Lyrics and chords copied from http://spikesmusic.spike-jamie.com/irish/1/WHEN-FIRST-I-SAW-SWEET-PEGGY.pdf

THE LOW-BACKED CAR
(Samuel Lover (1797-1868))

    

     D                 A           D     A      D
  When first I saw sweet Peggy, 'twas on a market day.
    A7                  D         Bm   Em     A       D
  A low-backed car she drove, and sat upon a truss of hay.
       G                                                             D
  But when that hay was blooming grass, and decked with flowers of spring,
      G                            F#o             Em      E7     A7
  No flower was there that could compare with the blooming girl I sing!
         D         Em7         D       Em7                  Em
  As she sat in her low-backed car, the man at the turnpike bar
       D             F#m             Bm             D
  Never asked for the toll, but just rubbed his old poll
            D          G          D
  And looked after the low-backed car.

In battle's wild commotion, the proud and mighty Mars,
With hostile scythes, demands his tithes of death in warlike cars;
While Peggy, peaceful goddess, has darts in her bright eye
That knock men down in the market town, as right and left they fly -
While she sits in her low-backed car, than battle more dangerous far -
For the doctor's art cannot cure the heart
That is hit from that low-backed car.

Sweet Peggy round her car, sir, has strings of ducks and geese,
But the scores of hearts she slaughters by far outnumber these.
While she among her poultry sits, just like a turtledove,
Well worth the cage, I do engage, of the blooming god of Love!
While she sits in her low-backed car, the lovers come near and far,
And envy the chicken that Peggy is pickin'
While she sits in her low-backed car.

I'd rather own that car, sir, with Peggy by my side,
Than a coach and four, and gold galore and a lady for my bride.
For the lady would sit fornisnt me, on a cushion made with taste,
While Peggy would sit beside me, with my arm around her waist.
As we drove in the low-backed car, to be married by Father Maher,
Oh, my heart would beat high at her glance and her sigh,
Though it beat in a low-backed car.