A Soldier's Return Lyrics And Guitar Chords

By Brian Warfield Of The Wolfe Tones, also included are the lead mandolin notes by Cathal Lynch. An Irish ​patriotic / rebel song.

I[Am] went away to[G] fight a war that small[Am] nations might be [G]free
Got a[F] soldiers[C] guns and[F] uni[C]form to[G] fight the enemy
I wasF] trained to shoot my[C] fellow be[Dm]fore heG] got to[Dm] me
And I[G] danced with death in theC] mud and [Am]wept
And[G7] prayed my home to[C] see.
Chorus:
So come [Dm]over[G] to me[Dm] darling[G] girl come[F] here me Molly[C] dear.
You are as[Dm] welcome[G] as the[Dm] flowers in [G]may you're [F]welcome here to[C]me.
No[F] more I'll fire the musket[C] shot or[F] hear the[C] cannon[Dm] roar
I've[G] done my time, now[C] you'll be[Am] mine
I'mG] yours for[G7] ever[C] more.
While in the trenches there I thought who starts these bloody-wars
And thought of these great Irishmen who died on these strange shores
Then a bomb did burst to the air it trust some shrapnel fire and blood
I escaped it then shot back at them and lay back in the mud.
Chorus:
While I was off in foreign lands, fighting other peoples' wars
Some gallant men were fighting here to free their native shore
You shot our leaders of 16 saw our city sacked and burned
Then you sent us in the Black and Tans [ lyrics ] to greet our home return.
Chorus:
I don't need your heroes welcome
I don't want your bugle call
No brass band no pipes and drums, no medal badge or star
But give me what you promised me when first I went to war
That's freedom for old Ireland and I'll go to fight no more.
Chorus:
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Soldier's Return Mandolin Notes (Key = Bb)
Played by Cathal Lynch, these lead notes are suitable
for other instruments including banjo and tin whistle
 
E D E F G E D C F E D E F G G
A C D' D' C A D' D' C C G A C D' C
A C D' E' F' E' D' C A G A C D' A#
A# A G A C D' E' F' C A A A G F
 
Chorus:
 
C D F G A G A C A G A F G F D C
C D F G A C A G A C A F G F D F
C D' C D' F' D' C A C D' C A F
A G A C D' E' F' C A A A A# A G F

The Wolfe Tones. From left to right. Brian Warfield, Tommy Byrne and Noel Nagle