Em       
Come all young men where e'er you be and listen to me lamentations

Em
I courted a girl beyond compare and I loved her with admiration
Em                                    A                   Bm
At length in time she became my wife, twas not for beauty but for riches
D                   G                 Em                   Bm       Em
And all the time it causes strife, to see which of us will wear the britches

[VERSE 2]
Em  
O Paddy Kane it is my name, me height it is five foot eleven
Em      
and Me wife is nearly not so big, she only measures four feet seven
Em                                    A                      Bm
The hedges I have oft times stripped, I've left them bare of rods and switches

D                        G                      Em                    Bm      Em
Her skin with blows sure I’ve turned black, but still she says she'll wear my britches

[VERSE 3]
Em
Well I am a tailor to my trade, at cutting out I am quite handy
Em
But all the money that I make, she lays it out on tea and brandy

Em                                     A                  Bm
Now sometimes I do shout and ball with nothing going with rogues and witches

D                       G            Em                    Bm      Em
Her head goes oft times to the wall, still she says she'll wear me britches

[VERSE 4]
Em
One morning at the tea and eggs, content and sitting by the fire
Em
Well She broke the teapot on my legs, and left me leapin to retire
Em                                A                  Bm
How often do I shout and moan, as I go hopping on my crutches
D                      G                Em            Bm      Em
I wished I'd broke her collar bone, the day I let her wear me britches

[VERSE 5]
Em
So come all young men where e'er you be, don't marry a wife if she's enchantin
Em
For if you do, you'll be like me, with other men she'll go gallanting
Em                             A                          Bm
Now my advice it is to you, to marry for love and not for riches,

D                            G                    Em                Bm        Em
And be sure of a wife with a civil tongue, who'll give you leave to wear your britches.