Misc Traditional - When You And I Were Young Maggie

when you and i were young , maggie
music by james austin butterfield ( 1837 – 1891 )
lyrics derived from the poem “when you and i were young” by george washington johnson ( 1846 – 1914 )

this song has been performed by many people in many different styles from the lyrical
beauty of the irish tenor john mccormack who recorded it in 1925 ( available on youtube ) to
all manner of bluegrass , dixieland , country and folk styles . i like to play and sing it
in a slightly dylanesque fashion hence the Dsus and the a7addG chords in this version .

the lyrics vary from version to version and often verse 2 is omitted but here i have
used the words from the original score published by j a butterfield and co , indianapolis in
1866 so you may mix and match as you please . the published score differs slightly from
johnsons original poem and i have marked associated lines with * and annotated these at
the end for information . the chorus was not part of the original poem .

intro :
D G D A7 D ( D )
////////// ///// ( i wandered . . . )

alternative intro :
D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D ( D )
// // / / / ( i wandered . . . )

verse 1
D D7 G
i wandered today to the hill , maggie
D A A7
to watch the scene below
D D7 G
the creek and the creaking old mill , maggie
D a7addG D D7
where we sat in the long , long ago .
G D
the green grove is gone from the hill , maggie
A E7 A A7
where first the daisies sprung
D D7 G
the creaking old mill is still , maggie
D a7addG D Dsus4 D
since you and i were young . // ///

chorus :
D D7 G
and now we are aged and grey , maggie ,
D A A7
and the trials of life nearly done ,
D D7 G
let us sing of the days that are gone maggie
D a7addG D Dsus4 D
when you and i were young . // ///

verse 2
D D7 G
a city so silent and lone , maggie
D A A7
where the young and the gay and the best *
D D7 G
in polished white mansions of stone , maggie
D a7addG D D7
have each found a place of rest , *
G D
is built where the birds used to play , maggie
A E7 A A7
and join in the songs that were sung
D D7 G
for we sang just as gay as they , maggie
D a7addG D Dsus4 D
when you and i were young . // ///

chorus :
D D7 G
and now we are aged and grey , maggie ,
D A A7
and the trials of life nearly done ,
D D7 G
let us sing of the days that are gone maggie
D a7addG D Dsus4 D
when you and i were young . // ///

verse 3
D D7 G
they say i Am feeble with age , maggie ,
D A A7
my steps are less sprightly than then ,
D D7 G
my face is a well – written page , maggie , *
D a7addG D D7
but time alone was the pen .
G D
they say we are aged and grey , maggie , *
A E7 A A7
as sprays by the white breakers flung , *
D D7 G
but to me you’re as fair as you were , maggie ,
D a7addG D Dsus4 D
when you and i were young . // ///

chorus

D D7 G
and now we are aged and grey , maggie ,
D A A7
and the trials of life nearly done ,
D G
let us sing of the days that are gone maggie
D a7addG D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D
when you and i were young . // / & /

* words which vary from original poem :
1 where the young , the gay and the best
1 have each found a palace of rest
2 my face is a full written page , maggie
3 but times alone was the pen
4 our heads they say are as gray , maggie
5 as the spray by the white breakers flung

chords
A7 a7addG Dsus4 Dsus2
E – – 0 – – – – 3 – – – – – – 3 – – – – – 0 – – – – – – – – – – – |
B – – 2 – – – – 2 – – – – – – 3 – – – – – 3 – – – – – – – – – – – |
G – – 0 – – – – 2 – – – – – – 2 – – – – – 2 – – – – – – – – – – – |
D – – 2 – – – – 2 – – – – – – 0 – – – – – 0 – – – – – – – – – – – |
A – – 0 – – – – 0 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
E – – 0 – – – – 0 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |