Bobby Sands From Belfast lyrics and guitar chords

Written by Gerry O'Glacain From The Irish Brigade [ songs ], a mighty ballad group. and a great bunch of musicians. The photo is of the plot at Glasnevin Cemetery Dublin is dedicated to those who died on Hunger strike in Ireland. There are several ballads written about Bobby on the site, another is simply named Bobby Sands [ lyrics ]

Now [G] Irishmen Remember well,
[D] Our heroes who in battle fell,
And [C] those who died in [G] prison cells,
Like [D] Bobby Sands from [C] Bel[G]fast.
 
An Irish soldier to the last,
A criminal he would not be classed,
And so began the long death-fast,
Of Bobby Sands from Belfast.
 
So proud Brittannia hide your face,
Throughout the world you are disgraced,
How many more must take the place,
Of Bobby Sands from Belfast.
 
The gallant Hughes from Derry's hills,
He fought till death 'twas the tyrant's will,
O'Hara and McCreesh you killed,
Like Bobby Sands from Belfast.
 
And the world will never understand,
Why you deny their just demands,
A lingering death was your heartless plan,
For those like Sands from Belfast.
 
Now Brttannia all the world must know,
How England treats a helpless foe,
Your British justice it is laid low,
Like Bobby Sands from Belfast.
 
So proud Brittannia hide your face,
Throughout the world you are disgraced,
How many more must take the place,
Of Bobby Sands from Belfast.

​🎸 A strumming pattern in G major (folk ballad feel)

🎶 A fingerpicking tab for all the verse lines, with lyrics aligned under the picking so you can play and sing naturally.

🎵 Song: Now Irishmen Remember Well (G Major)

Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~80 BPM
Time: 4/4

1. 🎸 Strumming Pattern

A gentle folk-style down–up rhythm fits perfectly for this kind of song.

Pattern (per measure):

↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑

Counting:

1 2& &4&

Use light downstrokes on beats 1 & 3 (thumb or soft pick), and keep a steady, flowing motion.

Optional:

Play softer for verses,

Stronger for choruses or last lines (like “Belfast”).

2. 🎶 Fingerpicking Tab (Full Verse with Lyrics Aligned)

Picking style: Travis/folk pattern

T (thumb) alternates between bass strings,
I (index) plays the G string,
M (middle) plays the B string.

Picking pattern (per chord):

Bass → G → D → B (repeat)

Verse Fingerpicking Arrangement
   G
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
 Now  Irishmen  re - mem - ber  well,

   D
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--2-------------|--2-------------|
 Our  heroes  who  in  bat - tle  fell,

   C                               G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
 And  those  who  died  in  pri - son  cells,

   D                              C              G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------1---------|------0---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|----------------|
E|--2-------------|--2-------------|----------------|--3-------------|
 Like  Bob - by  Sands  from  Bel - fast.

💡 Performance Tips

Keep the thumb alternating steadily:

G → (6th & 4th strings)

D → (4th & 3rd strings)

C → (5th & 4th strings)

Lightly mute the bass with your palm for a warm tone.

Let treble strings ring through — it creates that soft Irish folk atmosphere.

You can end each verse by strumming once on the final G chord for emphasis.

Here's the guitar chords for the key of D
Now [D] Irishmen Remember well,
[A] Our heroes who in battle fell,
And [G] those who died in [D] prison cells,
Like [A] Bobby Sands from [G] Bel[D]fast.

Chords in the key of C Major
Now [C] Irishmen Remember well,
[G] Our heroes who in battle fell,
And [F] those who died in [C] prison cells,
Like [G] Bobby Sands from [F] Bel[C]fast.

Hunger strikers plot at Glasnevin cemetery Dublin

Bobby Sands from Belfast