The Irish Rover by The Dubliners and The Pogues
-----------------------------------------------
This is the progression that I find most fun to play, basically the whole song goes:
G C
G D
G C
G D G
G D
G D
G Em
G D G
So once you get the hang of it you're set. This is a whacky song so don't hold
back from going a little crazy and having fun!
Here's the lyrics with an example of when the chords are played:
[Verse 1]
G C
On the Fourth of July, eighteen hundred and six
G D
We set sail from the sweet Cobh 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
'Twas a wonderful craft
D
She was rigged fore and aft
G D
And oh, how the wild wind drove her
G
She stood several blasts
Em
She had twenty seven masts
G D G
And they called her The Irish Rover
[Verse 2]
G C
We had one million bags of the best Sligo rags
G D
We had two million barrels of stone
G C
We had three million sides of old blind horses hides
G D G
We had four million barrels of bones
G
We had five million hogs
D
And six million dogs
G D
Seven million barrels of porter
G Em
We had eight million bails of old nanny-goats' tails
G D G
In the hold of the Irish Rover
[Verse 3]
G C
There was awl Mickey Coote
G D
Who played hard on his flute
G C
When the ladies lined up for a set
G D
He was tootin' with skill
G
For each sparkling quadrille
D
Though the dancers were fluther'd and bet
G D
With his smart witty talk
G
He was cock of the walk
Em
And he rolled the dames under and over
G
They all knew at a glance
D
When he took up his stance
G
That he sailed in The Irish Rover
[Verse 4]
G C
There was Barney McGee
G D
From the banks of the Lee
G C
There was Hogan from County Tyrone
G D G
There was Johnny McGirr
G
Who was scared stiff of work
D
And a man from Westmeath called Malone
G D
There was Slugger O'Toole
G
Who was drunk as a rule
Em
And Fighting Bill Treacy from Dover
G
And your man, Mick MacCann
D
From the banks of the Bann
G
Was the skipper of the Irish Rover
[Verse 5]
G C
For a sailor it's always a bother in life
G D
It's so lonesome by night and day
G C
That he longs for the shore
G D G
And a charming young whore
G
Who will melt all his troubles away
D
Oh, the noise and the rout
G D
Swillin' poitin and stout
G
For him soon the torment's over
Em
Of the love of a maid
G D
He is never afraid
G
An old salt from the Irish Rover
[Verse 6]
G C
We had sailed seven years
G D
When the measles broke out
G C
And the ship lost its way in the fog
G D G
And that whale of a crew
G
Was reduced down to two
D
Just myself and the Captain's old dog
G D
Then the ship struck a rock
G
Oh Lord what a shock
Em
The bulkhead was turned right over
G
Turned nine times around
D
And the poor old dog was drowned
G
I'm the last of The Irish Rover
