DESCRIPTION:
This song was written by the minstrel showmen, Harry Hunter (lyrics) and George D. Fox (music) in 1879. It was a big hit in the 1890s when sung by the vaudeville singer, Tony Pastor, and eventually moved into the folk tradition.

The Carter Family popularised it again when they recorded it in 1933. They sang only two verses, the first and fourth, with some changes to the melody.

Lyrics and chords:
... D
My love stood under the walnut tree
A7...................... D
Over the garden wall

She whispered and said she'd be true to me
.............. A.......... D
Over the garden wall
............ A7
She’d beautiful eyes and beautiful hair
................................................. D
She was not very tall so she stood in a chair.
......... G .......................... D
And many a time I have kissed her there
............... A7 ....... D
Over the garden wall

........................... A7
Over the garden wall

The sweetest girl of all
........................................................ D
There never were yet such eyes of jet
........ G ................................... D
And you can bet I'll never forget
......... G ..................... A7 ..... D
The night our lips in kisses met
............... A7....... D
Over the garden wall

But her father stamped and her father raved,
Over the garden wall,
And like an old madman he behaved,
Over the garden wall,
She made a bouquet of roses red,
But immediately I popped up my head,
He gave me a bucket of water instead,
Over the garden wall.

One day I jumped down on the other side,
Over the garden wall,
And she bravely promised to be my bride,
Over the garden wall,
But she screamed in a fright, "Here's father, quick,
I have an impression he's bringing a stick."
But I brought the impression of half a brick,
Over the garden wall.

But where there's a will, there's always a way,
Over the garden wall,
There's always a night as well as the day,
Over the garden wall ;
We hadn't much money, but wedding's are cheap,
So while the old fellow was snoring asleep,
With her lad and ladder, she managed to creep
Over the garden wall.


Lyrics and chords of many of my songs are no longer available, as my website has expired. I am currently posting lyrics to the information panels on all my videos and those that are too long to post in full will be found on my new website: https://raymondsfolkpage.wordpress.com