A Father's Blessing Guitar Chords And Lyrics
The Irish Brigade. written by Gerry O' Glacain [ Singer With The Irish Brigade] Chords by Bob Sharpe. This song is a tribute to Joe McDonnell (1951–1981) who died on hunger strike in Long Kesh Prison. This one was also recorded by Shebeen along with Athen Rye. If you want to play along with the Irish Brigade version place a capo on the second fret and play the chords given. They are in the key of D. A father's blessing sheet music by The Irish Brigade now included with the tin whistle notes.
A Father's Blessing is an emotional Irish rebel song that carries a deep and poignant message. It tells the story of a father giving his blessing to his son as he joins the fight for Irish freedom. The song reflects themes of patriotism, sacrifice, and the strong bonds of family, which are common in Irish rebel music.
In the lyrics, the father imparts wisdom, courage, and a sense of duty to his son, acknowledging the hardships that come with fighting for Ireland. The song is often performed with a mournful yet proud tone, emphasizing the struggles and sacrifices made by those who fought in various Irish rebellions.
A Father's Blessing is an emotional Irish rebel song that carries a deep and poignant message. It tells the story of a father giving his blessing to his son as he joins the fight for Irish freedom. The song reflects themes of patriotism, sacrifice, and the strong bonds of family, which are common in Irish rebel music.
In the lyrics, the father imparts wisdom, courage, and a sense of duty to his son, acknowledging the hardships that come with fighting for Ireland. The song is often performed with a mournful yet proud tone, emphasizing the struggles and sacrifices made by those who fought in various Irish rebellions.
Intro- C-F-G-C
[C] Children's laughter children [Am] tears
Childish [C] joys of childhood [Am] years
Are just [F] memories of our once happy [G] home
Its not [C] death that brings the [Am] pain
I would [C] face it all again
But it [F] grieves me so to [G] leave you all [C] along
CHORUS
Do the [F] wee ones still [G] sigh When they [C] hear their daddy's [Am] name
Do they [F] sadly ask you [G] why I [C] won't be home a[C7]gain
How [F] hard it is to [G] know I'll [C] never see them [Am] grow
Let my [F] dying bring for [G] them a better [C] land
May they never know the fears
That blighted my young years
Of the shackles that have bound my native land
May they see the joy of life
And not cruel civil strife
Foreign laws imposed by brutal strangers hands
Let them grow in love and truth
Let them blossom into youth
Guided by their mother's loving hand
Let them cherish Ireland's pride
For this Joe McDonnell died
Let them know their father loved them and his land
Let my [F] dying bring for [G] them a better [Am] land.
Let them [F] know their father [G] loved them and his [C] land
[C] Children's laughter children [Am] tears
Childish [C] joys of childhood [Am] years
Are just [F] memories of our once happy [G] home
Its not [C] death that brings the [Am] pain
I would [C] face it all again
But it [F] grieves me so to [G] leave you all [C] along
CHORUS
Do the [F] wee ones still [G] sigh When they [C] hear their daddy's [Am] name
Do they [F] sadly ask you [G] why I [C] won't be home a[C7]gain
How [F] hard it is to [G] know I'll [C] never see them [Am] grow
Let my [F] dying bring for [G] them a better [C] land
May they never know the fears
That blighted my young years
Of the shackles that have bound my native land
May they see the joy of life
And not cruel civil strife
Foreign laws imposed by brutal strangers hands
Let them grow in love and truth
Let them blossom into youth
Guided by their mother's loving hand
Let them cherish Ireland's pride
For this Joe McDonnell died
Let them know their father loved them and his land
Let my [F] dying bring for [G] them a better [Am] land.
Let them [F] know their father [G] loved them and his [C] land
🎵 1. Full Song with Chords (in G Major)
Verse 1
[G] Children’s laughter, children’s [Em] tears
Childish [G] joys of childhood [Em] years
Are just [C] memories of our once happy [D] home
It’s not [G] death that brings the [Em] pain
I would [G] face it all a[Em]gain
But it [C] grieves me so to [D] leave you all a[G]lone
Chorus
Do the [C] wee ones still [D] sigh
When they [G] hear their daddy’s [Em] name
Do they [C] sadly ask you [D] why
I [G] won’t be home a[G7]gain
How [C] hard it is to [D] know
I’ll [G] never see them [Em] grow
Let my [C] dying bring for [D] them a better [G] land
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern
A gentle folk-style rhythm works beautifully here:
Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count:
1 2& &4&
You can emphasize beats 1 and 3 slightly for a waltz-like feel if you wish, or keep it steady for a folk ballad tempo around 70–80 BPM.
Optional dynamic variation:
Verse: light strumming or fingerpicking.
Chorus: fuller strumming for emotion.
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (for Verses)
Style: Travis picking (thumb–finger alternation)
Pattern:
Thumb (Bass) – Index (G string) – Thumb (D string) – Middle (B string)
Strings numbered 6→1 (low E to high e)
Chord Picking Tab (Repeat Pattern)
G 6—3—4—2 → (3× for each measure)
Em 6—3—4—2
C 5—3—4—2
D 4—3—4—2
Example (Verse Intro):
G Em G Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--0-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|
You can apply this same picking pattern for all verse chords.
______________
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~75 BPM
Time: 4/4
Picking Pattern: (T = thumb, I = index, M = middle)
T (bass) → I (G string) → T (D or A) → M (B string)
Verse 1
G Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--0-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|
Chil - dren’s laughter, chil - dren’s tears
G Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--0-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|
Child - ish joys of child - hood years
C D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Are just mem - o - ries of our once hap - py home
G Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--0-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|
It’s not death that brings the pain
G Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--0-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|
I would face it all a - gain
C D G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|
But it grieves me so to leave you all a - lone
Chorus
C D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Do the wee ones still sigh when they hear their dad - dy’s name
G Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--0-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|
Do they sad - ly ask you why I won’t be home a - gain
C D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
How hard it is to know I’ll nev - er see them grow
C D G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|
Let my dy - ing bring for them a bet - ter land
💡 Performance Notes
Verse 1
[G] Children’s laughter, children’s [Em] tears
Childish [G] joys of childhood [Em] years
Are just [C] memories of our once happy [D] home
It’s not [G] death that brings the [Em] pain
I would [G] face it all a[Em]gain
But it [C] grieves me so to [D] leave you all a[G]lone
Chorus
Do the [C] wee ones still [D] sigh
When they [G] hear their daddy’s [Em] name
Do they [C] sadly ask you [D] why
I [G] won’t be home a[G7]gain
How [C] hard it is to [D] know
I’ll [G] never see them [Em] grow
Let my [C] dying bring for [D] them a better [G] land
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern
A gentle folk-style rhythm works beautifully here:
Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count:
1 2& &4&
You can emphasize beats 1 and 3 slightly for a waltz-like feel if you wish, or keep it steady for a folk ballad tempo around 70–80 BPM.
Optional dynamic variation:
Verse: light strumming or fingerpicking.
Chorus: fuller strumming for emotion.
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (for Verses)
Style: Travis picking (thumb–finger alternation)
Pattern:
Thumb (Bass) – Index (G string) – Thumb (D string) – Middle (B string)
Strings numbered 6→1 (low E to high e)
Chord Picking Tab (Repeat Pattern)
G 6—3—4—2 → (3× for each measure)
Em 6—3—4—2
C 5—3—4—2
D 4—3—4—2
Example (Verse Intro):
G Em G Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--0-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|
You can apply this same picking pattern for all verse chords.
______________
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~75 BPM
Time: 4/4
Picking Pattern: (T = thumb, I = index, M = middle)
T (bass) → I (G string) → T (D or A) → M (B string)
Verse 1
G Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--0-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|
Chil - dren’s laughter, chil - dren’s tears
G Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--0-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|
Child - ish joys of child - hood years
C D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Are just mem - o - ries of our once hap - py home
G Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--0-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|
It’s not death that brings the pain
G Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--0-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|
I would face it all a - gain
C D G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|
But it grieves me so to leave you all a - lone
Chorus
C D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Do the wee ones still sigh when they hear their dad - dy’s name
G Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--0-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|
Do they sad - ly ask you why I won’t be home a - gain
C D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
How hard it is to know I’ll nev - er see them grow
C D G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|
Let my dy - ing bring for them a bet - ter land
💡 Performance Notes
A father's blessing sheet music by The Irish Brigade
4 String banjo / mandolin tab included below.
Included below is the tin whistle tab
Joe McDonnell ''A Father's Blessing Song''
