By Memory Inspired Lyrics And Chords

Written by ​Padraic Colum. The first set of guitar chords are for the version in the youtube video. And the second version is the easier version of the chords in the key of G for those who don't like playing all them F and Bb chords. The song was also recorded by Frank Heart and Donal Lunny. Songs written by Frank Heart include The Spanish Lady Song which became a classic Dublin song.

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[Bb]BY [F]Memory inspired,
  [Bb]And love of country [F]fired,
The deeds of [Bb]men I love to dwell u[C]pon;
  [F]And the patriotic glow
  Of my [Bb]spirits must be[F]stow        
A tribute to the he[C]ro that are[F] gone, boys—gone:
Here’s a health to John [Bb]Mitchel that is [F]gone
 
  [F]In October Ninety-seven--
  May his [Bb]soul find rest in [F]Heaven--
William Orr to exe[Bb]cution was led [C]on:        
  The [F]jury, drunk, agreed
  That [Bb]Irish was his [F]creed;
For perjury and [C]threats drove them on, boys—[F]on:
Here’s the memory of the [C]friends that are [F]gone
 
  [F]In Ninety-eight—the month July--        
  The [Bb]informer’s pay was [F]high;
When Reynolds gave the gallows brave Mac[C]Cann;
  But Mac[F]Cann was Reynolds’ first--
  One could [Bb]not allay his [F]thirst;
So he brought up Bond and [C]Byrne, that are gone, boys—[F]gone:        
Here’s the memory of the [C]friends that are [F]gone!
 
  [F]We saw a nation’s tears
  Shed for [Bb]John and Henry [F]Shears;
Betrayed by Judas, Captain Arm[C]strong;
  We[F] may forgive, but yet        
  We [Bb]never can for[F]get
The poisoning of Maguire [C]that is[C] gone, boys—[F]gone:
Our high Star and true [C]Apostle that is [F]gone!
 
  [F]How did Lord Edward die?
  Like a [Bb]man, without a [F]sigh;        
But he left his handiwork on [C]Major Swan!
  But [F]Sirr, with steel-clad breast,
  And [Bb]coward heart at [F]best,
Left us cause to mourn Lord [C]Edward that is gone, boys—[F]gone:
Here’s the memory of our [C]friends that are [F]gone!        
 
  [F]September, Eighteen-three,
  Closed this [Bb]cruel histo[F]ry,
When Emmet’s blood the scaffold [Bb]flowed up[C]on:
  Oh, [F]had their spirits been wise,
  They [Bb]might then rea[F]lise        
Their freedom, but we drink to Mitchell that is gone, boys—gone:
Here’s the memory of the friends that are gone!
 

Guitar Chords In G Major

​[C]BY [G]Memory inspired,     
  [C]And love of country [G]fired,    
The deeds of [C]men I love to dwell u[D]pon;  
  [G]And the patriotic glow    
  Of my [C]spirits must be[G]stow             
A tribute to the he[D]ro that are[G] gone, boys—gone:  
Here’s a health to John [C]Mitchel that is [G]gone    
 
  [G]In October Ninety-seven—  
  May his [C]soul find rest in [G]Heaven—     
William Orr to exe[C]cution was led [D]on:            
  The [G]jury, drunk, agreed   
  That [C]Irish was his [G]creed;     
For perjury and [D]threats drove them on, boys—[G]on:  
Here’s the memory of the [D]friends that are [G]gone   
 
  [G]In Ninety-eight—the month July—           
  The [C]informer’s pay was [G]high;  
When Reynolds gave the gallows brave Mac[D]Cann;       
  But Mac[G]Cann was Reynolds’ first—  
  One could [C]not allay his [G]thirst;       
So he brought up Bond and [D]Byrne, that are gone, boys—[G]gone:               
Here’s the memory of the [D]friends that are [G]gone!  
 
  [G]We saw a nation’s tears   
  Shed for [C]John and Henry [G]Shears;       
Betrayed by Judas, Captain Arm[D]strong;       
  We[G] may forgive, but yet           
  We [C]never can for[G]get   
The poisoning of Maguire [D]that is[D] gone, boys—[G]gone:     
Our high Star and true [D]Apostle that is [G]gone!     
 
  [G]How did Lord Edward die?  
  Like a [C]man, without a [G]sigh;           
But he left his handiwork on [D]Major Swan!    
  But [G]Sirr, with steel-clad breast, 
  And [C]coward heart at [G]best,     
Left us cause to mourn Lord [D]Edward that is gone, boys—[G]gone:      
Here’s the memory of our [D]friends that are [G]gone!