Billy Reid lyrics and guitar chords
The Ballad Of Billy Reid is an Irish rebel song- Billy Reid was a member of the 3th battalion of the Belfast brigade of the Provisional I.R.A. and was shot dead on 15 may 1971 during a gun battle with the British army 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 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.
