft




Sure I don't know what gets in him and he's always on the tear
So sit where you are and never you dare, give ould Maguire the chair

Overall Meaning

The Irish Rovers's song Let Mr. McGuire Sit Down is a humorous story-song about the singer, Mick Maguire, who loves a girl named Katie Donoghue. However, Katie's mother disapproves of Mick's courting of her daughter and insists he is impudent and shouldn't be allowed to sit down. The first two stanzas detail the efforts of the mother's son, Johnny, to grudgingly give Mick a seat when he visits. Eventually, Mick and Katie get married, but things don't improve with the mother, who now complains about Johnny sitting in the draft whenever Mick comes to visit. The song is delivered with an upbeat rhythm and catchy melody that makes it a toe-tapping and enjoyable sing-along.


Line by Line Meaning

Me name is Mick Maguire and I'll quickly tell to you
I am known as Mick Maguire, and I would like to share with you my story


Of a young girl I admired one Katie Donoghue
I was fond of a young girl called Katie Donoghue


She was fair and fat and forty and believe me when I say
Katie was a pleasant, healthy, and mature woman, and I am not lying


Whenever I'd come in at the door you could hear her mother say
Upon my arrival, Katie's mother would call out telling someone to move from their seat.


Johnny get up from the fire get up and give your man a seat
His son Johnny would be asked to leave his seat by the fire and make room for me


Can't you see it's Mick Maguire and he's courtin' your sister Kate
Johnny was reminded that I was courting his sister Kate


You know very well he owns a farm a wee bit out of the town
Johnny was well aware that I owned a farm just outside of town


Ah get out of that ya impudent brat and let Mister Maguire sit down
Johnny was dismissed as an impolite child, and I was asked to take his seat


Well the first time I met her was at a dance in Donnahadee
I met Katie for the first time at a dance in Donnahadee


I very kindly ask her would she dance a step with me
I politely asked Katie if she would dance with me


I asked if I could see her home if she'd be going my way
I inquired if Katie would like me to escort her home if we were heading in the same direction


But whenever I'd come in at the door you could hear the ould one say
Every time I arrived at Katie's house, I could hear her mother call out to someone


But now that we are married her mammy's changed her mind
Since Katie and I got married, her mother's attitude has changed


Just because I spent the money that me daddy left behind
Her mother's change of heart is because I spent the inheritance from my father


Now she hasn't got the decency to me time of the day
Her mother won't even acknowledge me when I enter the house


Johnny come up to the fire come you're sitting in the draft
Nowadays, her mother tells Johnny to come to the fire and sit away from the draft


Can't you see it's ould Maguire and he nearly drives me daft
Her mother claims that I almost drive her crazy


Sure I don't know what gets in him and he's always on the tear
Her mother doesn't understand why I am always excited


So sit where you are and never you dare, give ould Maguire the chair
Johnny is directed to remain seated, and I am not even given a chance to take a seat




Contributed by Jason A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Ian Burt


on Bluenose

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