Finnegan's Wake

· by Irish Folksong

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Lyrics

Tim (Em)Fin ne gan (Bm)lived in (Em)Walk in’ (D)Street, a (Em)gen tle (C)I rish man, (Em)might y (D)odd.

He (Bm)had a a brogue der both he (Em)rich and (D)sweet, and to (C)rise in the world co, he car ried (D7)a (G)hod.

Now Tim had a sort ’o the (D7)tip plin’ way, with a (G)love for the liq uor poor (D7)Tim was born.

To (D)help lon him on with his (Em)work each (Bm)day, he’d a (C)“drop o’ the (G)cray thur” (G)ev dy ’ry morn.

(Em)Whack fol the (Bm)darn O, (Em)dance to your (D)part ner.

(Em)Whirl the (C)floor, your (Em)trot ters (D)shake.

(Em)Was n’t (Bm)it the (Em)truth I (D)told you?

(Em)Lots of (C)fun at Fin ne (D7)gan’s (G)wake.

One (Em)morn ne in’ (Bm)Tim was (Em)rath er (D)full; his (Em)head felt (C)heav y, which (Em)made him (D)shake.

He (Bm)fell from a lad der and he (Em)broke his (D)skull, and they (C)car ried him home, co, his corpse ried (D7)to (G)wake.

They rolled him O’ up in a (D7)nice clean sheet and a (G)laid him the out did up (D7)on the bed; a (D)gal lon of whis key why (Em)at his (Bm)feet and a (C)bar rel of (G)por ter (G)at dy his head.

(Em)Whack fol the (Bm)darn O, (Em)dance to your (D)part ner.

(Em)Whirl the (C)floor, your (Em)trot ters (D)shake.

(Em)Was n’t (Bm)it the (Em)truth I (D)told you?

(Em)Lots of (C)fun at Fin ne (D7)gan’s (G)wake.

His Fin ne (D7)gan’s (G)wake.

Finnegan's Wake by Irish Folksong — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Finnegan's Wake” by Irish Folksong in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of E at 144 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.

Tips for parents & teachers

Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Finnegan's Wake" good for a child learning piano?: Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Finnegan's Wake"?: Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?: No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?: Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
What other Irish Folksong songs work for kids?: Try "THE ROCKY ROAD TO DUBLIN", "Arthur McBride", "Boulavogue". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.