Billy Reid lyrics and guitar chords
The Ballad Of Billy Reid Song Lyrics And Easy To Play Guitar Chords, is an Irish rebel song. The 4 string tenor banjo chords along with the 5 string chords are included. Billy Reid was a member of the 3th battalion of the Belfast brigade [ song ] of the Provisional I.R.A. and was shot dead on 15 may 1971 during a gun battle with the British army [ song ] in Academy St Belfast He was 32 years of age. The video is myself singing Billy Reid which was written by Brian Lyons. Also recorded by The Wolfe Tones, The Barleycorn Spirit Of Freedom and Shebeen. Chords are suited for playing on the mandolin.
Well[D] I'll sing you a song of a[G] terribly wrong
When the[D] flags they flew at half[A] mast
Of a[D] man he lay dead he was[G] riddled with[D] led
And he died on the[A] streets of Bel[D]fast
[Chorus]
All the[G] radio said there's[D] another[A] shot[D] dead
And he died with a gun in his[A] hand
But they[D] didn't say why Billy[G] Reid had to[D] die
For he died to[A] free Ire[D]land.
It happened one day while the bold I.R.A
They went out to fight for our land
With an old Thompson , got the troops on the run
And return to their homes was their plan
While returning the guns Billy met British huns
And when the fight had begun
His position was dire and his gun wouldn't
So he died with that old thompson gun
Although he lay dead he was kicked in the head
By the hair they dragged him around
But they still fear him yet and never forget
How brave Billy Reid stood his ground
If you think he was wright come and join in the fight
And help to free Belfast
Cause the blood that he shed although he was dead
In our hearts sure his memory will last
When the[D] flags they flew at half[A] mast
Of a[D] man he lay dead he was[G] riddled with[D] led
And he died on the[A] streets of Bel[D]fast
[Chorus]
All the[G] radio said there's[D] another[A] shot[D] dead
And he died with a gun in his[A] hand
But they[D] didn't say why Billy[G] Reid had to[D] die
For he died to[A] free Ire[D]land.
It happened one day while the bold I.R.A
They went out to fight for our land
With an old Thompson , got the troops on the run
And return to their homes was their plan
While returning the guns Billy met British huns
And when the fight had begun
His position was dire and his gun wouldn't
So he died with that old thompson gun
Although he lay dead he was kicked in the head
By the hair they dragged him around
But they still fear him yet and never forget
How brave Billy Reid stood his ground
If you think he was wright come and join in the fight
And help to free Belfast
Cause the blood that he shed although he was dead
In our hearts sure his memory will last
🎸 — here’s the intro and outro TAB for “Billy Reid” in D major, written to match the strumming rhythm and style (Down ↓ Down ↓ Up ↑ Down ↑ Up ↓).
It keeps the same driving pulse as the verses and can loop seamlessly.
🎶 Intro TAB (2 bars)
Key: D Major – slow, strong strum feel
D G D A7
e|--2----2----2--0--3----3----3--2--2----2----2--0--0----0----0--0-|
B|--3----3----3--3--0----0----0--3--3----3----3--2--2----2----2--2-|
G|--2----2----2--0--0----0----0--2--2----2----2--0--0----0----0--0-|
D|--0----0----0-----0----0----0----0----0----0----2----2----2--2--|
A|-------------------2----2----2---------------------0----0----0---|
E|-------------------3----3----3-------------------------------0---|
Play this once through with a steady Down–Down-Up–Up-Down-Up groove.
Emphasize the bass note (root of each chord) on beat 1 for that marching feel.
🎶 Outro TAB (2 bars)
End cleanly on D major with a ringing final chord
G A7 D
e|--3----3----3--3--0----0----0--0--2---2---2---2---|
B|--0----0----0--0--2----2----2--2--3---3---3---3---|
G|--0----0----0--0--0----0----0--0--2---2---2---2---|
D|--0----0----0--0--2----2----2--2--0---0---0---0---|
A|--2----2----2--2--0----0----0--0------------------|
E|--3----3----3--3-----------------------------------|
Let the last D chord ring for 2 full measures (count 1…2…3…4 twice).
If you want a “live pub” ending — strum the D once more and shout “Billy Reid!”
It keeps the same driving pulse as the verses and can loop seamlessly.
🎶 Intro TAB (2 bars)
Key: D Major – slow, strong strum feel
D G D A7
e|--2----2----2--0--3----3----3--2--2----2----2--0--0----0----0--0-|
B|--3----3----3--3--0----0----0--3--3----3----3--2--2----2----2--2-|
G|--2----2----2--0--0----0----0--2--2----2----2--0--0----0----0--0-|
D|--0----0----0-----0----0----0----0----0----0----2----2----2--2--|
A|-------------------2----2----2---------------------0----0----0---|
E|-------------------3----3----3-------------------------------0---|
Play this once through with a steady Down–Down-Up–Up-Down-Up groove.
Emphasize the bass note (root of each chord) on beat 1 for that marching feel.
🎶 Outro TAB (2 bars)
End cleanly on D major with a ringing final chord
G A7 D
e|--3----3----3--3--0----0----0--0--2---2---2---2---|
B|--0----0----0--0--2----2----2--2--3---3---3---3---|
G|--0----0----0--0--0----0----0--0--2---2---2---2---|
D|--0----0----0--0--2----2----2--2--0---0---0---0---|
A|--2----2----2--2--0----0----0--0------------------|
E|--3----3----3--3-----------------------------------|
Let the last D chord ring for 2 full measures (count 1…2…3…4 twice).
If you want a “live pub” ending — strum the D once more and shout “Billy Reid!”
Here’s your full song with chords on every verse and a strumming pattern that fits the marching rebel ballad style of “Billy Reid.”
🎵 Billy Reid
Key: D Major
Strumming Pattern:
(Down ↓ Down ↓ Up ↑ Down ↑ Up ↓) — steady 4/4 rhythm.
Think: Down Down-Up, Up-Down-Up
Accent beats 1 and 3 for that driving folk pulse.
Verse 1
Well [D] I'll sing you a song of a [G] terribly wrong
When the [D] flags they flew at half [A] mast
Of a [D] man he lay dead, he was [G] riddled with [D] lead
And he died on the [A] streets of Bel [D] fast
Chorus
All the [G] radio said there's [D] another [A] shot [D] dead
And he died with a gun in his [A] hand
But they [D] didn't say why Billy [G] Reid had to [D] die
For he died to [A] free Ire [D] land
Verse 2
It [D] happened one day while the [G] bold I.R.A
They went [D] out to fight for our [A] land
With an [D] old Thompson gun, got the [G] troops on the [D] run
And returned to their [A] homes was their [D] plan
Chorus
All the [G] radio said there's [D] another [A] shot [D] dead
And he died with a gun in his [A] hand
But they [D] didn't say why Billy [G] Reid had to [D] die
For he died to [A] free Ire [D] land
Verse 3
While [D] returning the guns Billy [G] met British huns
And when the [D] fight had begun
His [D] position was dire and his [G] gun wouldn’t [D] fire
So he died with that [A] old Thompson [D] gun
Chorus
All the [G] radio said there's [D] another [A] shot [D] dead
And he died with a gun in his [A] hand
But they [D] didn't say why Billy [G] Reid had to [D] die
For he died to [A] free Ire [D] land
Verse 4
Al [D] though he lay dead, he was [G] kicked in the head
By the [D] hair they dragged him a [A] round
But they [D] still fear him yet and they [G] never for [D] get
How brave Billy [A] Reid stood his [D] ground
Chorus
All the [G] radio said there's [D] another [A] shot [D] dead
And he died with a gun in his [A] hand
But they [D] didn't say why Billy [G] Reid had to [D] die
For he died to [A] free Ire [D] land
Verse 5
If you [D] think he was right, come and [G] join in the fight
And [D] help to free Bel [A] fast
'Cause the [D] blood that he shed, although [G] he was [D] dead
In our hearts sure his [A] mem'ry will [D] last
Final Chorus
All the [G] radio said there's [D] another [A] shot [D] dead
And he died with a gun in his [A] hand
But they [D] didn't say why Billy [G] Reid had to [D] die
For he died to [A] free Ire [D] land
🎵 Billy Reid
Key: D Major
Strumming Pattern:
(Down ↓ Down ↓ Up ↑ Down ↑ Up ↓) — steady 4/4 rhythm.
Think: Down Down-Up, Up-Down-Up
Accent beats 1 and 3 for that driving folk pulse.
Verse 1
Well [D] I'll sing you a song of a [G] terribly wrong
When the [D] flags they flew at half [A] mast
Of a [D] man he lay dead, he was [G] riddled with [D] lead
And he died on the [A] streets of Bel [D] fast
Chorus
All the [G] radio said there's [D] another [A] shot [D] dead
And he died with a gun in his [A] hand
But they [D] didn't say why Billy [G] Reid had to [D] die
For he died to [A] free Ire [D] land
Verse 2
It [D] happened one day while the [G] bold I.R.A
They went [D] out to fight for our [A] land
With an [D] old Thompson gun, got the [G] troops on the [D] run
And returned to their [A] homes was their [D] plan
Chorus
All the [G] radio said there's [D] another [A] shot [D] dead
And he died with a gun in his [A] hand
But they [D] didn't say why Billy [G] Reid had to [D] die
For he died to [A] free Ire [D] land
Verse 3
While [D] returning the guns Billy [G] met British huns
And when the [D] fight had begun
His [D] position was dire and his [G] gun wouldn’t [D] fire
So he died with that [A] old Thompson [D] gun
Chorus
All the [G] radio said there's [D] another [A] shot [D] dead
And he died with a gun in his [A] hand
But they [D] didn't say why Billy [G] Reid had to [D] die
For he died to [A] free Ire [D] land
Verse 4
Al [D] though he lay dead, he was [G] kicked in the head
By the [D] hair they dragged him a [A] round
But they [D] still fear him yet and they [G] never for [D] get
How brave Billy [A] Reid stood his [D] ground
Chorus
All the [G] radio said there's [D] another [A] shot [D] dead
And he died with a gun in his [A] hand
But they [D] didn't say why Billy [G] Reid had to [D] die
For he died to [A] free Ire [D] land
Verse 5
If you [D] think he was right, come and [G] join in the fight
And [D] help to free Bel [A] fast
'Cause the [D] blood that he shed, although [G] he was [D] dead
In our hearts sure his [A] mem'ry will [D] last
Final Chorus
All the [G] radio said there's [D] another [A] shot [D] dead
And he died with a gun in his [A] hand
But they [D] didn't say why Billy [G] Reid had to [D] die
For he died to [A] free Ire [D] land
Here's the guitar chords in the key of G.
The youtube version is in D
Well[G] I'll sing you a song of a[C] terribly wrong
When the[G] flags they flew at half[D] mast
Of a[G] man he lay dead he was[C] riddled with[G] led
And he died on the[D] streets of Bel[G]fast
All the[C] radio said there's[G] another[D] shot[G] dead
And he died with a gun in his[D] hand
But they[G] didn't say why Billy[C] Reid had to[G] die
For he died to[D] free Ire[G]land.
The youtube version is in D
Well[G] I'll sing you a song of a[C] terribly wrong
When the[G] flags they flew at half[D] mast
Of a[G] man he lay dead he was[C] riddled with[G] led
And he died on the[D] streets of Bel[G]fast
All the[C] radio said there's[G] another[D] shot[G] dead
And he died with a gun in his[D] hand
But they[G] didn't say why Billy[C] Reid had to[G] die
For he died to[D] free Ire[G]land.
Billy Reid lyrics
