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 .
The Irish folk song, “Back Home In Derry”, has a rich history and enduring legacy that reflects the struggles and resilience of the Irish people. Composed by Bobby Sands, a political prisoner and member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), the song has become an anthem for the Irish diaspora and a symbol of their unbreakable spirit.
The origins of this song can be traced back to the 1970s, during the height of the conflict known as “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland. Sands, along with many other Irish nationalists, was incarcerated in Long Kesh prison for his involvement in the IRA. It was during his time in prison that he wrote the lyrics to “Back Home In Derry”. The song is a melancholic reflection of the longing and nostalgia for his hometown of Derry, a city in the North of Ireland.
The lyrics of the song are deeply evocative and filled with emotion, as Sands reminisces about the beauty and familiarity of his hometown. He describes the rolling hills and green fields, the winding river Foyle, and the bustling streets of Derry. He also mentions the tragic events of the Bloody Sunday massacre, a pivotal moment in the history of the conflict, which took place in Derry in 1972. Through his lyrics, Sands conveys the deep connection he has with his hometown and the pain of being separated from it.
The melody of “Back Home In Derry” is equally as poignant as the lyrics. The tune is based on an old Scottish folk song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”, which was popularized by the Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot. Sands adapted the melody to suit his lyrics, creating a haunting and mournful tune that has become synonymous with the song.
The song gained further recognition and popularity when it was performed by the renowned Irish musician, Christy Moore, at the 1981 Glastonbury Festival. Moore’s powerful rendition of “Back Home In Derry” brought the song to a global audience and cemented its place as a beloved Irish anthem.
In conclusion, “Back Home In Derry” is much more than just a folk song. It is a powerful representation of the Irish struggle for independence and a testament to the unbreakable bond between the Irish people and their homeland. Its enduring popularity and widespread recognition make it a significant piece of Irish heritage, and it will continue to hold a special place in the hearts of the Irish, both at home and abroad.
The origins of this song can be traced back to the 1970s, during the height of the conflict known as “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland. Sands, along with many other Irish nationalists, was incarcerated in Long Kesh prison for his involvement in the IRA. It was during his time in prison that he wrote the lyrics to “Back Home In Derry”. The song is a melancholic reflection of the longing and nostalgia for his hometown of Derry, a city in the North of Ireland.
The lyrics of the song are deeply evocative and filled with emotion, as Sands reminisces about the beauty and familiarity of his hometown. He describes the rolling hills and green fields, the winding river Foyle, and the bustling streets of Derry. He also mentions the tragic events of the Bloody Sunday massacre, a pivotal moment in the history of the conflict, which took place in Derry in 1972. Through his lyrics, Sands conveys the deep connection he has with his hometown and the pain of being separated from it.
The melody of “Back Home In Derry” is equally as poignant as the lyrics. The tune is based on an old Scottish folk song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”, which was popularized by the Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot. Sands adapted the melody to suit his lyrics, creating a haunting and mournful tune that has become synonymous with the song.
The song gained further recognition and popularity when it was performed by the renowned Irish musician, Christy Moore, at the 1981 Glastonbury Festival. Moore’s powerful rendition of “Back Home In Derry” brought the song to a global audience and cemented its place as a beloved Irish anthem.
In conclusion, “Back Home In Derry” is much more than just a folk song. It is a powerful representation of the Irish struggle for independence and a testament to the unbreakable bond between the Irish people and their homeland. Its enduring popularity and widespread recognition make it a significant piece of Irish heritage, and it will continue to hold a special place in the hearts of the Irish, both at home and abroad.
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
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
