Bunclody Lyrics And Chords
This is a Traditional folk / love song from Bunclody in Co. Wexford ,[ other songs from Wexford include The Boys Of Wexford Song ] The full sheet music score is included with letter notes. also known as 'The Streams Of Bunclody . The video is of The Dubliners with Luke Kelly doing the singing on this one. I have included the guitar chords that are played in the youtube video of The Dubliners which are in the key of G. Return to The Dubliners Lyrics And Chords . The Harmonica Tab Is In This Ebook of Irish Songs
Oh[D] were I at the moss house
Where the[A] birds do in[D]crease
By the[A] foot of Mount[D] Leinster
Or[Em] some silent[A] place
By the streams of Bun[D]cloudy
Where all[Em] pleasures do[A] meet
And[D] all that I ask is
One[A] kiss from you[D] sweet
Oh the streams of Buncloudy
They flow down to the sea
By the streams of Buncloudy
I am longing to be
A-drinking stong liquor
At the height of my cheer
Here's a health to Buncloudy
And the lass I love dear
Oh the cuckoo is a pretty bird
And she sings as she flies
She brings us glad tidings
And she tells us no lies
She sucks all of the small birds' eggs
Just to make her voice clear
And the more she sings cuckoo
The summer draws near
If I were a clerk
And I could write a good hand
I would write to my true love
So that she'd understand
That I am a young fellow
Who is wounded in love
Once I lived in Buncloudy
But now must remove
So farewell to my father
And my mother adieu
To my sister and my brother
Farewell unto you
I am bound out for America
My fortune to try
When I think on Buncloudy
I am ready to die
Where the[A] birds do in[D]crease
By the[A] foot of Mount[D] Leinster
Or[Em] some silent[A] place
By the streams of Bun[D]cloudy
Where all[Em] pleasures do[A] meet
And[D] all that I ask is
One[A] kiss from you[D] sweet
Oh the streams of Buncloudy
They flow down to the sea
By the streams of Buncloudy
I am longing to be
A-drinking stong liquor
At the height of my cheer
Here's a health to Buncloudy
And the lass I love dear
Oh the cuckoo is a pretty bird
And she sings as she flies
She brings us glad tidings
And she tells us no lies
She sucks all of the small birds' eggs
Just to make her voice clear
And the more she sings cuckoo
The summer draws near
If I were a clerk
And I could write a good hand
I would write to my true love
So that she'd understand
That I am a young fellow
Who is wounded in love
Once I lived in Buncloudy
But now must remove
So farewell to my father
And my mother adieu
To my sister and my brother
Farewell unto you
I am bound out for America
My fortune to try
When I think on Buncloudy
I am ready to die
The Streams of Bunclody” truly shines with a gentle, flowing fingerpicked accompaniment, especially in 3/4 time.
Here’s a simple and beautiful intro / interlude tab in D Major, arranged for acoustic guitar (standard tuning, EADGBE).
It’s faithful to the song’s wistful, traditional character and can be used:
🎶 Fingerpicked Intro / Interlude – The Streams of Bunclody (Key of D Major)(Play slowly and let notes ring out — 3/4 time feel: 1 2-3)
Intro / Interlude (D – A – Bm – G – D – A – D) e|---------2-----------0-----------2-----------3-----------2-----------0-----------2---| B|-----3-----3-----2-----2-----3-----3-----0-----0-----3-----3-----2-----2-----3-----3-| G|---2---2-----2-2---2-----2-4---4-----4-0---0-----0-2---2-----2-2---2-----2-2---2-----| D|-0----------------0------------------------------0----------------0-------------------| A|---------------------------------2------------------------------0--------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| D chord A chord Bm chord G chord D chord A D
💡 Playing Notes
🎵 How to Use It
🎸 Optional Simpler Version (if you prefer easy chords)If you’d rather use chords with a gentle picking pattern:
D – A – Bm – G – D – A – D
Use this picking pattern for each measure:
Bass – 2 – 3 – Bass – 2 – 3
(e.g., pluck the lowest string of the chord, then gently pick middle and high strings).
“The Streams of Bunclody” (or “Buncloudy”) is one of Ireland’s most hauntingly lovely traditional songs. Below is the full version with chords for all verses, formatted cleanly in D Major (your key), with smooth progressions that fit the traditional melody.
🎵 The Streams of Bunclody(Traditional Irish – Key of D Major)
[Verse 1]
Oh, [D]were I at the moss house,
Where the [A]birds do in[D]crease,
By the [A]foot of Mount [D]Leinster,
Or [Em]some silent [A]place,
By the [D]streams of Bunclody,
Where all [Em]pleasures do [A]meet,
And [D]all that I ask is,
One [A]kiss from you [D]sweet.
[Verse 2]
Oh, the [D]streams of Bunclody,
They [A]flow down to the [D]sea,
By the [A]streams of Bunclody,
I am [Em]longing to [A]be,
A-[D]drinking strong liquor,
At the [Em]height of my [A]cheer,
Here’s a [D]health to Bunclody,
And the [A]lass I love [D]dear.
[Verse 3]
Oh, the [D]cuckoo is a pretty bird,
And she [A]sings as she [D]flies,
She [A]brings us glad [D]tidings,
And she [Em]tells us no [A]lies,
She [D]sucks all the small birds’ eggs,
Just to [Em]make her voice [A]clear,
And the [D]more she sings “Cuckoo,”
The [A]summer draws [D]near.
[Verse 4]
If I [D]were a clerk,
And could [A]write a good [D]hand,
I would [A]write to my [D]true love,
That she’d [Em]well under[A]stand,
That I [D]am a young fellow,
Who is [Em]wounded in [A]love,
Once I [D]lived in Bunclody,
But [A]now must re[D]move.
[Verse 5]
So fare[D]well to my father,
And my [A]mother a[D]dieu,
To my [A]sister and [D]brother,
Fare[Em]well unto [A]you,
I am [D]bound for America,
My [Em]fortune to [A]try,
When I [D]think on Bunclody,
I am [A]ready to [D]die.
🎸 Suggested Strumming Pattern (3/4 Waltz Feel)This ballad is in a gentle waltz time — play softly and evenly:
↓ ↓ ↑ (Count 1 2-3)
or alternate bass picking for a more traditional feel:
Bass – Down – Up
💡 Optional EndingFinish with a soft repeat of the last line:
When I [D]think on Bunclody,
I am [A]ready to [D]die.
Let the final D chord ring out.
Here’s a simple and beautiful intro / interlude tab in D Major, arranged for acoustic guitar (standard tuning, EADGBE).
It’s faithful to the song’s wistful, traditional character and can be used:
- As an intro before Verse 1
- As an interlude between verses
- As an ending
🎶 Fingerpicked Intro / Interlude – The Streams of Bunclody (Key of D Major)(Play slowly and let notes ring out — 3/4 time feel: 1 2-3)
Intro / Interlude (D – A – Bm – G – D – A – D) e|---------2-----------0-----------2-----------3-----------2-----------0-----------2---| B|-----3-----3-----2-----2-----3-----3-----0-----0-----3-----3-----2-----2-----3-----3-| G|---2---2-----2-2---2-----2-4---4-----4-0---0-----0-2---2-----2-2---2-----2-2---2-----| D|-0----------------0------------------------------0----------------0-------------------| A|---------------------------------2------------------------------0--------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| D chord A chord Bm chord G chord D chord A D
💡 Playing Notes
- Keep a steady 3/4 rhythm (bass note on beat 1, light arpeggio on beats 2–3).
- Use your thumb for bass strings (E, A, D) and fingers for the upper ones.
- Let the melody line (top notes) ring clearly — that’s what gives it the harp-like flow.
🎵 How to Use It
- Intro → Play once before singing Verse 1.
- Interlude → Between verses, especially before Verse 5 for a reflective break.
- Ending → Play once after the final line, slowing down at the end.
🎸 Optional Simpler Version (if you prefer easy chords)If you’d rather use chords with a gentle picking pattern:
D – A – Bm – G – D – A – D
Use this picking pattern for each measure:
Bass – 2 – 3 – Bass – 2 – 3
(e.g., pluck the lowest string of the chord, then gently pick middle and high strings).
“The Streams of Bunclody” (or “Buncloudy”) is one of Ireland’s most hauntingly lovely traditional songs. Below is the full version with chords for all verses, formatted cleanly in D Major (your key), with smooth progressions that fit the traditional melody.
🎵 The Streams of Bunclody(Traditional Irish – Key of D Major)
[Verse 1]
Oh, [D]were I at the moss house,
Where the [A]birds do in[D]crease,
By the [A]foot of Mount [D]Leinster,
Or [Em]some silent [A]place,
By the [D]streams of Bunclody,
Where all [Em]pleasures do [A]meet,
And [D]all that I ask is,
One [A]kiss from you [D]sweet.
[Verse 2]
Oh, the [D]streams of Bunclody,
They [A]flow down to the [D]sea,
By the [A]streams of Bunclody,
I am [Em]longing to [A]be,
A-[D]drinking strong liquor,
At the [Em]height of my [A]cheer,
Here’s a [D]health to Bunclody,
And the [A]lass I love [D]dear.
[Verse 3]
Oh, the [D]cuckoo is a pretty bird,
And she [A]sings as she [D]flies,
She [A]brings us glad [D]tidings,
And she [Em]tells us no [A]lies,
She [D]sucks all the small birds’ eggs,
Just to [Em]make her voice [A]clear,
And the [D]more she sings “Cuckoo,”
The [A]summer draws [D]near.
[Verse 4]
If I [D]were a clerk,
And could [A]write a good [D]hand,
I would [A]write to my [D]true love,
That she’d [Em]well under[A]stand,
That I [D]am a young fellow,
Who is [Em]wounded in [A]love,
Once I [D]lived in Bunclody,
But [A]now must re[D]move.
[Verse 5]
So fare[D]well to my father,
And my [A]mother a[D]dieu,
To my [A]sister and [D]brother,
Fare[Em]well unto [A]you,
I am [D]bound for America,
My [Em]fortune to [A]try,
When I [D]think on Bunclody,
I am [A]ready to [D]die.
🎸 Suggested Strumming Pattern (3/4 Waltz Feel)This ballad is in a gentle waltz time — play softly and evenly:
↓ ↓ ↑ (Count 1 2-3)
or alternate bass picking for a more traditional feel:
Bass – Down – Up
💡 Optional EndingFinish with a soft repeat of the last line:
When I [D]think on Bunclody,
I am [A]ready to [D]die.
Let the final D chord ring out.
This was a real example of collecting a song without expecting to collect.
Afterwords Bunclody became one of Luke's favorite songs. When he sang it in Bunclody he dedicated it to the man who sang it
in the pub on the bridge who was a local School master named Michael Flannery.
Afterwords Bunclody became one of Luke's favorite songs. When he sang it in Bunclody he dedicated it to the man who sang it
in the pub on the bridge who was a local School master named Michael Flannery.
Here are the guitar chords as played by The Dubliners
G Major fits beautifully for guitar and brings a warmer, richer sound to “The Streams of Bunclody.”
Below is the full song transposed to G major (with all verses and clean formatting), plus a gentle fingerpicked intro/interlude tab rewritten for this new key.
🎵 The Streams of Bunclody(Traditional Irish – Key of G Major)
[Verse 1]Oh, [G]were I at the moss house,
Where the [D]birds do in[G]crease,
By the [D]foot of Mount [G]Leinster,
Or [Am]some silent [D]place,
By the [G]streams of Bunclody,
Where all [Am]pleasures do [D]meet,
And [G]all that I ask is,
One [D]kiss from you [G]sweet.
[Verse 2]Oh, the [G]streams of Bunclody,
They [D]flow down to the [G]sea,
By the [D]streams of Bunclody,
I am [Am]longing to [D]be,
A-[G]drinking strong liquor,
At the [Am]height of my [D]cheer,
Here’s a [G]health to Bunclody,
And the [D]lass I love [G]dear.
[Verse 3]Oh, the [G]cuckoo is a pretty bird,
And she [D]sings as she [G]flies,
She [D]brings us glad [G]tidings,
And she [Am]tells us no [D]lies,
She [G]sucks all the small birds’ eggs,
Just to [Am]make her voice [D]clear,
And the [G]more she sings “Cuckoo,”
The [D]summer draws [G]near.
[Verse 4]If I [G]were a clerk,
And could [D]write a good [G]hand,
I would [D]write to my [G]true love,
That she’d [Am]well under[D]stand,
That I [G]am a young fellow,
Who is [Am]wounded in [D]love,
Once I [G]lived in Bunclody,
But [D]now must re[G]move.
[Verse 5]So fare[G]well to my father,
And my [D]mother a[G]dieu,
To my [D]sister and [G]brother,
Fare[Am]well unto [D]you,
I am [G]bound for America,
My [Am]fortune to [D]try,
When I [G]think on Bunclody,
I am [D]ready to [G]die.
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Waltz Time)For soft ballad style:
↓ ↓ ↑ (Count “1 2-3”)
Or, fingerpick using:
Bass – Down – Up (thumb + two fingers)
🎶 Fingerpicked Intro / Interlude – G Major (Gentle Harp Style)(Play before Verse 1, between verses, or at the end.)
Intro / Interlude (G – D – Em – C – G – D – G) e|---------3-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------3-----------2-----------3---| B|-----0-----0-----3-----3-----0-----0-----1-----1-----0-----0-----3-----3-----0-----0-| G|---0---0-----0-2---2-----2-0---0-----0-0---0-----0-0---0-----0-2---2-----2-0---0-----| D|-0----------------0--------------------------------0----------------0----------------| A|---------------------------------2------------------------------0--------------------| E|3------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| G chord D chord Em chord C chord G chord D G
💡 Performance Tips
G Major fits beautifully for guitar and brings a warmer, richer sound to “The Streams of Bunclody.”
Below is the full song transposed to G major (with all verses and clean formatting), plus a gentle fingerpicked intro/interlude tab rewritten for this new key.
🎵 The Streams of Bunclody(Traditional Irish – Key of G Major)
[Verse 1]Oh, [G]were I at the moss house,
Where the [D]birds do in[G]crease,
By the [D]foot of Mount [G]Leinster,
Or [Am]some silent [D]place,
By the [G]streams of Bunclody,
Where all [Am]pleasures do [D]meet,
And [G]all that I ask is,
One [D]kiss from you [G]sweet.
[Verse 2]Oh, the [G]streams of Bunclody,
They [D]flow down to the [G]sea,
By the [D]streams of Bunclody,
I am [Am]longing to [D]be,
A-[G]drinking strong liquor,
At the [Am]height of my [D]cheer,
Here’s a [G]health to Bunclody,
And the [D]lass I love [G]dear.
[Verse 3]Oh, the [G]cuckoo is a pretty bird,
And she [D]sings as she [G]flies,
She [D]brings us glad [G]tidings,
And she [Am]tells us no [D]lies,
She [G]sucks all the small birds’ eggs,
Just to [Am]make her voice [D]clear,
And the [G]more she sings “Cuckoo,”
The [D]summer draws [G]near.
[Verse 4]If I [G]were a clerk,
And could [D]write a good [G]hand,
I would [D]write to my [G]true love,
That she’d [Am]well under[D]stand,
That I [G]am a young fellow,
Who is [Am]wounded in [D]love,
Once I [G]lived in Bunclody,
But [D]now must re[G]move.
[Verse 5]So fare[G]well to my father,
And my [D]mother a[G]dieu,
To my [D]sister and [G]brother,
Fare[Am]well unto [D]you,
I am [G]bound for America,
My [Am]fortune to [D]try,
When I [G]think on Bunclody,
I am [D]ready to [G]die.
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Waltz Time)For soft ballad style:
↓ ↓ ↑ (Count “1 2-3”)
Or, fingerpick using:
Bass – Down – Up (thumb + two fingers)
🎶 Fingerpicked Intro / Interlude – G Major (Gentle Harp Style)(Play before Verse 1, between verses, or at the end.)
Intro / Interlude (G – D – Em – C – G – D – G) e|---------3-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------3-----------2-----------3---| B|-----0-----0-----3-----3-----0-----0-----1-----1-----0-----0-----3-----3-----0-----0-| G|---0---0-----0-2---2-----2-0---0-----0-0---0-----0-0---0-----0-2---2-----2-0---0-----| D|-0----------------0--------------------------------0----------------0----------------| A|---------------------------------2------------------------------0--------------------| E|3------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| G chord D chord Em chord C chord G chord D G
💡 Performance Tips
- Keep tempo slow and steady — around 70–80 bpm.
- Let notes ring naturally; this gives a harp-like sound.
- For a duet or solo version, play the interlude between Verse 2 and Verse 3.
- End softly by repeating the last two measures of the tab and letting the final G chord ring.
Bunclody street sign
Streams of Bunclody sheet music by Luke Kelly
When Luke Kelly was asked what song he'd liked to be remembered for he picked Bunclody. The Dubliners were on tour in the
South East and ended up in Enniscourty. In the afternoon, the lads had little to do while waiting around for the show so they went to the pub beside the bridge in Enniscourty.
They were playing a few songs just to pass the time away. There was just the one other customer in the pub. Luke says, he was a very well dressed gentleman and he stood there listening to us play. ''Very Nice'' , he said after the Dubliners had sang a few songs, but do you mind if I sing a song
myself ?. The lads expected a tenor voice something like John McCormack, but he had a beautiful soft voice and he sang a song that none of us had ever heard before , a beautiful song. We were mesmerized by that.
South East and ended up in Enniscourty. In the afternoon, the lads had little to do while waiting around for the show so they went to the pub beside the bridge in Enniscourty.
They were playing a few songs just to pass the time away. There was just the one other customer in the pub. Luke says, he was a very well dressed gentleman and he stood there listening to us play. ''Very Nice'' , he said after the Dubliners had sang a few songs, but do you mind if I sing a song
myself ?. The lads expected a tenor voice something like John McCormack, but he had a beautiful soft voice and he sang a song that none of us had ever heard before , a beautiful song. We were mesmerized by that.
Streams Of Bunclody Full Sheet Music Score
