Irish Songs and Lyrics

She Wears My Ring

You would be hard pressed to visit a wedding or family function anywhere in Ireland and NOT hear a member of the family at the mike singing this Irish classic, usually with too much to drink. This songs was also covered my non other than Elvis Presley.

She wears my ring to show the world
That she belongs to me
She wears my ring to tell the world
She’s mine eternally

With loving care
I placed it on her fi-inger
To show my love
For all the world to see

This tiny ring is a token
Of tender emo-otion
And in this pool of love
That’s as deep as the o-ocean

She swears to wear it
With eternal devo-otion
That’s why I sing
Because she wears my ring

This tiny ring is a token
Of tender emo-otion
And in this pool of love
That’s as deep as the o-ocean

She swears to wear it
With eternal devo-otion
That’s why I sing
Because she wears my ri-i-ing

That’s why I sing
Because she wears my ring
 

Tags: irish song, irish drinking song, irish song lyric, irish folk song, irish wedding song, irish pub song, irish love song, she wears my ring

Popularity: 21% [?]

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My Wild Irish Rose

This Irish song, popular with brides to be in Irish Traditional Weddings, was written by Chancellor “Chauncey” Olcott, a song writer and American stage actor

If you listen I’ll sing you a sweet little song
Of a flower that’s now droped and dead,
Yet dearer to me, yes than all of its mates,
Though each holds aloft its proud head.
Twas given to me by a girl that I know,
Since we’ve met, faith I’ve known no repose.
She is dearer by far than the world’s brightest star,
And I call her my wild Irish Rose.

My wild Irish Rose, the sweetest flower that grows.
You may search everywhere, but none can compare with my wild Irish Rose.
My wild Irish Rose, the dearest flower that grows,
And some day for my sake, she may let me take the bloom from my wild Irish Rose.

They may sing of their roses, which by other names,
Would smell just as sweetly, they say.
But I know that my Rose would never consent
To have that sweet name taken away.
Her glances are shy when e’er I pass by
The bower where my true love grows,
And my one wish has been that some day I may win
The heart of my wild Irish Rose.

My wild Irish Rose, the sweetest flower that grows.
You may search everywhere, but none can compare with my wild Irish Rose.
My wild Irish Rose, the dearest flower that grows,
And some day for my sake, she may let me take the bloom from my wild Irish Rose.
 

Tags: irish song, irish wedding song, irish love songs, my wild irish rose, traditional irish wedding

Popularity: 90% [?]

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THE TOWN I LOVED SO WELL

This popular classic was written and performed by Phil Coulter and also the Dubliners. This Irish song relates to Phil Coulter’s life growing up in the poor streets of Derry in the North of Ireland.

The later verses of the songs deal with the onset of the Irish Troubles. Derry bore a large part of the conflict, especially in the early days when British soldiers shot dead 14 unarmed civilians which became known as Bloody Sunday.

In my [G] memo[Am] ry I will [C] always [G] see

The [C] town that [G] I have loved so [D] well

Where our [G] school played [D] ball by the [C] Gas-yard [G] wall

And we [C] laughed through the [G] smoke [D] and the [G] smell

Going [Em] home in the [D] rain, running [C] up the dark [G] lane

Past the [C] jail and [Am7] down behind the [D] fountain

Those were [G] happy [D] days, in so [C] many, many [G] ways

In the [C] town I [G] loved [D] so [G] well
In the early morning the Shirt Factory horn
Called women from Creggan, The Moor and The Bog
While the men on the dole played a mother’s role
Fed the children, and then walked the roads

And when times got rough there was just about enough
But they saw it through without complaining
For deep inside was a burning pride
For the town I love so well

There was music there in the Derry air
Like a language that we could all understand
I remember the day, when I earned my first pay
As I played in the small pick-up band

Then I spent my youth, and to tell you the truth
I was sad to leave it all behind me
For I’d learned about life and I’d found me a wife
In the town I loved so well

But when I returned, how my eyes were burned
To see how a town could be brought to its knees
By the armoured cars and the bombed out bars
And the gas that hangs on to every breeze

Now the Army’s installed by the old Gas-yard wall
And the damned barbed wire gets higher and higher
With their tanks and guns, oh my God what have they done
To the town I love so well

Now the music’s gone, but they still carry-on
Though their spirit’s gone, but never broken
They will not forget for their hearts are all set
On tomorrow, and peace once again

For what’s done is done, and what’s won is won
And what’s lost is lost and gone forever
I can only pray for a bright brand new day
In the town I love so well

Tags: irish song, irish song lyric, irish folk song, irish pub song, derry, phil coulter

Popularity: 100% [?]

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SONG FOR MARCELLA

Marcella was the name of Bobby Sands’ sister and his pen name during the 1981 Hungerstrikes and before. This song was written by Bik McFarlane, who was the Officer Commanding the IRA prisoners during their historic strike to the death.

[G] Doesn´t [D] seem quite so [Em] long ago,

The [C] last time that I [D] saw you,

[G] Ain´t it [D] funny how the [Em] memories grow,

[C] Seems they always fold [D] around you,

[G] They tried to [D] break you in a [Em] living hell,

[C] But they couldn´t [D] find a way,

[G] So they [D] killed you in a [Em] H-Block cell,

And [C] hoped that all would [D] turn away,

[G] They thought your [D] spirit couldn´t [Em] rise again

[C] But it dared to prove [D] them wrong,

[G] And in [D] death you tore [Em] away the chains,

And [C] let the world hear [D] Freedom´s Song

Yet the [Em] heartache and [D] pain linger [G] on [Em],

They´re still [C] here though its so long since you have [D] gone,

[G] But we´re stronger [Em] now [G] you showed us [D] how,

[C] How freedom [D] fight can be [G] won [D]…[C] [D] [G]
I wish there was an easy road to chose,
To bring the heartache to an end,
But easy roads are always sure to lose,
I´ve seen that time and time again,

If you can stand by me like yesterday,
I´ll find the strength to carry on,
So let your spirit shine along the way,
And our day will surely come

Yet the heartache and pain linger on,
They´re still here though its so long since you have gone,
But we´re stronger now you showed us how,
How freedom fight can be won, if we all stand as one

Tags: irish song, irish drinking song, irish song lyric, irish folk song, irish wedding song, irish pub song, irish rebel song, song for marcella, 1981 hungerstrike, irish hungerstrike, bobby sands, bik mcfarlane

Popularity: 25% [?]

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  James Connolly

James Connolly, one of the seven leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising, was wounded and
taken prisoner. Unable to stand he was strapped to a chair and executed by the British on 12th May 1916.                
                                                 

                  *****************

A [G] great crowd had [G7] gathered out[C]side of Kil[G]mainham

With their [C] heads un[G]covered they [D] knelt on the [D7] ground.

From [G] inside that grim [G7] prison lay a [C] brave Irish [G] soldier

His [C] life for his [G] country [D7] about to lay [G] down.

(Repeat chords for subsequent verses)

He went to his death like a true son of Ireland,

The firing party he bravely did face.

Then the order rang out: ‘Present arms, Fire!’

James Connolly fell into a ready made grave.

The black flag they hoisted, the cruel deed was over,

Gone was the man who loved Ireland so well.

There was many a sad heart in Dublin that morning,

When they murdered James Connolly, the Irish rebel.

Many years have gone by since the Irish rebellion,

When the guns of Brittania they loudly did speak.

And the bold I.R.A they stood shoulder to shoulder,

And the blood from their bodies flowed down Sackville Street.

The Four Courts of Dublin, the English bombarded,

The spirit of freedom, they tried hard to quell,

But above all the din, came the cry: ‘No surrender!’

‘Twas the voice of James Connolly, the Irish rebel.

Tags: irish rebel songs, james connolly, irish songs, irish republican songs, ira song, 1916 rising, easter 1916

Popularity: 29% [?]

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            A NATION ONCE AGAIN

This song was written by Thomas Davis(1814-1845), one of the founder members of the Young Ireland Movement, set up to fight for human rights for Catholics and ultimately Independence from Britain. The song reflects the patriotism of it’s author and his great friends Daniel O’Connell, whom a street in Dublin is named after, and John Mitchell.

         *****************

G                      
     

When boyhood’s fire was in my blood

   C         D7       G

I read of ancient freemen

                     
    Em            G    
    C

For Greece and Rome who bravely stood

          Am        D7  
   

Three hundred men and three men

        D              
 

And then I prayed I yet might see

       C        A7    
B7

Our fetters rent in twain

        C        Cm    
D    

And Ireland long a province be

    Am      D         G

A Nation Once Again

(Chorus)

                     
  C

A nation once again

    Am               D7

A nation once again

        G         Em    
C           D

And Ireland long a province be

     G        D        
G

A Nation Once Again

It whispered too that freedom’s ark

That service high and holy

Would be profaned by feelings dark

And passions vain and lowly

For freedom comes from God’s right hand

And needs a Godly train

And righteous men must make out land

A Nation Once Again

[Chorus repeat]

So as I grew from boy to man

I bent me to that bidding

My spirit of each selfish plan

And cruel passion ridding

For thus I hoped some day to aid

Oh, can such hope be vain

When my dear country should be made

A Nation Once Again

[Chorus repeat]

Tags: irish rebel songs, a nation once again, irish songs, irish republican songs, ira song

Popularity: 19% [?]

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