Amhrán na gCupán / The Cup Song Lyrics And Guitar Chords
he cup song sheet music and tin whistle notes . Now including the English and Irish version of the sheet music, plus the mandolin / tenor banjo tab. The main singer in the band is Laoise Nolan. The Cardiff Family originally recorded it in English in the 1930's when it was known as When I'm Gone. The singers and ''Cup Movers'' in the video are all students of Coláiste Lurgan in Galway. Chords by Marc. As Gaeilge songs with chords and lyrics.
AMHRÁN NA gCUPÁN 4/4 (The Cup Song)
(C)Tá an ticéad a’am don bhealach fada
Dhá (F)bhuidéal uisce don thu(C)ras
Is ba (F)bhreá liom (G)cara a bheith
In (Am)éindí (C)liom
Mé ag (Am)fágáil a(G)márach, mbeidh tú (C)liom?
Curfá
(C)Nuair ‘tá mé (Am)imithe
Nuair (C)‘tá mé (Am)imi(C)the
(F)Aireoidh tú (G)uait mé ‘s gan mé (C)ann
(C)Aireoidh tú (F)uait mé ‘s mo (G)aoibh
Ai(C)reoidh tú uait mé (Am)‘chuile thaobh
(C)Ó, aireoidh tú (G)uait mé ‘s gan mé (C)ann
(C)Tá an ticéad ‘am don bhealach fada
(F)Tá an saol mór ag fanacht (C)liom
Measc na (F)sléibhte, taobh na (G)habhann
Ait a (Am)bhíonn an t-aer bre(C)á úr
Beidh sé i (Am)bhfad níos (G)fearr leat a (C)stóir
Curfá 2x
Gaelic Lyrics And Chords
“Amhrán na gCupán (The Cup Song)” has that modern Irish-folk pop feel — gentle, rhythmic, and very 4/4 in structure, with space for the cup percussion rhythm or a steady guitar accompaniment.
Let’s arrange it in G major (easier for guitar and voice), give you:
Chords for the full song (transposed to G major)
A strumming pattern that matches the Cup Song rhythm (4/4 folk-pop style)
A fingerpicking tab for the first verse
🎵 Full Song with Chords (in G Major)
(G)Tá an ticéad a’am don bhealach fada
Dhá (C)bhuidéal uisce don thu(G)ras
Is ba (C)bhreá liom (D)cara a bheith
In (Em)éindí (G)liom
Mé ag (Em)fágáil a(D)márach, mbeidh tú (G)liom?
Curfá:
(G)Nuair ‘tá mé (Em)imithe
Nuair (G)‘tá mé (Em)imi(G)the
(C)Aireoidh tú (D)uait mé ‘s gan mé (G)ann
(G)Aireoidh tú (C)uait mé ‘s mo (D)aoibh
Ai(G)reoidh tú uait mé (Em)‘chuile thaobh
(G)Ó, aireoidh tú (D)uait mé ‘s gan mé (G)ann
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Folk-Pop Feel)
This song fits a Cup Song rhythm, which alternates bass–slap–up–up–slap in body percussion.
On guitar, we can mirror that pulse with a syncopated 4/4 strum.
Pattern (acoustic version):
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
(count: 1 2& &3 4&)
Beat 1 – Strong downstroke (bass emphasis)
Beat 2 – Light down-up (fill the rhythm)
Beat 3 – Upstroke (keep flow)
Beat 4 – Down-up with accent
If you prefer a Cup Song–inspired rhythm, tap the body of the guitar (or mute the strings) lightly on beat 2 and 4 for percussive effect.
Example (G chord):
| G | G |
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
1 2& &3 4&
This gives a flowing pop-folk groove, matching the original song’s momentum.
🎵 Fingerpicking Tab (First Verse)
We’ll use a simple, steady 4/4 arpeggio pattern that reflects the vocal phrasing.
Pattern per measure:
Bass (1) → G (2) → B (3) → G+B (4)
Use:
Thumb (p) on E, A, or D (bass)
Index (i) on G
Middle (m) on B
Ring (a) on high E (optional)
First Verse Tab
G C G
e|--------3-------------3----------|--------0-------------0----------|--------3-------------3----------|
B|------0---0---------0---0--------|------1---1---------1---1--------|------0---0---------0---0--------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0------|----0-------0-----0-------0------|----0-------0-----0-------0------|
D|--0-----------0------------------|--2-----------2------------------|--0-----------0------------------|
A|-------------------------------2-|3-------------------------------2|-------------------------------2|
E|-3-----------3-------------------|---------------------------------|3-----------3-------------------|
Tá an ticéad a’am don bhealach fada, dhá bhuidéal uisce don thuras,
C D Em G
e|--------0-------------0----------|--------2-------------2----------|--------0-------------0----------|--------3-------------3----------|
B|------1---1---------1---1--------|------3---3---------3---3--------|------0---0---------0---0--------|------0---0---------0---0--------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0------|----2-------2-----2-------2------|----0-------0-----0-------0------|----0-------0-----0-------0------|
D|--2-----------2------------------|--0-----------0------------------|--2-----------2------------------|--0-----------0------------------|
A|3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|2-------------------------------|-------------------------------2|
E|--------------------------------|---------------------------------|0-----------0-------------------|-3-----------3-------------------|
Is ba bhreá liom cara a bheith in éindí liom, mé ag fágáil amárach, beidh tú liom?
🎶 Performance Tips
Keep the thumb pulse steady (beats 1 and 3).
Use light touch on upper strings to give a flowing feel.
Let notes ring naturally — this song’s beauty is in the gentle sustain.
For live performance, alternate between fingerpicking in verses and strumming in chorus for dynamic contrast.
Let’s arrange it in G major (easier for guitar and voice), give you:
Chords for the full song (transposed to G major)
A strumming pattern that matches the Cup Song rhythm (4/4 folk-pop style)
A fingerpicking tab for the first verse
🎵 Full Song with Chords (in G Major)
(G)Tá an ticéad a’am don bhealach fada
Dhá (C)bhuidéal uisce don thu(G)ras
Is ba (C)bhreá liom (D)cara a bheith
In (Em)éindí (G)liom
Mé ag (Em)fágáil a(D)márach, mbeidh tú (G)liom?
Curfá:
(G)Nuair ‘tá mé (Em)imithe
Nuair (G)‘tá mé (Em)imi(G)the
(C)Aireoidh tú (D)uait mé ‘s gan mé (G)ann
(G)Aireoidh tú (C)uait mé ‘s mo (D)aoibh
Ai(G)reoidh tú uait mé (Em)‘chuile thaobh
(G)Ó, aireoidh tú (D)uait mé ‘s gan mé (G)ann
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Folk-Pop Feel)
This song fits a Cup Song rhythm, which alternates bass–slap–up–up–slap in body percussion.
On guitar, we can mirror that pulse with a syncopated 4/4 strum.
Pattern (acoustic version):
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
(count: 1 2& &3 4&)
Beat 1 – Strong downstroke (bass emphasis)
Beat 2 – Light down-up (fill the rhythm)
Beat 3 – Upstroke (keep flow)
Beat 4 – Down-up with accent
If you prefer a Cup Song–inspired rhythm, tap the body of the guitar (or mute the strings) lightly on beat 2 and 4 for percussive effect.
Example (G chord):
| G | G |
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
1 2& &3 4&
This gives a flowing pop-folk groove, matching the original song’s momentum.
🎵 Fingerpicking Tab (First Verse)
We’ll use a simple, steady 4/4 arpeggio pattern that reflects the vocal phrasing.
Pattern per measure:
Bass (1) → G (2) → B (3) → G+B (4)
Use:
Thumb (p) on E, A, or D (bass)
Index (i) on G
Middle (m) on B
Ring (a) on high E (optional)
First Verse Tab
G C G
e|--------3-------------3----------|--------0-------------0----------|--------3-------------3----------|
B|------0---0---------0---0--------|------1---1---------1---1--------|------0---0---------0---0--------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0------|----0-------0-----0-------0------|----0-------0-----0-------0------|
D|--0-----------0------------------|--2-----------2------------------|--0-----------0------------------|
A|-------------------------------2-|3-------------------------------2|-------------------------------2|
E|-3-----------3-------------------|---------------------------------|3-----------3-------------------|
Tá an ticéad a’am don bhealach fada, dhá bhuidéal uisce don thuras,
C D Em G
e|--------0-------------0----------|--------2-------------2----------|--------0-------------0----------|--------3-------------3----------|
B|------1---1---------1---1--------|------3---3---------3---3--------|------0---0---------0---0--------|------0---0---------0---0--------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0------|----2-------2-----2-------2------|----0-------0-----0-------0------|----0-------0-----0-------0------|
D|--2-----------2------------------|--0-----------0------------------|--2-----------2------------------|--0-----------0------------------|
A|3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|2-------------------------------|-------------------------------2|
E|--------------------------------|---------------------------------|0-----------0-------------------|-3-----------3-------------------|
Is ba bhreá liom cara a bheith in éindí liom, mé ag fágáil amárach, beidh tú liom?
🎶 Performance Tips
Keep the thumb pulse steady (beats 1 and 3).
Use light touch on upper strings to give a flowing feel.
Let notes ring naturally — this song’s beauty is in the gentle sustain.
For live performance, alternate between fingerpicking in verses and strumming in chorus for dynamic contrast.
Amhrán na gCupán tin whistle notes
Amhrán na gCupán mandolin tab
The cup song sheet music and tin whistle notes
Irish / Gaeilge Ebook Of Songs For Tin Whistle. Price €6.90.
You'll be directed to the download page after payment.
All the songs have lyrics included.
You'll be directed to the download page after payment.
All the songs have lyrics included.
