Here’s a collection of Ukulele chords for popular Irish folk songs!
“Danny Boy” in G Major
This iconic Irish ballad is about a young man who is leaving home and saying goodbye to his loved ones.
Chords Used in Standard C Tuning (GCEA):
| G | G7 | C | Am | D7 | D |
“Whiskey in the Jar” in C Major
This traditional Irish folk song tells the story of a highwayman who is betrayed by his lover.
Chords Used in Standard C Tuning (GCEA):
| C | F | Am | G |
[Intro]
C F
[Verse 1]
C C Am
As I was a goin' over the far famed Kerry mountains
F C
I met with captain Farrell and his money he was counting
Am
I first produced my pistol and I then produced my rapier
F C
Saying "Stand and deliver" for he were a bold deceiver
G
Musha ring duma do duma da
C
Whack for my daddyo
F
Whack for my daddyo
C G C
There's whiskey in the jar
[Verse 2]
C Am
I counted out his money and it made a pretty penny
F C
I put it in me pocket and I took it home to Jenny
Am
She sighed and she swore that she never would deceive me
F C
But the devil take the women for they never can be easy
G
Musha ring duma do duma da
C
Whack for my daddyo
F
Whack for my daddyo
C G C
There's whiskey in the jar
[Verse 3]
C Am
I went up to my chamber, all for to take a slumber
F C
I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure 't was no wonder
Am
But Jenny drew me charges and she filled them up with water
F C
Then sent for captain Farrell to be ready for the slaughter
G
Musha ring duma do duma da
C
Whack for my daddyo
F
Whack for my daddyo
C G C
There's whiskey in the jar
[Verse 4]
C Am
'Twas early in the morning, just before I rose to travel
F C
Up comes a band of footmen and likewise captain Farrell
Am
I first produced me pistol for she stole away me rapier
F C
I couldn't shoot the water, so a prisoner I was taken
G
Musha ring duma do duma da
C
Whack for my daddyo
F
Whack for my daddyo
C G C
There's whiskey in the jar
[Verse 5]
C Am
Now there's some take delight in the carriages arollin'
F C
And others take delight in the hurling and the bowling
Am
But I take delight in the juice of the barley
F C
And courting pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early
G
Musha ring duma do duma da
C
Whack for my daddyo
F
Whack for my daddyo
C G C
There's whiskey in the jar
[Verse 6]
C Am
If anyone can aid me 't is my brother in the army
F C
If I can find his station in Cork or in Killarney
Am
And if he'll go with me, we'll go rovin' through Killkenny
F C
And I'm sure he'll treat me better than my own asporting Jenny
G
Musha ring duma do duma da
C
Whack for my daddyo
F
Whack for my daddyo
C G C
There's whiskey in the jar
[Outro]
G
Musha ring duma do duma da
C
Whack for my daddyo
F
Whack for my daddyo
C G C
There's whiskey in the jar“The Wild Rover” in G Major
This traditional Irish folk song is about a man who has spent all of his money on alcohol and is now returning home.
Chords Used in Standard C Tuning (GCEA):
| G | C | D7 |
[Intro]
G
[Verse 1]
G C
I've been a wild rover for manys a year
G D7 G
And I spent all me money on whiskey and beer
C
But now I'm returning with gold in great store
G D7 G
And I never will play the wild rover no more
[Chorus]
D7
And it's no, nay, never
G C
No, nay, never no more
G C
Will I play the wild rover
G D7 G
No, never, no more
[Verse 2]
G C
I went into an alehouse I used to frequent
G D7 G
And I told the landlady me money was spent
C
I asked her for credit, she answered me "nay
G D7 G
Such a custom as yours I can have everyday"
[Chorus]
D7
And it's no, nay, never
G C
No, nay, never no more
G C
Will I play the wild rover
G D7 G
No, never, no more
[Verse 3]
G C
I then took from me pocket ten sovereigns bright
G D7 G
And the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight
C
She says "I have whiskeys and wines of the best
G D7 G
And the words that you told me were only in jest"
[Chorus]
D7
And it's no, nay, never
G C
No, nay, never no more
G C
Will I play the wild rover
G D7 G
No, never, no more
[Verse 4]
G C
I'll go home to my parents, confess what I've done
G D7 G
And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son
C
And when they've caressed me as ofttimes before
G D7 G
I never will play the wild rover no more
[Chorus]
D7
And it's no, nay, never
G C
No, nay, never no more
G C
Will I play the wild rover
G D7 G
No, never, no more
[Outro]
D7
And it's no, nay, never
G C
No, nay, never no more
G C
Will I play the wild rover
G D7 G
No, never, no more“The Fields of Athenry” in E Major
This song tells the story of a man who is forced to leave his family and home in Ireland during the Great Famine.
Chords Used in CGEA Tuning:
| B7 | E | A | C#m |
[Intro]
B7
[Verse 1]
E E
By a lonely prison wall
A E B7
I heard a young girl calling
E A B7
Michael they are taking you away
E A
For you stole Trevelyans corn
E B7
So the young might see the morn
E
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay
[Chorus]
E A E C#m
Low lie the fields of Athenry
E B7
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
E A
Our love was on the wing
E B7
We had Dreams and songs to sing
E
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry
[Verse 2]
E
By a lonely prison wall
A E B7
I heard a young man calling
E A B7
Nothing matters Mary when you're free
E A
Against the famine and the crown
E B7
I rebelled they cut me down
E
Now you must raise our child with dignity
[Chorus]
E A E C#m
Low lie the fields of Athenry
E B7
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
E A
Our love was on the wing
E B7
We had Dreams and songs to sing
E
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry
[Verse 3]
E
By a lonely harbour wall
A E B7
She watched the last star falling
E A B7
As the prison ship sailed out against the sky
E A
For she lives to hope and pray
E B7
For her love in Botany bay
E
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry
[Chorus]
E A E C#m
Low lie the fields of Athenry
E B7
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
E A
Our love was on the wing
E B7
We had Dreams and songs to sing
E A E
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry“Galway Girl” in D Major
This song, written and performed by Steve Earle, tells the story of a man who falls in love with a Galway girl.
Chords Used in Standard C Tuning (GCEA):
| D | G | Bm | A |
“Irish Rover” in G Major
This song tells the story of a ship called the Irish Rover, which sets sail from Ireland and encounters various adventures along the way.
Chords Used in Standard C Tuning (GCEA):
| G | C | D | Em | D7 |
[VERSE 1]
G C
In the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and six
G D
We set sail from the Cobh quay of Cork
G C
We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks
G D G
For the grand city hall in New York
G D
Twas an elegant craft, she was rigged fore and aft
G D
And how the trade winds drove her
G Em C
She had twenty-three masts and she stood several blasts
G D7 G
And they called her the Irish Ro-ver
[VERSE 2]
G C
We had one million bags of the best Sligo rags
G D
We had two million barrels of stones
G C
We had three million sides of old blind horses hides
G D G
We had four million barrels of bone
G D
We had five million hogs, six million dogs
G D
Seven million barrels of porter
G Em C
We had eight million bales of old nanny goats tails
G D7 G
In the hold of the Irish Ro-ver
[VERSE 3]
G C
There was Barney McGee from the banks of the Lee
G D
There was Hogan from County Tyrone
G C
There was Johnny McGuirk who was scared stiff of work
G D G
And a chap from Westmeath named Malone
G D
There was Slugger O'Toole who was drunk as a rule
G D
And fighting Bill Tracy from Dover
G Em C
And your man Mick McCann from the banks of the Bann
G D7 G
Was the skipper of the Irish Ro-ver
[VERSE 4]
G C
We had sailed seven years when the measles broke out
G D
And our ship lost it's way in the fog
G C
Then the whole of the crew was reduced down to two
G D G
Just myself and the captain’s old dog
G D
The ship struck a rock, oh Lord what a shock
G D
And nearly tumbled over
G Em C
It turned nine times around and the poor dog was drowned
G D7 G
I'm the last of the Irish Ro-ver“Carrickfergus” in G Major
This traditional Irish ballad tells the story of a man who is homesick for the town of Carrickfergus in County Antrim, Ireland.
Chords Used in Standard C Tuning (GCEA):
| G | Am | D | Em | C |
“The Parting Glass” in A Minor
This traditional Irish farewell song is often sung at the end of a night of music or at a funeral.
Chords Used in Standard C Tuning (GCEA):
| Asus2 | Fmaj7 | Am6 | Am | C | G |
| F | Dm | Em | E |
Asus2 Fmaj7 Am6 Fmaj7 Asus2 Fmaj7
Am6 Fmaj7 Asus2 Fmaj7
Am6 Fmaj7
[Verse 1]
Am C G
Oh of all the money that e're I had
Am C G
I spent it in good company
Am C G
And of all the harm that e're I've done
Am G F Am Asus2 G
Alas it was to none but me
[Chorus]
F C F C
For all I've done for want or of wit
Dm F G
To the mem'ry now I can't recall
Am C G
So fill to me the parting glass
Am G F Asus2 Fmaj7
Good night and joy be with you all
[Verse 2]
Am6 Fmaj7 Am C G
Oh of all the comrades that e're I have
Am C G
They are sorry for my going away
Am C G
And of all the sweethearts that e're I love
Am G F Am Asus2 G
They would wish me one more day to stay
[Chorus]
F C F C
But since it falls unto my lot
Dm F G
That I should rise and you should not
Am C G
I'll gently rise and softly call
Am G F Am Asus2
Good night and joy be with you all
[Interlude]
G Am G Em Am
G Am G F
[Re-Intro]
Asus2 Fmaj7 Am6
[Verse 3]
Fmaj7 Am C G
Oh if I had money enough to spend
Am C G
And leisure time to sit awhile
Am C G
There is a fair maid in this town
Am G F Am Asus2 G
And she surely has my heart beguiled
[Chorus]
F C F C
Her rosey cheeks, and her ruby lips
Dm F G
I own she has my heart enthralled
Am C G
So fill to me the parting glass
Am G F Am
Good night and joy be with you all
E Am C G
So fill to me the parting glass
Am G F Asus2 Fmaj7
Good night and joy be with you all
[Outro]
Am6 Fmaj7 Asus2 Fmaj7
With you all
Am6 Fmaj7 Asus2 Fmaj7
With you all
Am6
Uh
Fmaj7 Em Am“Ride On” in B Minor
This song, written and performed by Christy Moore, is a tribute to the Irish revolutionary and politician James Larkin.
Chords Used in Standard C Tuning (GCEA):
| Bm | G | A | Cm | Ab | Bb |
“Black Velvet Band” in G Major
This traditional Irish folk song tells the story of a man who is transported to Australia as a result of a wrongful conviction.
Chords Used in Standard C Tuning (GCEA):
| G | D | Em | C |
[Verse 1]
G D
In a neat little town they call Belfast apprenticed to trade I was bound
G Em C D G
And many an hour of sweet happiness I spent in that neat little town
G D
Till bad misfortune came over me and caused me to stray from the land
G Em C D G
Far away from me friends and relations to follow the Black Velvet Band
[Chorus]
G
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
D
You'd think she was queen of the land
G Em
And her hair hung over her shoulder
C D G
Tied up with a Black Velvet Band
[Verse 2]
G D
Well I went out strolling one evening not meaning to go very far
G Em C D G
When I met with a fickle-some damsel she was plying her trade in a bar
G D
When a watch she took from a cutomer and slipped it right into me hand
G Em C D G
And the law it came and arrested me bad luck to your Black Velvet Band
[Chorus]
G
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
D
You'd think she was queen of the land
G Em
And her hair hung over her shoulder
C D G
Tied up with a Black Velvet Band
[Verse 3]
G D
This mornin' before judge and jury a trial I had to appear
G Em C D G
And the judge he says "me young fellow" the case against you is quite clear
G D
And seven long years is your sentence, you're going to Van Diemen's Land
G Em C D G
Far away from your friends and relations and follow the Black Velvet Band
[Chorus]
G
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
D
You'd think she was queen of the land
G Em
And her hair hung over her shoulder
C D G
Tied up with a Black Velvet Band
[Verse 4]
G D
So come all ye jolly young fellows I'll have you take warnin' from me
G Em C D G
Whenever you're into the liquor me lads beware of the pretty colleen
G D
For they'll fill you with whiskey and porter till you are not able to stand
G Em C D G
And the very next thing that you know me lads you've landed in Van Diemen's Land
[Chorus]
G
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
D
You'd think she was queen of the land
G Em
And her hair hung over her shoulder
C D G
Tied up with a Black Velvet Band
G
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
D
You'd think she was queen of the land
G Em
And her hair hung over her shoulder
C D G
Tied up with a Black Velvet Band
Do you know where I can fine Uke Chords for “You don’t have to be Irish to be Irish”?
Thank you