(If you want to play along to original recording transpose down 1 tone to Bb) G7 C F G C Now, Delaney had a donkey that everyone admired F C G7 Temporarily lazy and permanently tired C F G C A leg at every corner balancing his head Am F G7 C And a tail to let you know which end he wanted to be fed. Am E Am Riley, slyly said "we've underrated it Am E Am Why not train it?" then they took a rag C F G C They rubbed it, scrubbed it, they oiled and embrocated it Am F C G7 Got it at the post and when the starter dropped the flag: C F C F There was Riley pushing it, shoving it, shushing it C F C G7 Hogan, Logan and everyone in town C F G C Lined up attacking it, n'shoving it and smacking it Am F G G7 They might as well a'tried to push the Town Hall down. C F G C The donkey was eyeing them, openly defying them F C G7 Winking, blinking and twisting out of place, C C7 F Riley reversing it, everybody cursing it C F G7 C The day Delaney's donkey ran the half mile race. C F G C The muscles of the mighty never known to flinch F C G7 They couldn't move the donkey a quarter of an inch C F G C Delaney lay exhausted hanging 'round his throat Am F G7 C With a grip just like a Scotsman on a five pound note. Am E Am Starter Carter, he lined it with the rest of 'em Am E Am When it saw them it was willing then C F G C It raced up, braced up, ready for the best of 'em Am C G7 They started off to cheer it but it changed it's mind again! C F C F And there was Riley pushing it, shoving it, shushing it C F C G7 Hogan, Logan and Mary-Ann McGrath C F G C She started poking it and grabbing it and choking it Am F G G7 It kicked her in the bustle and it laughed hee-haw! C F G C The Whigs and Conservatives, the Radical Superlatives F C G7 Liberals and Tories they hurried to the place C C7 F Stood there in unity, helping the community C F G7 C The day Delaney's donkey ran the half mile race. C F G C The crowd began to cheer it and Rafferty the judge F C G7 He came up to assist 'em but still it wouldn't budge C F G C And the jockey who was riding it, little John McGee Am F G7 C Was so thoroughly disgusted that he went and had his tea! Am E Am Hagan, Fagan were students of psychology Am E Am Swore they'd shift him with some dynamite C F G C They bought it, brought it, and without apology Am C G7 The donkey gave a sneeze and blew the whole lot outa sight. C F C F And there was Riley pushing it, shoving it, shushing it C F C G7 Hogan, Logan and all the bally crew C F G C Police and Auxiliary, the Garrison Artillery Am F G G7 The Second Enniskillen's and the Life Guards too. C F G C They seized it n'harried it, they picked it up and carried it F C G7 Cheered it, steered it to the winning place. C C7 F Then the bookmaker's drew aside, and they all committed suicide C F G G7 C The day Delaney's donkey won the half mile race!
