Bells Over Belfast lyrics and chords
An Irish Christmas folk song by The Irish Rovers. The Guitar chords by Marc Fahrbach. Belles over Belfast sheet music is included. The song was written by George Miller.
BELLS OVER BELFAST 2/4. The tin whistle notes are included in a PDF.
BELLS OVER BELFAST 2/4. The tin whistle notes are included in a PDF.
Intro:
Bells
G-C-D-G
G-C-D-G
G-G-G-G
The (G)Antrim (D)hills are (C)dark and (G)still
And the (C)snow is (D7)tum'blin (G)down
This Christmas time there's (D)hope a(Em)gain
For (C)all in Belfast (D7)town
With (G)love and under(D)standing
We'll (C)find a better (D)way
The (G)gift of (D)peace is (C)ours (D)now
(C)Upon this (D)Christmas (G)Day
Chorus
(G)Bells over (C)Belfast- how (D)merrily they (G)play
Peace and joy be (C)with you (D)on this Christmas (G)Day
C-D-D7-D7-C-D-G
A (G)star of (D)light did (C)fill the (G)night
(C)Many (D7)years a(G)go
When the maji found the (D)blessed (Em)child
Who (C)set our hearts a(D7)glow
And (G)since that day of (D)wonder
We'll (C)live forever (D)more
We (G)hail the (D)newborn (C)King of (D)Kings
Who (C)opened (D)Heaven's (G)door
Chorus
C-D-D7-D7-C-D-G
We'll (G)dance and (D)sing the (C)new year (G)in
And (C)share a (D7)cup of (G)cheer
And drink to health and (D)happi(Em)ness
Through(C)out the coming (D7)year
We'll (G)put our differences a(D)side
Our (C)trouble's all be(D)hind
And (G)drink a (D)cup o' (C)kindness (D)yet
For (C)days of "(D)auld lang (G)sine"
Chorus twice
C-D-D7-D7-C-D-G
Bells
G-C-D-G
G-C-D-G à Repeat several times, then slowly fading out.
Here are alternative guitar chords for the key of D Major.
The (D)Antrim (A)hills are (G)dark and (D)still
And the (G)snow is (A7)tum'blin (D)down
This Christmas time there's (A)hope a(Bm)gain
For (G)all in Belfast (A7)town
With (D)love and under(A)standing
We'll (G)find a better (A)way
The (D)gift of (A)peace is (G)ours (A)now
(G)Upon this (A)Christmas (D)Day
Chorus
(D)Bells over (G)Belfast- how (A)merrily they (D)play
Peace and joy be (G)with you (A)on this Christmas (D)Day
A (D)star of (A)light did (G)fill the (D)night
(G)Many (A7)years a(D)go
When the maji found the (A)blessed (Bm)child
Who (G)set our hearts a(A7)glow
And (D)since that day of (A)wonder
We'll (G)live forever (A)more
We (D)hail the (A)newborn (G)King of (A)Kings
Who (G)opened (A)Heaven's (D)door
The (D)Antrim (A)hills are (G)dark and (D)still
And the (G)snow is (A7)tum'blin (D)down
This Christmas time there's (A)hope a(Bm)gain
For (G)all in Belfast (A7)town
With (D)love and under(A)standing
We'll (G)find a better (A)way
The (D)gift of (A)peace is (G)ours (A)now
(G)Upon this (A)Christmas (D)Day
Chorus
(D)Bells over (G)Belfast- how (A)merrily they (D)play
Peace and joy be (G)with you (A)on this Christmas (D)Day
A (D)star of (A)light did (G)fill the (D)night
(G)Many (A7)years a(D)go
When the maji found the (A)blessed (Bm)child
Who (G)set our hearts a(A7)glow
And (D)since that day of (A)wonder
We'll (G)live forever (A)more
We (D)hail the (A)newborn (G)King of (A)Kings
Who (G)opened (A)Heaven's (D)door
🎶 Bells Over Belfast (Christmas Day)Key: G | Tempo: ♩ = 75 | Time: 4/4 | Style: Gentle Folk / Christmas Ballad
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4)↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ 1 2 & & 4 & Thumb plays bass note on beats 1 and 3,
soft brush or pick for beats 2 and 4.
Fingerpicking pattern:
T – I – M – I (Thumb–Index–Middle–Index)
(Keep the flow gentle and even.)
🌨️ Verse 1
The (G)Antrim (D)hills are (C)dark and (G)still
And the (C)snow is (D7)tum'blin (G)down
e|-------3-----------2-----------0-----------3-----------0-----------2----|
B|-----0---0-------3---3-------1---1-------0---0-------1---1-------1---1--|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---2-------2|
D|--0-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------0----------|
A|--2------------------------3------------------------3--------------------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G D C G C D7 G
This Christmas time there's (D)hope a(Em)gain
For (C)all in Belfast (D7)town
e|-------2-----------0-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------1----|
B|-----3---3-------0---0-------1---1-------1---1-------1---1-------1---1--|
G|---2-------2---0-------0---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2|
D|--0-----------2-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------0----------|
A|--------------2-----------3------------------------3--------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------3----------------------|
D Em C D7 C D7
With (G)love and under(D)standing
We'll (C)find a better (D)way
e|-------3-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------2----|
B|-----0---0-------3---3-------1---1-------3---3-------1---1-------3---3--|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2|
D|--0-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------0----------|
A|--2------------------------3------------------------3--------------------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G D C D C D
The (G)gift of (D)peace is (C)ours (D)now
(C)Upon this (D)Christmas (G)Day
e|-------3-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------3----|
B|-----0---0-------3---3-------1---1-------3---3-------1---1-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---0-------0|
D|--0-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------0----------|
A|--2------------------------3------------------------3--------------------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G D C D C G
🔔 Chorus
(G)Bells over (C)Belfast - how (D)merrily they (G)play
Peace and joy be (C)with you (D)on this Christmas (G)Day
e|-------3-----------0-----------2-----------3-----------0-----------3----|
B|-----0---0-------1---1-------3---3-------0---0-------1---1-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0|
D|--0-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------2-----------0----------|
A|--2-----------3------------------------2-----------3--------------------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G C D G C D G
🎵 Chord Reference
G 320003
D xx0232
D7 xx0212
C x32010
Em 022000
☘️ Performance Tips
Keep a steady, lilting 4/4 rhythm — imagine church bells echoing over the hills.
Alternate your thumb bass (root–fifth) on G and C for a soft sway.
Let open strings ring for warmth and space.
For the chorus, open your strumming to make it sound brighter and more “celebratory.”
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4)↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ 1 2 & & 4 & Thumb plays bass note on beats 1 and 3,
soft brush or pick for beats 2 and 4.
Fingerpicking pattern:
T – I – M – I (Thumb–Index–Middle–Index)
(Keep the flow gentle and even.)
🌨️ Verse 1
The (G)Antrim (D)hills are (C)dark and (G)still
And the (C)snow is (D7)tum'blin (G)down
e|-------3-----------2-----------0-----------3-----------0-----------2----|
B|-----0---0-------3---3-------1---1-------0---0-------1---1-------1---1--|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---2-------2|
D|--0-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------0----------|
A|--2------------------------3------------------------3--------------------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G D C G C D7 G
This Christmas time there's (D)hope a(Em)gain
For (C)all in Belfast (D7)town
e|-------2-----------0-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------1----|
B|-----3---3-------0---0-------1---1-------1---1-------1---1-------1---1--|
G|---2-------2---0-------0---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2|
D|--0-----------2-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------0----------|
A|--------------2-----------3------------------------3--------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------3----------------------|
D Em C D7 C D7
With (G)love and under(D)standing
We'll (C)find a better (D)way
e|-------3-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------2----|
B|-----0---0-------3---3-------1---1-------3---3-------1---1-------3---3--|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2|
D|--0-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------0----------|
A|--2------------------------3------------------------3--------------------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G D C D C D
The (G)gift of (D)peace is (C)ours (D)now
(C)Upon this (D)Christmas (G)Day
e|-------3-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------3----|
B|-----0---0-------3---3-------1---1-------3---3-------1---1-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---0-------0|
D|--0-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------0----------|
A|--2------------------------3------------------------3--------------------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G D C D C G
🔔 Chorus
(G)Bells over (C)Belfast - how (D)merrily they (G)play
Peace and joy be (C)with you (D)on this Christmas (G)Day
e|-------3-----------0-----------2-----------3-----------0-----------3----|
B|-----0---0-------1---1-------3---3-------0---0-------1---1-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0|
D|--0-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------2-----------0----------|
A|--2-----------3------------------------2-----------3--------------------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G C D G C D G
🎵 Chord Reference
G 320003
D xx0232
D7 xx0212
C x32010
Em 022000
☘️ Performance Tips
Keep a steady, lilting 4/4 rhythm — imagine church bells echoing over the hills.
Alternate your thumb bass (root–fifth) on G and C for a soft sway.
Let open strings ring for warmth and space.
For the chorus, open your strumming to make it sound brighter and more “celebratory.”
Bells Over Belfast Sheet Music
Bells over Belfast sheet music in G Major
