Big Strong Man, Song Lyrics And Guitar Chords
The Wolfe Tones. The songwriter remains unknown but without The Wolfe Tones this song would hardly be known. Also recorded by The Blaggards, The Jolly Beggarmen, The Masterless Men, Darby O'Gill and Patsy Watchorn from The Dubliners. Big strong man sheet music lyrics and chords by The Wolfe Tones now included plus a pdf file for downloading.
Have[G] you heard about the big strong man,he lives in a cara[D]van,
Have you heard about the Jeffery Johnson fight,[D7]Oh what a hell of a[G] fight,
You[G] can take all the heavy weights you got,we got a lad who will beat the whole[D] lot,
He used to ring the bells in the bellfry,now he's going to fight Jack Dem[G]psey,
[Chorus]
[G]Was my brother Sylvest,whats he got,a row of forty medals on his[D] chest,big chest
He killed fifty bad men in the west,he knows no[G] rest,
Think of a man hells fire dont push just shove plenty of room for you and me,
He's got an arm like a leg,and a punch that would sink a battle[D] ship big ship,
It takes all the army and the navy,to put the wind up Syl[G]vest.
[2]
He thought he'd take a trip to Italy,he thought that he'd go by sea,
He jumped off the harbour in New Yory,he swam like a man made of cork,
He saw the Lusitania in distress,what he do,he put the Lusitania on his chest,
He drank all the water in the sea,then he walked all the way to Italy,
[3]
He thought he'd take a trip to old Japan,they turned out the whole brass band,
He played every instrument they got,like a lad sure he beat the whole lot,
Now the old church bells will ring,hells fire,the whole church choir will sing,
They all turned out to say farewell to my big brother Sylvest.
Have you heard about the Jeffery Johnson fight,[D7]Oh what a hell of a[G] fight,
You[G] can take all the heavy weights you got,we got a lad who will beat the whole[D] lot,
He used to ring the bells in the bellfry,now he's going to fight Jack Dem[G]psey,
[Chorus]
[G]Was my brother Sylvest,whats he got,a row of forty medals on his[D] chest,big chest
He killed fifty bad men in the west,he knows no[G] rest,
Think of a man hells fire dont push just shove plenty of room for you and me,
He's got an arm like a leg,and a punch that would sink a battle[D] ship big ship,
It takes all the army and the navy,to put the wind up Syl[G]vest.
[2]
He thought he'd take a trip to Italy,he thought that he'd go by sea,
He jumped off the harbour in New Yory,he swam like a man made of cork,
He saw the Lusitania in distress,what he do,he put the Lusitania on his chest,
He drank all the water in the sea,then he walked all the way to Italy,
[3]
He thought he'd take a trip to old Japan,they turned out the whole brass band,
He played every instrument they got,like a lad sure he beat the whole lot,
Now the old church bells will ring,hells fire,the whole church choir will sing,
They all turned out to say farewell to my big brother Sylvest.
The key you've provided is **G**, which is perfect for this song, as it keeps the melody bright and bouncy.
---
## 🎶 Chords for "The Big Strong Man"
The song uses a simple, driving I-V progression in the key of G (**G** and **D**), with a quick pass through **D7** to pull back to the G.
Have [G] you heard about the big strong man, he lives in a cara [D] van,
Have you heard about the Jeffrey Johnson fight, [D7] Oh what a hell of a [G] fight,
You [G] can take all the heavy weights you got, we got a lad who will beat the whole [D] lot,
He used to ring the bells in the belfry, now he's going to fight Jack Dem [G] psey,
[G] Was my brother Sylvest, what's he got, a row of forty medals on his [D] chest, big chest
He killed fifty bad men in the west, he knows no [G] rest,
Think of a man hell's fire don't push just shove, plenty of room for you and me,
He's got an arm like a leg, and a punch that would sink a battle [D] ship big ship,
It takes all the army and the navy, to put the wind up Syl [G] vest.
He [G] thought he'd take a trip to Italy, he thought that he'd go by [D] sea,
He jumped off the harbour in New York, [D7] he swam like a man made of [G] cork,
He [G] saw the Lusitania in distress, what'd he do, he put the Lusitania on his [D] chest,
He drank all the water in the sea, then he walked all the way to I [G] taly,
[G] Was my brother Sylvest, what's he got, a row of forty medals on his [D] chest, big chest
He killed fifty bad men in the west, he knows no [G] rest,
Think of a man hell's fire don't push just shove, plenty of room for you and me,
He's got an arm like a leg, and a punch that would sink a battle [D] ship big ship,
It takes all the army and the navy, to put the wind up Syl [G] vest.
He [G] thought he'd take a trip to old Japan, they turned out the whole brass [D] band,
He played every instrument they got, [D7] like a lad sure he beat the whole [G] lot,
Now the [G] old church bells will ring, hell's fire, the whole church choir will [D] sing,
They all turned out to say farewell to my big brother Syl [G] vest.
---
## 🎸 Strumming and Fingerpicking Patterns
### 1. Strumming Pattern
This song is usually played as a **quick, driving polka or reel** to match the energetic, exaggerated lyrics.
* **Pattern:** **$\downarrow$ $\downarrow \uparrow \uparrow \downarrow \uparrow$**
* **Counting:** **1** & **2** & **3** & **4** &
> **Tip:** Keep the beat light and bouncing. The **$\downarrow \uparrow$** on beat 2 and 4 gives it that characteristic folk/polka *oom-pah* feel.
### 2. Simple Fingerpicking Tab (Verse and Chorus)
A simple, effective fingerpicking pattern for this type of song is a steady, rhythmic **alternating bass** pattern.
Use your **Thumb (P)** for the bass notes (E, A, or D strings) and your **Index (i)**, **Middle (m)**, and **Ring (a)** fingers for the treble strings (G, B, and high E).
| Chord | Bass Note (P) | Fingers (i, m, a) | Pattern (per 4/4 measure) |
| :---: | :---: | :---: | :--- |
| **G** | Low E String (or D) | G, B, and High E Strings | P (i m a) P (i m a) |
| **D** | D String | G, B, and High E Strings | P (i m a) P (i m a) |
| **D7** | D String | G, B, and High E Strings | P (i m a) P (i m a) |
**Example of the rhythm on the first two lines:**
$$\text{G . . . G . . . G . . . G . . . D . . . D . . .}$$
$$\text{P(ima) P(ima) P(ima) P(ima) P(ima) P(ima)}$$
$$\text{D . . . D . . . D7 . . . D7 . . . G . . . G . . .}$$
$$\text{P(ima) P(ima) P(ima) P(ima) P(ima) P(ima)}$$
This is a continuous, alternating pattern that gives the song a forward, driving motion, even when fingerpicked.
---
Would you like me to find a **performance video** of this song so you can see the rhythm and chords being played?
---
## 🎶 Chords for "The Big Strong Man"
The song uses a simple, driving I-V progression in the key of G (**G** and **D**), with a quick pass through **D7** to pull back to the G.
Have [G] you heard about the big strong man, he lives in a cara [D] van,
Have you heard about the Jeffrey Johnson fight, [D7] Oh what a hell of a [G] fight,
You [G] can take all the heavy weights you got, we got a lad who will beat the whole [D] lot,
He used to ring the bells in the belfry, now he's going to fight Jack Dem [G] psey,
[G] Was my brother Sylvest, what's he got, a row of forty medals on his [D] chest, big chest
He killed fifty bad men in the west, he knows no [G] rest,
Think of a man hell's fire don't push just shove, plenty of room for you and me,
He's got an arm like a leg, and a punch that would sink a battle [D] ship big ship,
It takes all the army and the navy, to put the wind up Syl [G] vest.
He [G] thought he'd take a trip to Italy, he thought that he'd go by [D] sea,
He jumped off the harbour in New York, [D7] he swam like a man made of [G] cork,
He [G] saw the Lusitania in distress, what'd he do, he put the Lusitania on his [D] chest,
He drank all the water in the sea, then he walked all the way to I [G] taly,
[G] Was my brother Sylvest, what's he got, a row of forty medals on his [D] chest, big chest
He killed fifty bad men in the west, he knows no [G] rest,
Think of a man hell's fire don't push just shove, plenty of room for you and me,
He's got an arm like a leg, and a punch that would sink a battle [D] ship big ship,
It takes all the army and the navy, to put the wind up Syl [G] vest.
He [G] thought he'd take a trip to old Japan, they turned out the whole brass [D] band,
He played every instrument they got, [D7] like a lad sure he beat the whole [G] lot,
Now the [G] old church bells will ring, hell's fire, the whole church choir will [D] sing,
They all turned out to say farewell to my big brother Syl [G] vest.
---
## 🎸 Strumming and Fingerpicking Patterns
### 1. Strumming Pattern
This song is usually played as a **quick, driving polka or reel** to match the energetic, exaggerated lyrics.
* **Pattern:** **$\downarrow$ $\downarrow \uparrow \uparrow \downarrow \uparrow$**
* **Counting:** **1** & **2** & **3** & **4** &
> **Tip:** Keep the beat light and bouncing. The **$\downarrow \uparrow$** on beat 2 and 4 gives it that characteristic folk/polka *oom-pah* feel.
### 2. Simple Fingerpicking Tab (Verse and Chorus)
A simple, effective fingerpicking pattern for this type of song is a steady, rhythmic **alternating bass** pattern.
Use your **Thumb (P)** for the bass notes (E, A, or D strings) and your **Index (i)**, **Middle (m)**, and **Ring (a)** fingers for the treble strings (G, B, and high E).
| Chord | Bass Note (P) | Fingers (i, m, a) | Pattern (per 4/4 measure) |
| :---: | :---: | :---: | :--- |
| **G** | Low E String (or D) | G, B, and High E Strings | P (i m a) P (i m a) |
| **D** | D String | G, B, and High E Strings | P (i m a) P (i m a) |
| **D7** | D String | G, B, and High E Strings | P (i m a) P (i m a) |
**Example of the rhythm on the first two lines:**
$$\text{G . . . G . . . G . . . G . . . D . . . D . . .}$$
$$\text{P(ima) P(ima) P(ima) P(ima) P(ima) P(ima)}$$
$$\text{D . . . D . . . D7 . . . D7 . . . G . . . G . . .}$$
$$\text{P(ima) P(ima) P(ima) P(ima) P(ima) P(ima)}$$
This is a continuous, alternating pattern that gives the song a forward, driving motion, even when fingerpicked.
---
Would you like me to find a **performance video** of this song so you can see the rhythm and chords being played?
Here's the guitar chords in the key of D
Have[D] you heard about the big strong man,he lives in a cara[A]van,
Have you heard about the Jeffery Johnson fight,[A7]Oh what a hell of a[D] fight,
You[D] can take all the heavy weights you got,we got a lad who will beat the whole[A] lot,
He used to ring the bells in the bellfry,now he's going to fight Jack Dem[D]psey,
[D]Was my brother Sylvest,whats he got,a row of fourty medals on his[A] chest,big chest
He killed fifty bad men in the west,he knows no[D] rest,
Think of a man hells fire dont push just shove plenty of room for you and me,
He's got an arm like a leg,and a punch that would sink a battle[A] ship big ship,
It takes all the army and the navy,to put the wind up Syl[D]vest.
Back to The Wolfe Tones Songs
Have[D] you heard about the big strong man,he lives in a cara[A]van,
Have you heard about the Jeffery Johnson fight,[A7]Oh what a hell of a[D] fight,
You[D] can take all the heavy weights you got,we got a lad who will beat the whole[A] lot,
He used to ring the bells in the bellfry,now he's going to fight Jack Dem[D]psey,
[D]Was my brother Sylvest,whats he got,a row of fourty medals on his[A] chest,big chest
He killed fifty bad men in the west,he knows no[D] rest,
Think of a man hells fire dont push just shove plenty of room for you and me,
He's got an arm like a leg,and a punch that would sink a battle[A] ship big ship,
It takes all the army and the navy,to put the wind up Syl[D]vest.
Back to The Wolfe Tones Songs
The Wolfe Tones Ballad ''On The One Road Song''.
Big strong man lyrics by The Wolfe Tones
Big strong man sheet music lyrics and chords by The Wolfe Tones
| big_strong_man_c100.pdf |
Below is the list of sheet music and tin whistle songs that are in my ebooks. This is the largest collection of tin whistle songs ever put together.[over 800 songs ] Including folk, pop and trad tunes plus German And French songs along with Christmas Carols.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
