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.
BY MEMORY INSPIRED
This ballad is from the middle of the nineteenth century, as can be seen by the out-of-sequence references to Dan O'Coonell and John Mitchel. The title is particularly significant: the "memory" involved here is the betrayal of the United Irish leaders, the "inspiration" presumably is to beware of informers.
One of the few ballads covering the events from October 1797 to September 1803 that makes no mention of the risings themselves, this one concentrates on the way the Crown dealt with the United political chiefs. The singer suggests Willie Orr was falsely convicted by a drunken jury; that Thomas Reynolds delivered John McCann, Oliver Bond, and Billy Byrne; that Captain Armstrong exposed Henry and John Sheares; and so on.
The ballad argues that the rebel leaders were merely unfortunate, that they might well have succeeded had they not been beguiled by deceivers. The corollary is, of course, that the task is not impossible; if the singers are careful not to make the same mistakes, they will be more successful.
This ballad is from the middle of the nineteenth century, as can be seen by the out-of-sequence references to Dan O'Coonell and John Mitchel. The title is particularly significant: the "memory" involved here is the betrayal of the United Irish leaders, the "inspiration" presumably is to beware of informers.
One of the few ballads covering the events from October 1797 to September 1803 that makes no mention of the risings themselves, this one concentrates on the way the Crown dealt with the United political chiefs. The singer suggests Willie Orr was falsely convicted by a drunken jury; that Thomas Reynolds delivered John McCann, Oliver Bond, and Billy Byrne; that Captain Armstrong exposed Henry and John Sheares; and so on.
The ballad argues that the rebel leaders were merely unfortunate, that they might well have succeeded had they not been beguiled by deceivers. The corollary is, of course, that the task is not impossible; if the singers are careful not to make the same mistakes, they will be more successful.
[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!
[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!
[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!
