Blood Stained Bandage Lyrics And Chords

Blood Stained Bandage Lyrics And Chords - Irish Rebel

Irish Rebel song lyrics and guitar chords, and the guitar chords by Marc Fahrbach. music 6/8. Another tribute to those men who gave their lives for their country and paid the ultimate price. The names mentioned in the song are just a handful of the men and women who took part in the Easter rising of 1916. There's several songs written about some of the men named in this ballad including Joseph Plunkett whom the Grace Song is all about. One of the leaders James Connolly got a song written about him anonymously, just like many of our ballads were written. It's the more famous of the James Connolly song lyrics that are here. There were several ballads written about Patrick Pearse but none included his brother Willie until relatively recent when the same two brothers who wrote the ballad Grace decided to write My Last Farewell Song and they were Sean And Frank O'Meara.

A (G)cold May mornin’ was breaking
Over (Am)Dublin’s dreary town
Six(D)teen brave men have fallen
To the rifles of the (G)crown
Because they’d loved their country
And (Am)served it night and day
But be(D)fore they faced the rifles
This is what those boys did (G)say

Chorus

Take a(G)way the blood-stained bandage
From (Am)off an Irish brow
We (D)fought and bled for Ireland
And we will not shirk it (G)now
We have held her in her struggle,
In an (Am)answer to her call
And be(D)cause we sought to free her
We are placed against a (G)wall

Ned (G)Daly, Heuston, Colbert
Mac(Am)Donagh and MacBride
Mac(D)Dermott and the brothers Kent
With Clarke and Plunkett (G)died
Mick Mallin, Pat and Willie Pearse
O’(Am)Hanrahan and Ceannt
And the (D)last of all James Connolly
this message to them (G)sent
Chorus twice

Chords in the key of D.

A (D)cold May mornin’ was breaking
Over (Em)Dublin’s dreary town
Six(A)teen brave men have fallen
To the rifles of the (D)crown
Because they’d loved their country
And (Em)served it night and day
But be(A)fore they faced the rifles
This is what those boys did (D)say

Chorus

Take a(D)way the blood-stained bandage
From (Em)off an Irish brow
We (A)fought and bled for Ireland
And we will not shirk it (D)now
We have held her in her struggle,
In an (Em)answer to her call
And be(A)cause we sought to free her
We are placed against a (D)wall

Ned (D)Daly, Heuston, Colbert
Mac(Em)Donagh and MacBride
Mac(A)Dermott and the brothers Kent
With Clarke and Plunkett (D)died
Mick Mallin, Pat and Willie Pearse
O’(Em)Hanrahan and Ceannt
And the (A)last of all James Connolly
this message to them (D)sent
Chorus twice

"Blood Stained Bandage" is a poignant and emotional Irish folk song that speaks to the sacrifice and suffering experienced during times of conflict, particularly in relation to Ireland's history of struggle for independence. It typically focuses on themes of pain, loss, and the human cost of war, often through the lens of a soldier or someone involved in the Irish revolutionary movements.

Meaning of the Song:

The Price of Freedom
- "Blood Stained Bandage" is often interpreted as a tribute to the men and women who fought for Irish freedom, particularly during the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921) and the Irish Civil War (1922–1923). The song highlights the physical and emotional scars left by the struggle, both on the individuals who fought and the broader nation. The "blood-stained bandage" symbolizes the visible and invisible wounds caused by the conflict.
Sacrifice and Suffering
- The song emphasizes the sacrifice made by the Irish people in the pursuit of independence. The "blood-stained bandage" serves as a symbol of the suffering endured by those who fought for their country. It speaks to the toll of war, not just on soldiers but also on their families and communities, who bear the emotional scars of lost loved ones.
Patriotism and Nationalism
- The song also touches on the themes of Irish nationalism, where the idea of fighting for one's homeland is both noble and tragic. It reflects the deeply ingrained sense of pride and duty among those who took part in the revolutionary struggle, even if the outcomes were fraught with personal and collective hardship.
The Tragic Reality of War
- While "Blood Stained Bandage" honors the bravery and dedication of those involved in the struggle for Irish freedom, it also underscores the tragic reality of war. The song doesn't glorify the violence or romanticize the conflict, but rather emphasizes the deep emotional pain that accompanies the physical battle.
Memory and Legacy
- The bandage can also be seen as a metaphor for the legacy left behind by the revolution. It reflects how the wounds of the past, both physical and psychological, are carried into the future, shaping the identity of those who come after. The song calls on future generations to remember the sacrifices made for the country’s independence.

Overall, "Blood Stained Bandage" is a solemn reminder of the costs of war, particularly in the context of Ireland’s fight for freedom. It emphasizes sacrifice, suffering, and the emotional burden of conflict, while also honoring the courage and determination of those who fought for their homeland.
Would you like to explore more Irish songs with similar themes of sacrifice and freedom, or would you prefer to dive deeper into the historical events referenced in the song?

Sixteen brave men were executed for their part
in the Easter uprising Dublin ireland 1916

Thomas Clarke 3 May 1916
Patrick Pearse 3 May 1916
Thomas MacDonagh 3 May 1916
Joseph Mary Plunkett 4 May 1916
Edward Daly 4 May 1916
Michael O'Hanrahan 4 May 1916
William Pearse 4 May 1916
John MacBride 5 May 1916
Con Colbert 8 May 1916
Eamonn Ceannt 8 May 1916
Michael Mallin 8 May 1916
Sean Heuston 8 May 1916
thomas kent 9 May 1916
james Connolly 12 May 1916
Sean MacDermott 12 May 1916
Roger Casment 3 August 1916