Peggy-O / Fennario

Peggy-O

Lyrics: Traditional
Music: Traditional

A traditional ballad played regularly by Jerry Garcia with the Grateful Dead from the early '70s.

As we rode out to Fennario
As we rode out to Fennario
Our captain fell in love with a lady like a dove
And he called her by name pretty Peggy-O

Will you marry me, pretty Peggy-O
Will you marry me, pretty Peggy-O
If you will marry me, I will set your cities free
And free all the ladies in the area-O (note 1)

I would marry you, sweet William-O
I would marry you, sweet William-O
I would marry you, but your guineas are too few (note 2)
And I fear my mama would be angry-O

What would your mama think, pretty Peggy-O
What would your mama think, pretty Peggy-O
What would your mama think if she heard my guineas clink (note 2)
And saw me marching at the head of my soldiers-O
If ever I return, pretty Peggy-O
If ever I return, pretty Peggy-O
If ever I return, all your cities I will burn
Destroy all the ladies in the area-O (note 1)

Come stepping down the stairs, pretty Peggy-O (note 3)
Come stepping down the stairs, pretty Peggy-O
Come stepping down the stairs, combing back your yellow hair
And bid a last farewell to young William-O

Sweet William he is dead, pretty Peggy-O (note 4)
Sweet William he is dead, pretty Peggy-O
Sweet William he is dead, and he died for a maid
And he's buried in the Louisiana country-O

As we rode out to Fennario
As we rode out to Fennario
Our captain fell in love with a lady like a dove
And he called her by name pretty Peggy-O

Notes
(1) in earlier versions it's "free all the people" not "free all the ladies", and similarly "Destroy all the people"
(2) on some occasions Jerry sang "dollars" instead of "guineas." And on others, he sings this verse as "I won't marry you, 'cause your guineas are too few." (thanks to Dan Franzen and Todd O'Malley for pointing this out).
(3) in early versions (eg on DP31), this verse is sung as the second verse
(4) in early versions (eg on DP31), this verse is omitted

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Peggy-O
• Fennario
• Grateful
• Dead
• jkilcull
• music
• song

[mohea12]

What wonderful singing. You have a great voice and this is a great cover.

[jkilcull]

thanks!

[jkilcull]

Check out Slight of Your Hand original by... abeathofcologne

watch?v=bSkAwUChAmE

awesome...

[Lillemy1]

GREAT song! You also play very well on the guitar!

5*

:)

Hilde

[jkilcull]

thanks...

i'll play...you sing... :)

paix!

[Chet74]

One of the best fan covers I've seen on youtube. Do you ever play this live for people? If you don't, you should play open mic at some place or just on the street in the city. Very good medicine.

[jkilcull]

thnx! i play it whenever i get a chance...

its one of my all-time favs...

check out my short studio version...

there is the girl i picture at the end...

[christiantruther86bv]

this guy does it really good. hes a Jerry Garcia

[bhstone1]

The only thing that could make this better is if you had a big bushy beard and large framed glasses. :)

[rythymd3vil]

whoa! whoa! awesome stuff! great guitar playing and those serene and grieving vocals. whoa! i dont comment on videos much but I had to. Awesome job. Keep spreading the music !

[jesapizza]

Black Crowes just played this last nite for the first time in Richmond-right up their alley--and yours sir. Well done