A Prisoner's Christmas Song Lyrics By The Irish Brigade
This Irish folk / ballad is about spending your Christmas locked up in prison . It's by the rebel group The Irish Brigade. One of the most famous ballads regarding prison is The Fields Of Athenry [ lyrics ]
On the motorway the other night,
some lights were flickering off to my right.
My little son sitting by my side asked are
those fairy lights for Christmas tide.
Chorus
Those are not lights for a Christmas tree,
that's dark Long Kesh son you'll grow to see.
That Christmas cheer does not mean a thing
in Magilligan, Armagh or a H-Block wing.
This is a time for festivities,
for party games and families,
but many homes they are sad tonight
They whisper someone's name by the candle light.
Those are not lights for a Christmas tree,
that's dark Long Kesh son you'll grow to see.
That Christmas cheer does not mean a thing
in Magilligan, Armagh or a H-Block wing.
It is the season of goodwill,
and here in Ireland we believe that still.
I hate no man for his faith or creed,
we only want our sons and our daughters free.
Those are not lights for a Christmas tree,
that's dark Long Kesh son you'll grow to see.
That Christmas cheer does not mean a thing
in Magilligan, Armagh or a H-Block wing.
When you grow up son to be a man,
you will inherit a better land,
with peace and joy, let our country ring.
You'll never have to hear your children sing.
Those are not lights for a Christmas tree,
that's dark Long Kesh son you'll grow to see.
That Christmas cheer does not mean a thing
in Magilligan, Armagh or a H-Block wing.
some lights were flickering off to my right.
My little son sitting by my side asked are
those fairy lights for Christmas tide.
Chorus
Those are not lights for a Christmas tree,
that's dark Long Kesh son you'll grow to see.
That Christmas cheer does not mean a thing
in Magilligan, Armagh or a H-Block wing.
This is a time for festivities,
for party games and families,
but many homes they are sad tonight
They whisper someone's name by the candle light.
Those are not lights for a Christmas tree,
that's dark Long Kesh son you'll grow to see.
That Christmas cheer does not mean a thing
in Magilligan, Armagh or a H-Block wing.
It is the season of goodwill,
and here in Ireland we believe that still.
I hate no man for his faith or creed,
we only want our sons and our daughters free.
Those are not lights for a Christmas tree,
that's dark Long Kesh son you'll grow to see.
That Christmas cheer does not mean a thing
in Magilligan, Armagh or a H-Block wing.
When you grow up son to be a man,
you will inherit a better land,
with peace and joy, let our country ring.
You'll never have to hear your children sing.
Those are not lights for a Christmas tree,
that's dark Long Kesh son you'll grow to see.
That Christmas cheer does not mean a thing
in Magilligan, Armagh or a H-Block wing.
Guitar chords as played by The Irish Brigade.
Intro. chords- [D][G][F#m][Em][D][A][D]
[D]On the motorway the [A]other [Cm]night[D],
[Em]some lights were [D]flickering off [Em]to my [A]right.
My little [D]son sitting [D]by my [G]side[Em] asked are
those [D]fairy [Bm]lights for [A]Christmas [D]tide.
Chorus
[D]Those are not lights for a Christmas [Cm]tr[Bm]ee,
[Em]that's dark Long [D]Kesh [Bm]son you'll [Em]grow to [A]see[F#m].
That [A]Christmas cheer does not mean a [G]thi[Bm]ng[Em]
in Magilli[D]gan, Ar[Bm]magh or a [A]H-Block [D]wing.
Intro. chords- [D][G][F#m][Em][D][A][D]
[D]On the motorway the [A]other [Cm]night[D],
[Em]some lights were [D]flickering off [Em]to my [A]right.
My little [D]son sitting [D]by my [G]side[Em] asked are
those [D]fairy [Bm]lights for [A]Christmas [D]tide.
Chorus
[D]Those are not lights for a Christmas [Cm]tr[Bm]ee,
[Em]that's dark Long [D]Kesh [Bm]son you'll [Em]grow to [A]see[F#m].
That [A]Christmas cheer does not mean a [G]thi[Bm]ng[Em]
in Magilli[D]gan, Ar[Bm]magh or a [A]H-Block [D]wing.
🎼 Key: D Major
Time Signature: 3/4 (slow waltz feel)
Tempo: ~65 BPM
Mood: Reflective and emotional
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Waltz)
Count: “ONE – two – three, ONE – two – three”
Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
1 2& 3&
Beat 1: Strong downstroke on bass note (root of the chord)
Beats 2 & 3: Gentle down-up on the higher strings
Let it flow, not thump — this is a reflective song.
Optional alternating bass (for fullness):
D → 4th → 5th string
G → 6th → 4th string
A → 5th → 4th string
Bm → 5th → 4th string
Em → 6th → 4th string
🎵 Fingerpicking Pattern
Use a soft p–i–m arpeggio for each measure:
Thumb (p): Bass note (E, A, or D)
Index (i): G string
Middle (m): B string
This creates a rolling, gentle texture — perfect for storytelling songs.
🎶 Verse Fingerpicking Tab
D A Cm D
e|--------2-------------2-------|--------0-------------0-|--------3-------------3-|--------2-------------2-|
B|------3---3---------3---3-----|------2---2---------2---|------4---4---------4---|------3---3---------3---|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---|----2-------2-----2-----|----5-------5-----5-----|----2-------2-----2-----|
D|--0-----------0---------------|--2-----------2---------|--5-----------5---------|--0-----------0---------|
A|----------------0--------------|0-----------------------|3-----------------------|----------------0-------|
E|-------------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
On the motorway the other night, some lights were flickering off to my right.
Em D Em A
e|--------0-------------0-------|--------2-------------2-|--------0-------------0-|--------0-------------0-|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----|------3---3---------3---|------0---0---------0---|------2---2---------2---|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---|----2-------2-----2-----|----0-------0-----0-----|----2-------2-----2-----|
D|--2-----------2---------------|--0-----------0---------|--2-----------2---------|--2-----------2---------|
A|0------------------------------|----------------0-------|0-----------------------|0-----------------------|
E|-------------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
My little son sitting by my side asked are those fairy lights for Christmas tide.
🎶 Chorus Fingerpicking Tab
D Cm Bm Em
e|--------2-------------2-------|--------3-------------3-|--------2-------------2-|--------0-------------0-|
B|------3---3---------3---3-----|------4---4---------4---|------3---3---------3---|------0---0---------0---|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---|----5-------5-----5-----|----4-------4-----4-----|----0-------0-----0-----|
D|--0-----------0---------------|--5-----------5---------|--4-----------4---------|--2-----------2---------|
A|----------------0--------------|3-----------------------|2-----------------------|0-----------------------|
E|-------------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
Those are not lights for a Christmas tree, that’s dark Long Kesh, son, you’ll grow to see.
A F#m A G
e|--------0-------------0-------|--------2-------------2-|--------0-------------0-|--------3-------------3-|
B|------2---2---------2---2-----|------2---2---------2---|------2---2---------2---|------0---0---------0---|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---|----2-------2-----2-----|----2-------2-----2-----|----0-------0-----0-----|
D|--2-----------2---------------|--4-----------4---------|--2-----------2---------|--0-----------0---------|
A|0------------------------------|----------------4-------|0-----------------------|2-----------------------|
E|-------------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|3-----------------------|
That Christmas cheer does not mean a thing in Magilligan, Armagh or a H-block wing.
Time Signature: 3/4 (slow waltz feel)
Tempo: ~65 BPM
Mood: Reflective and emotional
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Waltz)
Count: “ONE – two – three, ONE – two – three”
Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
1 2& 3&
Beat 1: Strong downstroke on bass note (root of the chord)
Beats 2 & 3: Gentle down-up on the higher strings
Let it flow, not thump — this is a reflective song.
Optional alternating bass (for fullness):
D → 4th → 5th string
G → 6th → 4th string
A → 5th → 4th string
Bm → 5th → 4th string
Em → 6th → 4th string
🎵 Fingerpicking Pattern
Use a soft p–i–m arpeggio for each measure:
Thumb (p): Bass note (E, A, or D)
Index (i): G string
Middle (m): B string
This creates a rolling, gentle texture — perfect for storytelling songs.
🎶 Verse Fingerpicking Tab
D A Cm D
e|--------2-------------2-------|--------0-------------0-|--------3-------------3-|--------2-------------2-|
B|------3---3---------3---3-----|------2---2---------2---|------4---4---------4---|------3---3---------3---|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---|----2-------2-----2-----|----5-------5-----5-----|----2-------2-----2-----|
D|--0-----------0---------------|--2-----------2---------|--5-----------5---------|--0-----------0---------|
A|----------------0--------------|0-----------------------|3-----------------------|----------------0-------|
E|-------------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
On the motorway the other night, some lights were flickering off to my right.
Em D Em A
e|--------0-------------0-------|--------2-------------2-|--------0-------------0-|--------0-------------0-|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----|------3---3---------3---|------0---0---------0---|------2---2---------2---|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---|----2-------2-----2-----|----0-------0-----0-----|----2-------2-----2-----|
D|--2-----------2---------------|--0-----------0---------|--2-----------2---------|--2-----------2---------|
A|0------------------------------|----------------0-------|0-----------------------|0-----------------------|
E|-------------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
My little son sitting by my side asked are those fairy lights for Christmas tide.
🎶 Chorus Fingerpicking Tab
D Cm Bm Em
e|--------2-------------2-------|--------3-------------3-|--------2-------------2-|--------0-------------0-|
B|------3---3---------3---3-----|------4---4---------4---|------3---3---------3---|------0---0---------0---|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---|----5-------5-----5-----|----4-------4-----4-----|----0-------0-----0-----|
D|--0-----------0---------------|--5-----------5---------|--4-----------4---------|--2-----------2---------|
A|----------------0--------------|3-----------------------|2-----------------------|0-----------------------|
E|-------------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
Those are not lights for a Christmas tree, that’s dark Long Kesh, son, you’ll grow to see.
A F#m A G
e|--------0-------------0-------|--------2-------------2-|--------0-------------0-|--------3-------------3-|
B|------2---2---------2---2-----|------2---2---------2---|------2---2---------2---|------0---0---------0---|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---|----2-------2-----2-----|----2-------2-----2-----|----0-------0-----0-----|
D|--2-----------2---------------|--4-----------4---------|--2-----------2---------|--0-----------0---------|
A|0------------------------------|----------------4-------|0-----------------------|2-----------------------|
E|-------------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|3-----------------------|
That Christmas cheer does not mean a thing in Magilligan, Armagh or a H-block wing.
