Irish Songs and Lyrics

Sean Treacy (Tipperary So Far Away)

Sean Treacy was killed during a shoot-out with British soldiers during the Irish war of independence(1919-1921). Treacy was one of the leaders of the South Tipperary brigade of the Irish Republican Army and was one of the main leaders of the War, along with Dan Breen and Sean Hogan.

Treacy was shot dead in Talbot Street, Dublin on the 20th October 1920, after being recognised by a police detective.

The [G] sun had set with it`s [D] golden rays
And the [C] bitter [D] fight was [G] over
Our [D] brave boys sleep [C] beneath the [D] clay,
On [G] this earth they [C] are no [D] more
The moon shone over the [C] battle[D]field
Where a [G] dying [C] rebel [D] lay
His [G] arms were crossed and his [D] body stretched,
His [C] life blood [D] flowed [G] away

There were none to weep for you Sean Treacy
Or were keen in to sing in your praise
To decide your deeds like the Gaels of yore
On your face we no longer gaze
In that kingdom of love may your dear soul rest
On the word that we fervently pray
That we`ll all meet above the old friends we love
In Tipperary so far away

The soldiers of Erin bore him high
On their shoulders, they solemnly tread
And many a heart with a tearful sigh
Wept over our patriot dead
In silence they lowered him into the grave
To rest till his reckoning day
Sean Treacy who died, his home to save
In Tipperary so far away

Tags: sean treacy, sean tracey, sean tracy, tipperary so far away, irish rebel songs, ira songs, dan breen, sean hogan, irish war of independence

Popularity: 76% [?]

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Tom Williams

Tom Williams - an IRA man - was hanged in 1942 for his part in the death of an RUC man. The RUC officer - Patrick Murphy - was shot dead during a shoot-out with Williams and five other IRA volunteers.

Although the other five - including Joe Cahill, a close ally of Sinn Feins Gerry Adams, at the time of the Irish peace talks in 1994 - had their death sentences commuted, Williams who admitted full repsonsibility for the death of the policeman, was hanged in Crumlin Road prison, Belfast on 2nd September, 1942.

This is a irish rebel song commemorating his death.

[G] Time goes by and years roll [D] onward
[C] still in [D] memory fresh I’ll [G] keep
of a night in Belfast [D] prison
Una[C]shamedly I [D] saw men [G] weep

As the time was fast approaching
a man lay sentenced for to die
and on the second of September
he goes to meet his God on high

Now he’s marching towards scaffold
head erect he shows no fear
and while standing on that scaffold
Ireland cross he holds so dear

Now the cruel blow has fallen
for Ireland he has given all
He who in the flower of manhood
proudly answered to her call

Brave Tom Williams we salute you
and we never shall forget
those who planned your brutal murder
we vow we’ll make them all regret

[G] So I say to Irish [D] soldiers
[C] If on [D] Toms path you shall [G] stray
Just keep memory of that [Em] morn
When Ireland’s [C] cross was proudly [D] borne
By a man who lies within a prison [C] grave…[G]

Tags: ira men, tom williams, irish rebel songs, joe cahill, gerry adams,

Popularity: 55% [?]

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Upton Ambush

This ballad commemorates three members of the IRA who died in an attack on a troop train at Upton Junction, County Cork, on February 15th 1921. The men were John Whelan, Patrick O’Sullivan and Batt Foley.

Many [G] homes are filled with sorrow and with [C] sadness,
Many [D] hearts are filled with [D7] anguish and with [G] pain,
For old Ireland now she hangs her head in [C] mourning,
For the [D] men who fell at [D7] Upton for Sinn [G] Fein.

Let the moon shine tonight along the valley,
Where those lads who fought for freedom now are laid.
May they rest in peace those men who died for Ireland,
And who fell at Upton Ambush for Sinn Fein.

Some were thinking of their mothers, wives and sweethearts,
More were thinking of their dear old Irish homes
Did they think of how they drilled along the valley,
Or when they marched out from Cork city to their doom.

The morning cry rang out: “Fix your bayonets”,
And right gallantly they fixed them for the fray,
Gallantly they fought and died for Ireland,
Around the lonely woods at Upton far away.

Tags: irish rebel songs, irish songs, irish rebel lyrics, lonely woods of upton, upton ambush, irish rebel songs guitar chords

Popularity: 68% [?]

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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: 100% [?]

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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: 73% [?]

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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: 65% [?]

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