Back Home In Derry Song Lyrics And Chords
Written By Bobby Sands [ song lyrics ]. Original recording by Christy Moore. If you want to play along with Christy then you should play in the key of Gm.The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is the tune used for this folk song. I have given a version of his guitar chords also. Back Home In Derry Sheet Music Notes .
In[Am] 1803 we[Em] sailed out to sea
[G]Out from the [D]sweet town of [Am]Derry
For[Am] Australia bound if we[Em] didn't all drown
And the[G] marks of our[D] fetters we[Am carried
In our[Am] rusty iron chains we[Em] sighed for our wains
Our[G] good women[D] we left in[Am] sorrow
As the[Am] mainsails unfurled, our[Em] curses we hurled
On the[G] English, and[D] thoughts of to[Am]morrow
Chorus:[C]Oh..[G]... I[Am] wish I was[G] back home in[Am] Derry
[C]Oh..[G]... I [Am]wish I was[G] back home in[Am] Derry
At the mouth of the Foyle, bid farewell to the soil
As down below decks we were lying
O'Doherty screamed, woken out of a dream
By a vision of bold Robert [ lyrics ] dying
The sun burned cruel as we dished out the gruel
Dan O'Connor was down with a fever
Sixty rebels today bound for Botany Bay
How many will meet their receiver
Chorus:
I cursed them to hell as her bow fought the swell
Our ship danced like a moth in the firelight
White horse rode high as the devil passed by
Taking souls to Hades by twilight
Five weeks out to sea, we were now forty-three
Our comrades we buried each morning
In our own slime we were lost in a time
Of endless night without dawning
Chorus:
Van Diemen's land is a hell for a man
To live out his whole life in slavery
Where the climate is raw and the gun makes the law
Neither wind nor rain care for bravery
Twenty years have gone by, I've ended my bond
My comrades ghosts walk behind me
A rebel I came - I'm still the same
On the cold winters night you will find me
Chorus
[G]Out from the [D]sweet town of [Am]Derry
For[Am] Australia bound if we[Em] didn't all drown
And the[G] marks of our[D] fetters we[Am carried
In our[Am] rusty iron chains we[Em] sighed for our wains
Our[G] good women[D] we left in[Am] sorrow
As the[Am] mainsails unfurled, our[Em] curses we hurled
On the[G] English, and[D] thoughts of to[Am]morrow
Chorus:[C]Oh..[G]... I[Am] wish I was[G] back home in[Am] Derry
[C]Oh..[G]... I [Am]wish I was[G] back home in[Am] Derry
At the mouth of the Foyle, bid farewell to the soil
As down below decks we were lying
O'Doherty screamed, woken out of a dream
By a vision of bold Robert [ lyrics ] dying
The sun burned cruel as we dished out the gruel
Dan O'Connor was down with a fever
Sixty rebels today bound for Botany Bay
How many will meet their receiver
Chorus:
I cursed them to hell as her bow fought the swell
Our ship danced like a moth in the firelight
White horse rode high as the devil passed by
Taking souls to Hades by twilight
Five weeks out to sea, we were now forty-three
Our comrades we buried each morning
In our own slime we were lost in a time
Of endless night without dawning
Chorus:
Van Diemen's land is a hell for a man
To live out his whole life in slavery
Where the climate is raw and the gun makes the law
Neither wind nor rain care for bravery
Twenty years have gone by, I've ended my bond
My comrades ghosts walk behind me
A rebel I came - I'm still the same
On the cold winters night you will find me
Chorus
Verse 1 Chords for all verses.
[Am]In 1803 we [Em]sailed out to sea
[G]Out from the [D]sweet town of [Am]Derry
[Am]For Australia bound if we [Em]didn't all drown
And the [G]marks of our [D]fetters we [Am]carried
In our [Am]rusty iron chains we [Em]sighed for our wains
Our [G]good women [D]we left in [Am]sorrow
As the [Am]mainsails unfurled, our [Em]curses we hurled
On the [G]English, and [D]thoughts of to[Am]morrow
Chorus
[C]Oh... [G] I [Am]wish I was [G]back home in [Am]Derry
[C]Oh... [G] I [Am]wish I was [G]back home in [Am]Derry
Verse 2
At the [Am]mouth of the Foyle, bid [Em]farewell to the soil
As [G]down below [D]decks we were [Am]lying
O'[Am]Doherty screamed, woken [Em]out of a dream
By a [G]vision of [D]bold Robert [Am]dying
The [Am]sun burned cruel as we [Em]dished out the gruel
Dan O'[G]Connor was [D]down with a [Am]fever
Sixty [Am]rebels today bound for [Em]Botany Bay
How [G]many will [D]meet their re[Am]ceiver
Chorus
[C]Oh... [G] I [Am]wish I was [G]back home in [Am]Derry
[C]Oh... [G] I [Am]wish I was [G]back home in [Am]Derry
Verse 3
I [Am]cursed them to hell as her [Em]bow fought the swell
Our [G]ship danced like a [D]moth in the [Am]firelight
White [Am]horses rode high as the [Em]devil passed by
Taking [G]souls to [D]Hades by [Am]twilight
Five [Am]weeks out to sea, we were [Em]now forty-three
Our [G]comrades we [D]buried each [Am]morning
In our [Am]own slime we were [Em]lost in a time
Of [G]endless [D]night without [Am]dawning
Chorus
[C]Oh... [G] I [Am]wish I was [G]back home in [Am]Derry
[C]Oh... [G] I [Am]wish I was [G]back home in [Am]Derry
Verse 4
Van [Am]Diemen's land is a [Em]hell for a man
To [G]live out his [D]whole life in [Am]slavery
Where the [Am]climate is raw and the [Em]gun makes the law
Neither [G]wind nor [D]rain care for [Am]bravery
Twenty [Am]years have gone by, I've [Em]ended my bond
My [G]comrades’ ghosts [D]walk be[Am]hind me
A [Am]rebel I came – I'm [Em]still the same
On a [G]cold winter’s [D]night you will [Am]find me
Final Chorus
[C]Oh... [G] I [Am]wish I was [G]back home in [Am]Derry
[C]Oh... [G] I [Am]wish I was [G]back home in [Am]Derry
🎸 Strumming Pattern
This song works best in 4/4 time, medium tempo (around 85–95 BPM).
It’s a folk storytelling rhythm, steady and haunting.
➤ Main Strumming Pattern (4/4)
D – D U – U D U
(Down – Down Up – Up Down Up)
Count it as:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
🎧 Tip: Emphasize the 1st and 3rd beats for that “rolling rebel ballad” feel.
Alternate for softer verses:
D – D – D U
(use gentle downstrokes; let the bass notes ring)
💡 Performance Notes
For verses, play softly and steady — let the minor chords create tension.
For the chorus, strum stronger — it releases emotion.
Optional intro/turnaround:
| Am | Em | G | D | Am | — repeat twice, picking slowly.
A fingerpicked version (Travis-style alternating bass) also works beautifully for storytelling sets.
[Am]In 1803 we [Em]sailed out to sea
[G]Out from the [D]sweet town of [Am]Derry
[Am]For Australia bound if we [Em]didn't all drown
And the [G]marks of our [D]fetters we [Am]carried
In our [Am]rusty iron chains we [Em]sighed for our wains
Our [G]good women [D]we left in [Am]sorrow
As the [Am]mainsails unfurled, our [Em]curses we hurled
On the [G]English, and [D]thoughts of to[Am]morrow
Chorus
[C]Oh... [G] I [Am]wish I was [G]back home in [Am]Derry
[C]Oh... [G] I [Am]wish I was [G]back home in [Am]Derry
Verse 2
At the [Am]mouth of the Foyle, bid [Em]farewell to the soil
As [G]down below [D]decks we were [Am]lying
O'[Am]Doherty screamed, woken [Em]out of a dream
By a [G]vision of [D]bold Robert [Am]dying
The [Am]sun burned cruel as we [Em]dished out the gruel
Dan O'[G]Connor was [D]down with a [Am]fever
Sixty [Am]rebels today bound for [Em]Botany Bay
How [G]many will [D]meet their re[Am]ceiver
Chorus
[C]Oh... [G] I [Am]wish I was [G]back home in [Am]Derry
[C]Oh... [G] I [Am]wish I was [G]back home in [Am]Derry
Verse 3
I [Am]cursed them to hell as her [Em]bow fought the swell
Our [G]ship danced like a [D]moth in the [Am]firelight
White [Am]horses rode high as the [Em]devil passed by
Taking [G]souls to [D]Hades by [Am]twilight
Five [Am]weeks out to sea, we were [Em]now forty-three
Our [G]comrades we [D]buried each [Am]morning
In our [Am]own slime we were [Em]lost in a time
Of [G]endless [D]night without [Am]dawning
Chorus
[C]Oh... [G] I [Am]wish I was [G]back home in [Am]Derry
[C]Oh... [G] I [Am]wish I was [G]back home in [Am]Derry
Verse 4
Van [Am]Diemen's land is a [Em]hell for a man
To [G]live out his [D]whole life in [Am]slavery
Where the [Am]climate is raw and the [Em]gun makes the law
Neither [G]wind nor [D]rain care for [Am]bravery
Twenty [Am]years have gone by, I've [Em]ended my bond
My [G]comrades’ ghosts [D]walk be[Am]hind me
A [Am]rebel I came – I'm [Em]still the same
On a [G]cold winter’s [D]night you will [Am]find me
Final Chorus
[C]Oh... [G] I [Am]wish I was [G]back home in [Am]Derry
[C]Oh... [G] I [Am]wish I was [G]back home in [Am]Derry
🎸 Strumming Pattern
This song works best in 4/4 time, medium tempo (around 85–95 BPM).
It’s a folk storytelling rhythm, steady and haunting.
➤ Main Strumming Pattern (4/4)
D – D U – U D U
(Down – Down Up – Up Down Up)
Count it as:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
🎧 Tip: Emphasize the 1st and 3rd beats for that “rolling rebel ballad” feel.
Alternate for softer verses:
D – D – D U
(use gentle downstrokes; let the bass notes ring)
💡 Performance Notes
For verses, play softly and steady — let the minor chords create tension.
For the chorus, strum stronger — it releases emotion.
Optional intro/turnaround:
| Am | Em | G | D | Am | — repeat twice, picking slowly.
A fingerpicked version (Travis-style alternating bass) also works beautifully for storytelling sets.
Alternative Chord Aragement Below By David O'Neill
(Am) in 1803 we (C) sailed out to sea
(G) Out from the (D) sweet town of (Am)Derry
repeat pattern
(D) in our rusty iron chains we (em) cried for wains
(am) our good women we left in (em) sorrow
AS the (am) main sails unfurled the (C) curses we hurledon the (G) english and (D) thoughts of (Am).
(Am) in 1803 we (C) sailed out to sea
(G) Out from the (D) sweet town of (Am)Derry
repeat pattern
(D) in our rusty iron chains we (em) cried for wains
(am) our good women we left in (em) sorrow
AS the (am) main sails unfurled the (C) curses we hurledon the (G) english and (D) thoughts of (Am).
Here are the chords that Christy Moore plays.
In[Gm] 1803 we[Bb] sailed out to sea
[F]Out from the [C]sweet town of [Dm]Derry
For[Gm] Australia bound if we[Bb] didn't all drown
And the[F] marks of our[C] fetters we[Gm] carried
In our[C] rusty iron chains we[Bb] sighed for our wains
Our[C] good women we left in[Dm] sorrow
As the[Gm] mainsails unfurled, our[Bb] curses we hurled
On the[F] English, and[C] thoughts of to[Gm]morrow
Chorus:[Bb]Oh oh oh [F]oh I[Gm] wish I was[F] back home in[Gm] Derry
[Bb]Oh oh oh [F]oh I [Gm]wish I was[F] back home in[Fm] Derry
In[Gm] 1803 we[Bb] sailed out to sea
[F]Out from the [C]sweet town of [Dm]Derry
For[Gm] Australia bound if we[Bb] didn't all drown
And the[F] marks of our[C] fetters we[Gm] carried
In our[C] rusty iron chains we[Bb] sighed for our wains
Our[C] good women we left in[Dm] sorrow
As the[Gm] mainsails unfurled, our[Bb] curses we hurled
On the[F] English, and[C] thoughts of to[Gm]morrow
Chorus:[Bb]Oh oh oh [F]oh I[Gm] wish I was[F] back home in[Gm] Derry
[Bb]Oh oh oh [F]oh I [Gm]wish I was[F] back home in[Fm] Derry
When Bobby wrote this he called it 'The Voyage.
This is what Christy Moore says about how he came about the song.
I was playing in Derry and staying with The Barrett Family. After my gig we were gathered in Chamberlain St having a banter and drinking tea when a bit of singing broke out. A lad, just home from The H-Blocks of Long Kesh [ song ], sang these verses and subsequently wrote out the words for me. At the time the name Bobby Sands was not known to the world as it is today. The following night I played in Bellaghy where the same process took place when I stayed with Scullion. Later on he "sang" McIlhatton for me and told me it had been written by Bobby Sands with whom he had shared a cell while "On the Blanket". The name was becoming known to me.
He used the air of The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald from Gordon Lightfoot, an air which I suspect has earlier origins. My version of Bobby's song is shorter than the original.
This is what Christy Moore says about how he came about the song.
I was playing in Derry and staying with The Barrett Family. After my gig we were gathered in Chamberlain St having a banter and drinking tea when a bit of singing broke out. A lad, just home from The H-Blocks of Long Kesh [ song ], sang these verses and subsequently wrote out the words for me. At the time the name Bobby Sands was not known to the world as it is today. The following night I played in Bellaghy where the same process took place when I stayed with Scullion. Later on he "sang" McIlhatton for me and told me it had been written by Bobby Sands with whom he had shared a cell while "On the Blanket". The name was becoming known to me.
He used the air of The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald from Gordon Lightfoot, an air which I suspect has earlier origins. My version of Bobby's song is shorter than the original.
Below is the list of songs in the Christy Moore pdf song book. Over 50 of Christy's greatest songs
with sheet music and tin whistle notes. Price €8.75. Back home in Derry included.
with sheet music and tin whistle notes. Price €8.75. Back home in Derry included.
Bobby Sands wrote Back Home In Derry
Here’s a detailed look at “Back Home in Derry”, one of the most powerful and enduring Irish folk ballads of the 20th century. It’s a song that blends political protest, historical storytelling, and haunting poetry, born from the tragic yet defiant pen of Bobby Sands, and immortalized in performance by Christy Moore. 🇮🇪
🍀 Back Home in Derry
Lyrics by: Bobby Sands (1954–1981)
Music by: Traditional – adapted from The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot
Popularized by: Christy Moore (album Ride On, 1984)
Genre: Irish folk / rebel ballad
Themes: Exile, injustice, endurance, freedom, Irish nationalism
✍️ Background and Origins
Bobby Sands was an Irish republican and member of the Provisional IRA, who became internationally known during the 1981 Hunger Strike in Northern Ireland, during which he died in prison.
While imprisoned in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh (Maze Prison), Sands wrote poetry and song lyrics to keep his spirit alive.
“Back Home in Derry” is one of his most famous creations, written in 1979, two years before his death.
The song tells the story of Irish rebels transported as convicts to Australia in 1803 — a historical event that Sands used as an allegory for his own imprisonment and the wider struggle of Irish people against oppression.
