Boys of Barr na Stráide lyrics and chords
An Irish Folk Song- written by Sigerson Clifford. The guitar chords are by Marc Fahrbach and fit the youtube video. Recorded by Christy Moore, Annmarie O'Riordan who had the big hit with This Story I Tell You Is True song, Niamh Parsons and that's the version that the guitar chords are set to. I have also given the chords in the key of C.
Oh, the (G)town, it climbs the (D)mountains and (Bm)looks out u(Em)pon the (A)sea
At (D)sleeping (Bm)time or (Em)wa(A)king, it's (G)there I'd (A)long to (D)be.
To walk a(Bm)gain those (Em)kindly (A)streets, the (G)place where (A)life be(D)gan,
And the (G)Boys of Barr na (D)Stráide went (Bm)hunting (A)for the wren.
With (G)cudgels stout we (D)roamed about to (Bm)hunt the (Em)dreó(A)lín
We (D)searched for (Bm)birds in (Em)every (A)furze from (G)Litir (A)to Doo(D)neen.
We sang for (Bm)joy be(Em)neath the (A)sky, life (G)held no (A)print nor (D)plan
And the (G)Boys of Barr na (D)Stráide went (Bm)hunting (A)for the wren.
And (G)when the hills were (D)bleedin' and the (Bm)rifles (Em)were a(A)flame
To the (D)rebel (Bm)homes of (Em)Kerry(A) -the (G)Saxon (A)strangers (D)came,
But the men who (Bm)dared the (Em)Auxies (A)and who (G)fought the (A)Black-and-(D)Tan
Were the (G)Boys of Barr na (D)Stráide who (Bm)huntied (A)for the wren.
And (G)here's a health to (D)them tonight wher(Bm)ever (Em)they may (A)be.
By the (D)groves of (Bm)Carham (Em)river -(A)or the (G)slope of (A)Bean 'a (D)Tí
John Daly (Bm)and Batt (Em)Andy (A)and the (G)Sheehans, (A)Con and (D)Dan,
And the (G)Boys of Barr na (D)Stráide who (Bm)hunted (A)for the wren.
When (G)now they toil in (D)foreign soil where (Bm)they have (Em)made their (A)way
Deep (D)in the (Bm)heart of (Em)London (A)Town or (G)over (A)on Broad(D)way,
And I am (Bm)left to (Em)sing their (A)deeds and (G)praise them (A)while I (D)can
Those (G)Boys of Barr na (D)Stráide who (Bm)hunted (A)for the wren.
And (G)when the wheel of (D)life runs out and (Bm)peace come (Em)over (A)me
Oh (D)lay me (Bm)down in (Em)that old (A)town bet(G)ween the (A)hills and (D)sea.
I'll take my (Bm)sleep in (Em)those green (A)fields, the (G)place my (A)life be(D)gan,,
With those (G)Boys of Barr na (D)Stráide who (Bm)hunted (A)for the wren.
At (D)sleeping (Bm)time or (Em)wa(A)king, it's (G)there I'd (A)long to (D)be.
To walk a(Bm)gain those (Em)kindly (A)streets, the (G)place where (A)life be(D)gan,
And the (G)Boys of Barr na (D)Stráide went (Bm)hunting (A)for the wren.
With (G)cudgels stout we (D)roamed about to (Bm)hunt the (Em)dreó(A)lín
We (D)searched for (Bm)birds in (Em)every (A)furze from (G)Litir (A)to Doo(D)neen.
We sang for (Bm)joy be(Em)neath the (A)sky, life (G)held no (A)print nor (D)plan
And the (G)Boys of Barr na (D)Stráide went (Bm)hunting (A)for the wren.
And (G)when the hills were (D)bleedin' and the (Bm)rifles (Em)were a(A)flame
To the (D)rebel (Bm)homes of (Em)Kerry(A) -the (G)Saxon (A)strangers (D)came,
But the men who (Bm)dared the (Em)Auxies (A)and who (G)fought the (A)Black-and-(D)Tan
Were the (G)Boys of Barr na (D)Stráide who (Bm)huntied (A)for the wren.
And (G)here's a health to (D)them tonight wher(Bm)ever (Em)they may (A)be.
By the (D)groves of (Bm)Carham (Em)river -(A)or the (G)slope of (A)Bean 'a (D)Tí
John Daly (Bm)and Batt (Em)Andy (A)and the (G)Sheehans, (A)Con and (D)Dan,
And the (G)Boys of Barr na (D)Stráide who (Bm)hunted (A)for the wren.
When (G)now they toil in (D)foreign soil where (Bm)they have (Em)made their (A)way
Deep (D)in the (Bm)heart of (Em)London (A)Town or (G)over (A)on Broad(D)way,
And I am (Bm)left to (Em)sing their (A)deeds and (G)praise them (A)while I (D)can
Those (G)Boys of Barr na (D)Stráide who (Bm)hunted (A)for the wren.
And (G)when the wheel of (D)life runs out and (Bm)peace come (Em)over (A)me
Oh (D)lay me (Bm)down in (Em)that old (A)town bet(G)ween the (A)hills and (D)sea.
I'll take my (Bm)sleep in (Em)those green (A)fields, the (G)place my (A)life be(D)gan,,
With those (G)Boys of Barr na (D)Stráide who (Bm)hunted (A)for the wren.
🎵 “The Boys of Barr na Stráide”
Includes:
✅ Lyrics above tab
✅ 3 bars per line
✅ Gentle fingerpicking pattern (folk-style arpeggio)
✅ Ideal 4/4 slow air feel (~70 BPM)
🎶 The Boys of Barr na StráideKey: D | Tempo: ♩ = 70 | Time: 4/4 | Style: Irish Folk Ballad
🎸 Fingerpicking PatternUse T – I – M – I (Thumb = bass on 1 & 3, Index/Middle = treble on 2 & 4)
Let the bass flow gently; don’t rush.
🌄 Verse 1
Oh, the (G)town, it climbs the (D)mountains and (Bm)looks out u(Em)pon the (A)sea
e|-------3-----------2-----------2-----------0-----------0----------------|
B|-----0---0-------3---3-------3---3-------0---0-------2---2--------------|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---4-------4---0-------0---2-------2------------|
D|--0-----------0-----------4-----------2-----------2----------------------|
A|--2------------------------2------------------------0--------------------|
E|--3----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G D Bm Em A
At (D)sleeping (Bm)time or (Em)wa(A)king, it's (G)there I'd (A)long to (D)be.
e|-------2-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------3-----------2----|
B|-----3---3-------3---3-------0---0-------2---2-------0---0-------3---3--|
G|---2-------2---4-------4---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2|
D|--0-----------4-----------2-----------2-----------0-----------0----------|
A|--------------2-----------2-----------------------------------0--------|
E|------------------------------------------------3----------------------|
D Bm Em A G A D
To walk a (Bm)gain those (Em)kindly (A)streets, the (G)place where (A)life be (D)gan,
e|-------2-----------0-----------0-----------3-----------0-----------2----|
B|-----3---3-------0---0-------2---2-------0---0-------2---2-------3---3--|
G|---4-------4---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2|
D|--4-----------2-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------0----------|
A|--2-----------2-----------------------------------0--------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------3----------------------|
Bm Em A G A D
And the (G)Boys of Barr na (D)Stráide went (Bm)hunting (A)for the (D)wren.
e|-------3-----------2-----------2-----------0-----------2----------------|
B|-----0---0-------3---3-------3---3-------2---2-------3---3--------------|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---4-------4---2-------2---2-------2------------|
D|--0-----------0-----------4-----------2-----------0----------------------|
A|--2------------------------2------------------------0--------------------|
E|--3----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G D Bm A D
🎵 Chord Reference
G 320003
D xx0232
Bm x24432
Em 022000
A x02220
Includes:
✅ Lyrics above tab
✅ 3 bars per line
✅ Gentle fingerpicking pattern (folk-style arpeggio)
✅ Ideal 4/4 slow air feel (~70 BPM)
🎶 The Boys of Barr na StráideKey: D | Tempo: ♩ = 70 | Time: 4/4 | Style: Irish Folk Ballad
🎸 Fingerpicking PatternUse T – I – M – I (Thumb = bass on 1 & 3, Index/Middle = treble on 2 & 4)
Let the bass flow gently; don’t rush.
🌄 Verse 1
Oh, the (G)town, it climbs the (D)mountains and (Bm)looks out u(Em)pon the (A)sea
e|-------3-----------2-----------2-----------0-----------0----------------|
B|-----0---0-------3---3-------3---3-------0---0-------2---2--------------|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---4-------4---0-------0---2-------2------------|
D|--0-----------0-----------4-----------2-----------2----------------------|
A|--2------------------------2------------------------0--------------------|
E|--3----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G D Bm Em A
At (D)sleeping (Bm)time or (Em)wa(A)king, it's (G)there I'd (A)long to (D)be.
e|-------2-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------3-----------2----|
B|-----3---3-------3---3-------0---0-------2---2-------0---0-------3---3--|
G|---2-------2---4-------4---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2|
D|--0-----------4-----------2-----------2-----------0-----------0----------|
A|--------------2-----------2-----------------------------------0--------|
E|------------------------------------------------3----------------------|
D Bm Em A G A D
To walk a (Bm)gain those (Em)kindly (A)streets, the (G)place where (A)life be (D)gan,
e|-------2-----------0-----------0-----------3-----------0-----------2----|
B|-----3---3-------0---0-------2---2-------0---0-------2---2-------3---3--|
G|---4-------4---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2|
D|--4-----------2-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------0----------|
A|--2-----------2-----------------------------------0--------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------3----------------------|
Bm Em A G A D
And the (G)Boys of Barr na (D)Stráide went (Bm)hunting (A)for the (D)wren.
e|-------3-----------2-----------2-----------0-----------2----------------|
B|-----0---0-------3---3-------3---3-------2---2-------3---3--------------|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---4-------4---2-------2---2-------2------------|
D|--0-----------0-----------4-----------2-----------0----------------------|
A|--2------------------------2------------------------0--------------------|
E|--3----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G D Bm A D
🎵 Chord Reference
G 320003
D xx0232
Bm x24432
Em 022000
A x02220
🎵 The Boys of Barr na Stráide
Key: D Major
Tempo: Moderate Irish Ballad (80–90 BPM)
Time Signature: 4/4
🎸 Strumming Pattern
For a steady Irish ballad feel, use:
Down – Down-Up – Up-Down-Up
or written: ↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Emphasize the first down beat in each bar for a natural, rolling rhythm.
For slower, emotional verses, simplify to Down – Down – Down-Up.
Verse 1
Oh, the [D]town, it climbs the [A]mountains and [F#m]looks out u[Bm]pon the [E]sea
At [A]sleeping [F#m]time or [Bm]wa(E)king, it's [D]there I'd [E]long to [A]be.
To walk a[F#m]gain those [Bm]kindly [E]streets, the [D]place where [E]life be[A]gan,
And the [D]Boys of Barr na [A]Stráide went [F#m]hunting [E]for the [A]wren.
Verse 2
With [D]cudgels stout we [A]roamed about to [F#m]hunt the [Bm]dreó[E]lín
We [A]searched for [F#m]birds in [Bm]every [E]furze from [D]Litir [E]to Doo[A]neen.
We sang for [F#m]joy be[Bm]neath the [E]sky, life [D]held no [E]print nor [A]plan
And the [D]Boys of Barr na [A]Stráide went [F#m]hunting [E]for the [A]wren.
Verse 3
And [D]when the hills were [A]bleedin' and the [F#m]rifles [Bm]were a[E]flame
To the [A]rebel [F#m]homes of [Bm]Kerry [E]-the [D]Saxon [E]strangers [A]came,
But the men who [F#m]dared the [Bm]Auxies [E]and who [D]fought the [E]Black-and-[A]Tan
Were the [D]Boys of Barr na [A]Stráide who [F#m]hunted [E]for the [A]wren.
Verse 4
And [D]here's a health to [A]them tonight wher[F#m]ever [Bm]they may [E]be.
By the [A]groves of [F#m]Carham [Bm]river [E]-or the [D]slope of [E]Bean 'a [A]Tí
John Daly [F#m]and Batt [Bm]Andy [E]and the [D]Sheehans, [E]Con and [A]Dan,
And the [D]Boys of Barr na [A]Stráide who [F#m]hunted [E]for the [A]wren.
Verse 5
When [D]now they toil in [A]foreign soil where [F#m]they have [Bm]made their [E]way
Deep [A]in the [F#m]heart of [Bm]London [E]Town or [D]over [E]on Broad[A]way,
And I am [F#m]left to [Bm]sing their [E]deeds and [D]praise them [E]while I [A]can
Those [D]Boys of Barr na [A]Stráide who [F#m]hunted [E]for the [A]wren.
Verse 6 / Final Verse
And [D]when the wheel of [A]life runs out and [F#m]peace comes [Bm]over [E]me
Oh [A]lay me [F#m]down in [Bm]that old [E]town bet[D]ween the [E]hills and [A]sea.
I'll take my [F#m]sleep in [Bm]those green [E]fields, the [D]place my [E]life be[A]gan,
With those [D]Boys of Barr na [A]Stráide who [F#m]hunted [E]for the [A]wren.
🎶 Optional Ending / Slow Down
Repeat the final line slowly:
With those [D]Boys of Barr na [A]Stráide who [F#m]hunted [E]for the [A]wren.
→ End on a single D major chord (let it ring).
Key: D Major
Tempo: Moderate Irish Ballad (80–90 BPM)
Time Signature: 4/4
🎸 Strumming Pattern
For a steady Irish ballad feel, use:
Down – Down-Up – Up-Down-Up
or written: ↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Emphasize the first down beat in each bar for a natural, rolling rhythm.
For slower, emotional verses, simplify to Down – Down – Down-Up.
Verse 1
Oh, the [D]town, it climbs the [A]mountains and [F#m]looks out u[Bm]pon the [E]sea
At [A]sleeping [F#m]time or [Bm]wa(E)king, it's [D]there I'd [E]long to [A]be.
To walk a[F#m]gain those [Bm]kindly [E]streets, the [D]place where [E]life be[A]gan,
And the [D]Boys of Barr na [A]Stráide went [F#m]hunting [E]for the [A]wren.
Verse 2
With [D]cudgels stout we [A]roamed about to [F#m]hunt the [Bm]dreó[E]lín
We [A]searched for [F#m]birds in [Bm]every [E]furze from [D]Litir [E]to Doo[A]neen.
We sang for [F#m]joy be[Bm]neath the [E]sky, life [D]held no [E]print nor [A]plan
And the [D]Boys of Barr na [A]Stráide went [F#m]hunting [E]for the [A]wren.
Verse 3
And [D]when the hills were [A]bleedin' and the [F#m]rifles [Bm]were a[E]flame
To the [A]rebel [F#m]homes of [Bm]Kerry [E]-the [D]Saxon [E]strangers [A]came,
But the men who [F#m]dared the [Bm]Auxies [E]and who [D]fought the [E]Black-and-[A]Tan
Were the [D]Boys of Barr na [A]Stráide who [F#m]hunted [E]for the [A]wren.
Verse 4
And [D]here's a health to [A]them tonight wher[F#m]ever [Bm]they may [E]be.
By the [A]groves of [F#m]Carham [Bm]river [E]-or the [D]slope of [E]Bean 'a [A]Tí
John Daly [F#m]and Batt [Bm]Andy [E]and the [D]Sheehans, [E]Con and [A]Dan,
And the [D]Boys of Barr na [A]Stráide who [F#m]hunted [E]for the [A]wren.
Verse 5
When [D]now they toil in [A]foreign soil where [F#m]they have [Bm]made their [E]way
Deep [A]in the [F#m]heart of [Bm]London [E]Town or [D]over [E]on Broad[A]way,
And I am [F#m]left to [Bm]sing their [E]deeds and [D]praise them [E]while I [A]can
Those [D]Boys of Barr na [A]Stráide who [F#m]hunted [E]for the [A]wren.
Verse 6 / Final Verse
And [D]when the wheel of [A]life runs out and [F#m]peace comes [Bm]over [E]me
Oh [A]lay me [F#m]down in [Bm]that old [E]town bet[D]ween the [E]hills and [A]sea.
I'll take my [F#m]sleep in [Bm]those green [E]fields, the [D]place my [E]life be[A]gan,
With those [D]Boys of Barr na [A]Stráide who [F#m]hunted [E]for the [A]wren.
🎶 Optional Ending / Slow Down
Repeat the final line slowly:
With those [D]Boys of Barr na [A]Stráide who [F#m]hunted [E]for the [A]wren.
→ End on a single D major chord (let it ring).
The boys of Barr Na Straide lyrics
Below is the list of sheet music and tin whistle songs that are in my ebooks. This is the largest collection of tin whistle songs ever put together.[over 900 songs ] Including folk, pop and trad tunes plus German And French songs along with Christmas Carols.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50.
Boys of Barr na Stráide tin whistle sheet music included.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50.
Boys of Barr na Stráide tin whistle sheet music included.
