Standard (EADGBE)

I work my days on a Galway farm,

In the sun and rain, wind and storm,

But once a year I'll chance my arm

And cross the sea to England.

I'll scrimp and save two thousand pounds,

Spend a week in Cheltenham town,

But the racing over, always down,

I come back poor from England

I dreamt one night before I left,

A coal-black mare with a white-star chest,

Crossed the line and beat the rest,

I came back rich to Galway.

I rose at dawn and drove all day,

Thinking, wondering all the way,

"Lady Luck, have you come to stay,

Or steal away my morning."

When I got to Cheltenham town,

Irish faces all around,

No bed or mattress to be found,

I slept on the hillside.

Spent three days in the viewing ring,

Saw the horses they let in,

Just as I was giving in,

I stood and stared in wonder.

With stamping hooves and steaming breath,

A coal-black mare with a white star chest

I ran my finger down the list

Matched the name and the number

Lady Luck had come half-way

The horse's name was Galway Bay

Twenty-to-one the odds that day

I went to make my wager

I counted out two thousand pounds

Held it high, slapped it down

The bookie smiled but made no sounds

I knew what he was thinking

The biggest loser in the land

A pounding heart, a shaking hand

I made my way up to the stand

The horses came to order

But at the first she nearly fell

I cursed my farmer's luck to hell

The second and third took quite well

Way behind the leader

Then moving sweetly from the back

She found her rails and caught the pack

Ten to go and from the track

The hooves were drumming thunder.

She's catching horses one by one

Bridle flashing in the sun

A' hain to go, a mile to run

Two were up before her

On the straight down they sped

Left one at the last for dead

Caught the next and by a head

She came home the winner

So I came back to my Galway farm

A wiser and richer man

Never again I'll chance my arm

Or cross the sea to England

'Cause Lady Luck was mine that day

I held her close, I went my way

Now I raise my glass to Galway Bay

And the dream of a Galway farmer