Bold Robert Emmet lyrics and chords
A traditional ballad recorded by The Dublin City Ramblers and The Clancy Brothers. Robert Emmet was hung drawn and quartered in Thomas Street Dublin on September 1803. The last verse of the song was written by Alan P. Barrett in 2014 and incorporates perhaps the most telling remark, from his speech from the dock. The tin whistle sheet music is included along with the piano keyboard music letter notes.
The[D] struggle is[G] over the[D] boys were de[A7]feated
Old[D] Ireland sur[A7]rounded by[D] sadness and[G] gloom
We[D] were de[A7]feated and[D] shamefully[A7] treated
And[D] I Robert[G] Emmet a[A7]waiting my[D] doom
[Chorus]
[D]Bold Robert [G]Emmet the [D]darling of [A7]Erin
[D]Bold Robert [A7]Emmet he'll [D]die with a [G]smile
[D]Farewell com[A7]panions both [D]loyal and [A7]daring
I'll [D]lay down my [G]life for the [A7]Emerald [D]Isle
Hung drawn and quartered sure that was my sentence
But soon I will show them no coward am I
My crime was the love of a land I was born
A hero I lived and a hero I'll die
I was arrested and cased into prison
Tried as a traitor a rebel a spy
But no one can call me a knave or a coward
For a hero I lived and a hero I'll die
Hark the bells tolling I well know the meaning
My poor heart tells me it is my death knell
In come the clergy the warden is leading
I have no friends here to bid me farewell
So good bye to old Ireland my parents and sweetheart
Companions in arms to forget you must try
I was proud of the honour it was only my duty
A hero I lived and a hero I'll die.
Erin, mo mhuirnin, my love and my country!
Ireland, my Ireland [ song ], though dead I shall be
Hear now the words of my final oration:
Write me no epitaph ‘til my country is free!.
Old[D] Ireland sur[A7]rounded by[D] sadness and[G] gloom
We[D] were de[A7]feated and[D] shamefully[A7] treated
And[D] I Robert[G] Emmet a[A7]waiting my[D] doom
[Chorus]
[D]Bold Robert [G]Emmet the [D]darling of [A7]Erin
[D]Bold Robert [A7]Emmet he'll [D]die with a [G]smile
[D]Farewell com[A7]panions both [D]loyal and [A7]daring
I'll [D]lay down my [G]life for the [A7]Emerald [D]Isle
Hung drawn and quartered sure that was my sentence
But soon I will show them no coward am I
My crime was the love of a land I was born
A hero I lived and a hero I'll die
I was arrested and cased into prison
Tried as a traitor a rebel a spy
But no one can call me a knave or a coward
For a hero I lived and a hero I'll die
Hark the bells tolling I well know the meaning
My poor heart tells me it is my death knell
In come the clergy the warden is leading
I have no friends here to bid me farewell
So good bye to old Ireland my parents and sweetheart
Companions in arms to forget you must try
I was proud of the honour it was only my duty
A hero I lived and a hero I'll die.
Erin, mo mhuirnin, my love and my country!
Ireland, my Ireland [ song ], though dead I shall be
Hear now the words of my final oration:
Write me no epitaph ‘til my country is free!.
Drawing Of Robert Emmet
Bold Robert Emmet
🎵 Bold Robert Emmet
Key: G Major
Time Signature: 3/4 (slow waltz time)
Tempo: ♩ = 85–90
🎶 Full Chorded Lyrics
Verse 1
The [G]struggle is [C]over the [G]boys were de[D7]feated,
Old [G]Ireland sur[D7]rounded by [G]sadness and [C]gloom,
We [G]were de[D7]feated and [G]shamefully [D7]treated,
And [G]I, Robert [C]Emmet, a[D7]waiting my [G]doom.
Chorus
[G]Bold Robert [C]Emmet, the [G]darling of [D7]Erin,
[G]Bold Robert [D7]Emmet, he’ll [G]die with a [C]smile,
[G]Farewell com[D7]panions, both [G]loyal and [D7]daring,
I’ll [G]lay down my [C]life for the [D7]Emerald [G]Isle.
Verse 2
[G]Hung, drawn and [C]quartered, sure [G]that was my [D7]sentence,
But [G]soon I will [D7]show them no [G]coward am [C]I,
My [G]crime was the [D7]love of the [G]land I was [D7]born in,
A [G]hero I [C]lived and a [D7]hero I’ll [G]die.
Verse 3
[G]I was arrested and [C]cast into [G]prison,
Tried as a [D7]traitor, a [G]rebel, a [C]spy,
But [G]no one can [D7]call me a [G]knave or a [D7]coward,
For a [G]hero I [C]lived and a [D7]hero I’ll [G]die.
Verse 4
[G]Hark, the bells [C]tolling, I [G]well know the [D7]meaning,
My [G]poor heart it [D7]tells me it’s [G]my death [C]knell,
In [G]comes the [D7]clergy, the [G]warden is [D7]leading,
I’ve [G]no friends [C]here now to [D7]bid me fare[G]well.
Verse 5
[G]So goodbye to [C]old Ireland, my [G]parents and [D7]sweetheart,
Com[G]panions in [D7]arms, to for[G]get you must [C]try,
I was [G]proud of the [D7]honour, it [G]was but my [D7]duty,
A [G]hero I [C]lived and a [D7]hero I’ll [G]die.
Verse 6 (optional closing verse)
[G]Erin, mo [C]mhuirnín, my [G]love and my [D7]country,
[G]Ireland, my [D7]Ireland, though [G]dead I shall [C]be,
[G]Hear now the [D7]words of my [G]final o[D7]ration:
Write [G]me no e[C]pitaph till my [D7]country is [G]free.
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Waltz Time)
Gentle and steady — typical Irish ballad rhythm.
Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↓↑
Count:
1-2-3 1-2-3
Tips:
Keep the bass note strong on beat 1 (for G, play the 6th string).
Use soft wrist motion for beats 2-3 — make it sway.
During emotional lines (“a hero I’ll die”), let chords ring longer.
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab – First Verse & Chorus
Soft, 3/4 fingerpicking — thumb alternates bass, fingers gently play upper strings.
Tempo: ♩ = 85 bpm
Verse 1
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
The struggle is over, the boys were defeated
C
e|---------0-----------0-|---------0-----------0-|
B|-----1-----------1-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-2-----------2---------|-2-----------2---------|
A|3-----------3-----------|----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
Old Ireland surrounded by sadness and gloom
D7
e|---------2-----------2-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----1-----------1-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---2---2-------2---2---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-0-----------0---------|-0-----------0---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
We were defeated and shamefully treated
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
And I, Robert Emmet, awaiting my doom
Chorus
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
Bold Robert Emmet, the darling of Erin
C
e|---------0-----------0-|---------0-----------0-|
B|-----1-----------1-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-2-----------2---------|-2-----------2---------|
A|3-----------3-----------|----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
Bold Robert Emmet, he’ll die with a smile
D7
e|---------2-----------2-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----1-----------1-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---2---2-------2---2---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-0-----------0---------|-0-----------0---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
Farewell companions both loyal and daring
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
I’ll lay down my life for the Emerald Isle
💡 Performance Notes
Use fingerpicking for the first verse & chorus, then transition to strumming for later verses to lift dynamics.
Let the final G chord ring — it gives a solemn finish.
Optional: add a low bass walk (G–F#–E–D) between verse lines for a traditional Irish sound.
Key: G Major
Time Signature: 3/4 (slow waltz time)
Tempo: ♩ = 85–90
🎶 Full Chorded Lyrics
Verse 1
The [G]struggle is [C]over the [G]boys were de[D7]feated,
Old [G]Ireland sur[D7]rounded by [G]sadness and [C]gloom,
We [G]were de[D7]feated and [G]shamefully [D7]treated,
And [G]I, Robert [C]Emmet, a[D7]waiting my [G]doom.
Chorus
[G]Bold Robert [C]Emmet, the [G]darling of [D7]Erin,
[G]Bold Robert [D7]Emmet, he’ll [G]die with a [C]smile,
[G]Farewell com[D7]panions, both [G]loyal and [D7]daring,
I’ll [G]lay down my [C]life for the [D7]Emerald [G]Isle.
Verse 2
[G]Hung, drawn and [C]quartered, sure [G]that was my [D7]sentence,
But [G]soon I will [D7]show them no [G]coward am [C]I,
My [G]crime was the [D7]love of the [G]land I was [D7]born in,
A [G]hero I [C]lived and a [D7]hero I’ll [G]die.
Verse 3
[G]I was arrested and [C]cast into [G]prison,
Tried as a [D7]traitor, a [G]rebel, a [C]spy,
But [G]no one can [D7]call me a [G]knave or a [D7]coward,
For a [G]hero I [C]lived and a [D7]hero I’ll [G]die.
Verse 4
[G]Hark, the bells [C]tolling, I [G]well know the [D7]meaning,
My [G]poor heart it [D7]tells me it’s [G]my death [C]knell,
In [G]comes the [D7]clergy, the [G]warden is [D7]leading,
I’ve [G]no friends [C]here now to [D7]bid me fare[G]well.
Verse 5
[G]So goodbye to [C]old Ireland, my [G]parents and [D7]sweetheart,
Com[G]panions in [D7]arms, to for[G]get you must [C]try,
I was [G]proud of the [D7]honour, it [G]was but my [D7]duty,
A [G]hero I [C]lived and a [D7]hero I’ll [G]die.
Verse 6 (optional closing verse)
[G]Erin, mo [C]mhuirnín, my [G]love and my [D7]country,
[G]Ireland, my [D7]Ireland, though [G]dead I shall [C]be,
[G]Hear now the [D7]words of my [G]final o[D7]ration:
Write [G]me no e[C]pitaph till my [D7]country is [G]free.
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Waltz Time)
Gentle and steady — typical Irish ballad rhythm.
Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↓↑
Count:
1-2-3 1-2-3
Tips:
Keep the bass note strong on beat 1 (for G, play the 6th string).
Use soft wrist motion for beats 2-3 — make it sway.
During emotional lines (“a hero I’ll die”), let chords ring longer.
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab – First Verse & Chorus
Soft, 3/4 fingerpicking — thumb alternates bass, fingers gently play upper strings.
Tempo: ♩ = 85 bpm
Verse 1
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
The struggle is over, the boys were defeated
C
e|---------0-----------0-|---------0-----------0-|
B|-----1-----------1-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-2-----------2---------|-2-----------2---------|
A|3-----------3-----------|----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
Old Ireland surrounded by sadness and gloom
D7
e|---------2-----------2-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----1-----------1-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---2---2-------2---2---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-0-----------0---------|-0-----------0---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
We were defeated and shamefully treated
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
And I, Robert Emmet, awaiting my doom
Chorus
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
Bold Robert Emmet, the darling of Erin
C
e|---------0-----------0-|---------0-----------0-|
B|-----1-----------1-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-2-----------2---------|-2-----------2---------|
A|3-----------3-----------|----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
Bold Robert Emmet, he’ll die with a smile
D7
e|---------2-----------2-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----1-----------1-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---2---2-------2---2---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-0-----------0---------|-0-----------0---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
Farewell companions both loyal and daring
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
I’ll lay down my life for the Emerald Isle
💡 Performance Notes
Use fingerpicking for the first verse & chorus, then transition to strumming for later verses to lift dynamics.
Let the final G chord ring — it gives a solemn finish.
Optional: add a low bass walk (G–F#–E–D) between verse lines for a traditional Irish sound.
Bold Robert Emmet Tin Whistle Sheet Music and letter notes. The version I worked out here is from listening to The Dublin City Ramblers. There are other pieces of sheet music around the internet and in song books but they don't even come close to the way the 'ramblers sing it. I have listened to many version of this song over the years and all are different in little ways. If you listen to Anna McGolderick's version you'll hear it been sang in a slow air and using a different tune. The Wolfe Tones use the tune that's close to the one I composed here but it's not note perfect. It was The Dublin City Ramblers version that I heard the first all them years ago so that's the tune that stayed in me head and that's the one that's included here. Youtube video lesson included, although it's fairly easy to play anyway.
Bold Robert Emmet lyrics
Bold Robert Emmett piano keyboard letter notes
Robert Emmet was SENTENCED to be hung, drawn and quartered but that was not carried out (it had become customary not to carry that sentence out in full for some time already). Accordingly he was hung and then decapitated.
Your readers may be interested to know that his famous speech from the dock (or a version of it) was recited as one of the performances at radical dinners for the rest of that century and even beyond, not just in Ireland and in the United States but in England and Scotland also.
His fame spread widely and the poet Shelley wrote a piece about him.
He is lauded in not just this popular song but also The Three Flowers by Reddin and Anne Devlin by Pete St. John.
Slán go fóill, Diarmuid Breatnach
Your readers may be interested to know that his famous speech from the dock (or a version of it) was recited as one of the performances at radical dinners for the rest of that century and even beyond, not just in Ireland and in the United States but in England and Scotland also.
His fame spread widely and the poet Shelley wrote a piece about him.
He is lauded in not just this popular song but also The Three Flowers by Reddin and Anne Devlin by Pete St. John.
Slán go fóill, Diarmuid Breatnach
