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Peggy-O Lyrics
As we rode out to Fennario, as we rode on to Fennario
Our captain fell in love with a lady like a dove
And called her by a name, pretty Peggy-O.
Will you marry me pretty Peggy-O, will you marry me pretty Peggy-O
If you will marry me, I'll set your cities free
And free all the ladies in the area-O.
I would marry you sweet William-O, I would marry you sweet William-O
I would marry you but your guineas are too few
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
Saw me marching at the head of my soldiers.
If ever I return pretty Peggy-O, if ever I return pretty Peggy-O
If ever I return your cities I will burn
Destroy all the ladies in the area-O.
Come steppin' down the stairs pretty Peggy-O,
Come steppin' down the stairs pretty Peggy-O,
Come steppin' down the stairs combin' back your yellow hair
Bid a last farewell to your William-O.
Sweet William he is dead pretty Peggy-O,
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 called her by a name, pretty Peggy-O.
Our captain fell in love with a lady like a dove
And called her by a name, pretty Peggy-O.
Will you marry me pretty Peggy-O, will you marry me pretty Peggy-O
If you will marry me, I'll set your cities free
And free all the ladies in the area-O.
I would marry you sweet William-O, I would marry you sweet William-O
I would marry you but your guineas are too few
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
Saw me marching at the head of my soldiers.
If ever I return pretty Peggy-O, if ever I return pretty Peggy-O
If ever I return your cities I will burn
Destroy all the ladies in the area-O.
Come steppin' down the stairs pretty Peggy-O,
Come steppin' down the stairs pretty Peggy-O,
Come steppin' down the stairs combin' back your yellow hair
Bid a last farewell to your William-O.
Sweet William he is dead pretty Peggy-O,
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 called her by a name, pretty Peggy-O.
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how can i be the first one on this one? these guys fall out of bed and make epic songs.
is it just me or is there something disturbing about this song..she 'loves' him but wont marry him cause her momma will be angry, he 'loves' her but will destroy everything she loves if he comes back, since she says no to his proposal
it's like money and destruction trump love, sigh
@riter I agree and think it's very weird how you reference this song's symbolism to being "like money and destruction trump love.." and now Trump is our president (5 years later) ! Ugh. yea why would he be so destructive if he truly loved Peggy? But it goes to show how we let our egos get the best of us. That's not someone in love. That's someone that is super selfish and does not like rejection lol. Still this song is one of my favorite love songs! I do believe Garcia wrote this? (Answering a previous question...
@riter I agree and think it's very weird how you reference this song's symbolism to being "like money and destruction trump love.." and now Trump is our president (5 years later) ! Ugh. yea why would he be so destructive if he truly loved Peggy? But it goes to show how we let our egos get the best of us. That's not someone in love. That's someone that is super selfish and does not like rejection lol. Still this song is one of my favorite love songs!
I do believe Garcia wrote this? (Answering a previous question that was asked)! Have a splendid day! ☺️
@riter I believe this is a love story about a man and a woman on opposite sides of a war. I have always imagined it to be the Revolutionary War (British vs. Rebels) or the Civil War (North vs. South), although it may not be either. The two subjects are deeply in love however the female's parents do not approve of their relationship. He agrees that if she will marry him, he'll set her city(ies) free however if she does not, he'll return to destroy her city.
@riter I believe this is a love story about a man and a woman on opposite sides of a war. I have always imagined it to be the Revolutionary War (British vs. Rebels) or the Civil War (North vs. South), although it may not be either. The two subjects are deeply in love however the female's parents do not approve of their relationship. He agrees that if she will marry him, he'll set her city(ies) free however if she does not, he'll return to destroy her city.
@courtneybd I believe this song is a traditional song written by an...
@courtneybd I believe this song is a traditional song written by an unknown artist.
Or find ones previously written like this one. Still a great song though, Dylan did a version close to this on his debut album. Not sure who wrote it though.
This song was also recorded by Simon & Garfunkel.
William seems to be deluding himself that Peggy is marrying him for love rather than to stop a wholesale bloodbath of all the ladies in the area-o. I agree that this is a disturbing song and the death of Sweet William-O almost certainly a great relief to Peggy and all the other ladies-o.
I don't understand how the captain doesn't have enough money - could Peggy be super wealthy? If he is willing to burn the city and kill all the women then he is unlikely to have the scruples to stop himself looting the homes of the wealthy-o.
The Dead love a thoroughgoing scoundrel and William sure fits the bill.