Campfire In The Dark Song Lyrics And Guitar Chords
This Irish folk song was written by Paddy Houlihan and recorded by The Furey Brothers And Davie Arthur [ song list ]. A song about the life of the travelling people of Ireland. Chords by Marc. Also recorded by John Breen.
The Harmonica Tab Is In This Ebook of Irish Songs
CAMPFIRE IN THE DARK 4/4 (Original words by Paddy Houlihan)
Intro: G-Bm-Bm-Bm-G-G A-G-Bm-Bm A-G-Bm-Bm
My (D)father rises early and he (G)makes a sup of (Em)tea
He (A)lights the kitchen (A7)stove and (G)then he calls (D)me
His (D)days are often empty, he’s (G)nothing much to (Em)do
So he (A)sits and tells me (A7)stories of the (G)travelling life he (D)knew
In the (Bm)evening they would meet in lonely country (G)lanes
A (Bm)field away you'ld hear a collie (G)bark
And they’d (Bm)pass the time away with talks about the (G)day
(A)Standing 'round the (G)campfire in the (Bm)dark
(A)Standing 'round the (G)campfire in the (Bm)dark
My (D)mother likes the house, the hot (G)water and the (Em)rooms
It's (A)warm in the (A7)winter and she's (G)handy with the (D)broom
Some(D)times she makes Colcannon, more (G)often Griddle (Em)Bread
There's a (A)hunger deep in(A7)side her for a (G)travelling life that's (D)dead.
In the (Bm)evening she would lift the black pots from the (G)coals
A (Bm)bit to eat she always would re(G)mark
There'd be (Bm)vessels left to clean while children could be (G)seen
(A)Playing 'round the (G)campfire in the (Bm)dark
(A)Playing 'round the (G)campfire in the (Bm)dark
Bridge: Play one instrumental B-Part
'We'd go (D)down to the pool hall to (G)chat up the town (Em)beors
Some(A)times at their (A7)discos we (G)can't get past the (D)doors
We're (D)still tinkers to them and it's (G)thrown at our (Em)ears
We're (A)still the awful (A7)strangers (G)after all these (D)years
And I (D)think about my own life and the (G)way that it will (Em)be
An (A)Escort van, a (A7)bit of dealing, a (G)wife and fami(D)ly
(D)Thursday I collect the Dole, (G)friday pitch and (Em)toss
But (A)on the site I (A7)think about the (G)travellers' ways we've (D)lost
And I (Bm)wish that I could rise, wash the sleep out of these (G)eyes
And (Bm)listen to the sweet song of the (G)lark
And I (Bm)wish that I could be in campfire compa(G)ny
With the (A)sound of horses (G)moving in the (Bm)dark
With the (A)sound of horses (G)moving in the (Bm)dark
With the (A)sound of horses (G)moving in the (Bm)dark
Intro: G-Bm-Bm-Bm-G-G A-G-Bm-Bm A-G-Bm-Bm
My (D)father rises early and he (G)makes a sup of (Em)tea
He (A)lights the kitchen (A7)stove and (G)then he calls (D)me
His (D)days are often empty, he’s (G)nothing much to (Em)do
So he (A)sits and tells me (A7)stories of the (G)travelling life he (D)knew
In the (Bm)evening they would meet in lonely country (G)lanes
A (Bm)field away you'ld hear a collie (G)bark
And they’d (Bm)pass the time away with talks about the (G)day
(A)Standing 'round the (G)campfire in the (Bm)dark
(A)Standing 'round the (G)campfire in the (Bm)dark
My (D)mother likes the house, the hot (G)water and the (Em)rooms
It's (A)warm in the (A7)winter and she's (G)handy with the (D)broom
Some(D)times she makes Colcannon, more (G)often Griddle (Em)Bread
There's a (A)hunger deep in(A7)side her for a (G)travelling life that's (D)dead.
In the (Bm)evening she would lift the black pots from the (G)coals
A (Bm)bit to eat she always would re(G)mark
There'd be (Bm)vessels left to clean while children could be (G)seen
(A)Playing 'round the (G)campfire in the (Bm)dark
(A)Playing 'round the (G)campfire in the (Bm)dark
Bridge: Play one instrumental B-Part
'We'd go (D)down to the pool hall to (G)chat up the town (Em)beors
Some(A)times at their (A7)discos we (G)can't get past the (D)doors
We're (D)still tinkers to them and it's (G)thrown at our (Em)ears
We're (A)still the awful (A7)strangers (G)after all these (D)years
And I (D)think about my own life and the (G)way that it will (Em)be
An (A)Escort van, a (A7)bit of dealing, a (G)wife and fami(D)ly
(D)Thursday I collect the Dole, (G)friday pitch and (Em)toss
But (A)on the site I (A7)think about the (G)travellers' ways we've (D)lost
And I (Bm)wish that I could rise, wash the sleep out of these (G)eyes
And (Bm)listen to the sweet song of the (G)lark
And I (Bm)wish that I could be in campfire compa(G)ny
With the (A)sound of horses (G)moving in the (Bm)dark
With the (A)sound of horses (G)moving in the (Bm)dark
With the (A)sound of horses (G)moving in the (Bm)dark
Below you’ll find:
✅ Chords for all verses (arranged cleanly)
✅ A gentle folk strumming pattern (in 4/4)
✅ A fingerpicking tab for the first verse
🎵 Campfire in the Dark
Key: G Major
Time: 4/4 (folk ballad)
Tempo: 75–85 bpm (slow reflective feel)
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4)
Use a relaxed, steady pattern:
Bass – Down – Down-Up – Up-Down-Up
(count: 1 2 3-& 4-&)
Alternate bass notes to give movement (root–fifth):
D: 4th (D), 5th (A)
G: 6th (G), 4th (D)
Em: 6th (E), 4th (B)
A/A7: 5th (A), 4th (E)
Bm: 5th (B), 4th (F#)
🎶 Lyrics with Chords
Verse 1
My [D]father rises early and he [G]makes a sup of [Em]tea,
He [A]lights the kitchen [A7]stove and [G]then he calls [D]me.
His [D]days are often empty, he’s [G]nothing much to [Em]do,
So he [A]sits and tells me [A7]stories of the [G]travelling life he [D]knew.
Refrain 1
In the [Bm]evening they would meet in lonely country [G]lanes,
A [Bm]field away you’d hear a collie [G]bark,
And they’d [Bm]pass the time away with talks about the [G]day,
[A]Standing 'round the [G]campfire in the [Bm]dark,
[A]Standing 'round the [G]campfire in the [Bm]dark.
Verse 2
My [D]mother likes the house, the hot [G]water and the [Em]rooms,
It's [A]warm in the [A7]winter and she’s [G]handy with the [D]broom.
Some[D]times she makes Colcannon, more [G]often Griddle [Em]Bread,
There’s a [A]hunger deep in[A7]side her for a [G]travelling life that’s [D]dead.
Refrain 2
In the [Bm]evening she would lift the black pots from the [G]coals,
A [Bm]bit to eat she always would re[G]mark,
There’d be [Bm]vessels left to clean while children could be [G]seen,
[A]Playing ’round the [G]campfire in the [Bm]dark,
[A]Playing ’round the [G]campfire in the [Bm]dark.
Verse 3
We’d go [D]down to the pool hall to [G]chat up the town [Em]beors,
Some[A]times at their [A7]discos we [G]can’t get past the [D]doors.
We’re [D]still tinkers to them and it’s [G]thrown at our [Em]ears,
We’re [A]still the awful [A7]strangers [G]after all these [D]years.
Verse 4
And I [D]think about my own life and the [G]way that it will [Em]be,
An [A]Escort van, a [A7]bit of dealing, a [G]wife and fami[D]ly.
[D]Thursday I collect the Dole, [G]Friday pitch and [Em]toss,
But [A]on the site I [A7]think about the [G]travellers’ ways we’ve [D]lost.
Refrain 3
And I [Bm]wish that I could rise, wash the sleep out of these [G]eyes,
And [Bm]listen to the sweet song of the [G]lark,
And I [Bm]wish that I could be in campfire compa[G]ny,
With the [A]sound of horses [G]moving in the [Bm]dark,
With the [A]sound of horses [G]moving in the [Bm]dark,
With the [A]sound of horses [G]moving in the [Bm]dark.
🎸 Fingerpicking Tab — First Verse
A gentle alternating-bass fingerpicking style fits perfectly here.
Use:
Thumb (T) = bass strings
Index (I) = G string
Middle (M) = B string
Ring (R) = high E string
Pattern:
T – I – M – R (3 or 4 times per bar depending on phrasing)
[D]
e|-------2-----------2-----------2-----------2---|
B|-----3---3-------3---3-------3---3-------3---3-|
G|---2-------2---2-------2---2-------2---2-------|
D|-0-----------4-----------0-----------4---------|
A|-----------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------|
My father rises early and he makes a sup of tea
[G]
e|-------3-----------3-----------3-----------3---|
B|-----0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------|
D|-----------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------|
E|-3-----------2-----------3-----------2---------|
He lights the kitchen stove and then he calls me
[Em]
e|-------0-----------0-----------0-----------0---|
B|-----0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------|
D|-----------------------------------------------|
A|-2-----------2-----------2-----------2---------|
E|-----------------------------------------------|
His days are often empty, he’s nothing much to do
[A] [A7]
e|-------0-----------0-----------0-----------0---|
B|-----2---2-------2---2-------2---2-------2---2-|
G|---2-------2---2-------2---0-------0---0-------|
D|-2-----------2-----------2-----------2---------|
A|-----------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------|
So he sits and tells me stories of the travelling life he knew
[G] [D]
e|-------3-----------3-----------2-----------2---|
B|-----0---0-------0---0-------3---3-------3---3-|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---2-------2---2-------|
D|-----------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------|
E|-3-----------2-----------0-----------4---------|
(instrumental fill / transition)
✅ Chords for all verses (arranged cleanly)
✅ A gentle folk strumming pattern (in 4/4)
✅ A fingerpicking tab for the first verse
🎵 Campfire in the Dark
Key: G Major
Time: 4/4 (folk ballad)
Tempo: 75–85 bpm (slow reflective feel)
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4)
Use a relaxed, steady pattern:
Bass – Down – Down-Up – Up-Down-Up
(count: 1 2 3-& 4-&)
Alternate bass notes to give movement (root–fifth):
D: 4th (D), 5th (A)
G: 6th (G), 4th (D)
Em: 6th (E), 4th (B)
A/A7: 5th (A), 4th (E)
Bm: 5th (B), 4th (F#)
🎶 Lyrics with Chords
Verse 1
My [D]father rises early and he [G]makes a sup of [Em]tea,
He [A]lights the kitchen [A7]stove and [G]then he calls [D]me.
His [D]days are often empty, he’s [G]nothing much to [Em]do,
So he [A]sits and tells me [A7]stories of the [G]travelling life he [D]knew.
Refrain 1
In the [Bm]evening they would meet in lonely country [G]lanes,
A [Bm]field away you’d hear a collie [G]bark,
And they’d [Bm]pass the time away with talks about the [G]day,
[A]Standing 'round the [G]campfire in the [Bm]dark,
[A]Standing 'round the [G]campfire in the [Bm]dark.
Verse 2
My [D]mother likes the house, the hot [G]water and the [Em]rooms,
It's [A]warm in the [A7]winter and she’s [G]handy with the [D]broom.
Some[D]times she makes Colcannon, more [G]often Griddle [Em]Bread,
There’s a [A]hunger deep in[A7]side her for a [G]travelling life that’s [D]dead.
Refrain 2
In the [Bm]evening she would lift the black pots from the [G]coals,
A [Bm]bit to eat she always would re[G]mark,
There’d be [Bm]vessels left to clean while children could be [G]seen,
[A]Playing ’round the [G]campfire in the [Bm]dark,
[A]Playing ’round the [G]campfire in the [Bm]dark.
Verse 3
We’d go [D]down to the pool hall to [G]chat up the town [Em]beors,
Some[A]times at their [A7]discos we [G]can’t get past the [D]doors.
We’re [D]still tinkers to them and it’s [G]thrown at our [Em]ears,
We’re [A]still the awful [A7]strangers [G]after all these [D]years.
Verse 4
And I [D]think about my own life and the [G]way that it will [Em]be,
An [A]Escort van, a [A7]bit of dealing, a [G]wife and fami[D]ly.
[D]Thursday I collect the Dole, [G]Friday pitch and [Em]toss,
But [A]on the site I [A7]think about the [G]travellers’ ways we’ve [D]lost.
Refrain 3
And I [Bm]wish that I could rise, wash the sleep out of these [G]eyes,
And [Bm]listen to the sweet song of the [G]lark,
And I [Bm]wish that I could be in campfire compa[G]ny,
With the [A]sound of horses [G]moving in the [Bm]dark,
With the [A]sound of horses [G]moving in the [Bm]dark,
With the [A]sound of horses [G]moving in the [Bm]dark.
🎸 Fingerpicking Tab — First Verse
A gentle alternating-bass fingerpicking style fits perfectly here.
Use:
Thumb (T) = bass strings
Index (I) = G string
Middle (M) = B string
Ring (R) = high E string
Pattern:
T – I – M – R (3 or 4 times per bar depending on phrasing)
[D]
e|-------2-----------2-----------2-----------2---|
B|-----3---3-------3---3-------3---3-------3---3-|
G|---2-------2---2-------2---2-------2---2-------|
D|-0-----------4-----------0-----------4---------|
A|-----------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------|
My father rises early and he makes a sup of tea
[G]
e|-------3-----------3-----------3-----------3---|
B|-----0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------|
D|-----------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------|
E|-3-----------2-----------3-----------2---------|
He lights the kitchen stove and then he calls me
[Em]
e|-------0-----------0-----------0-----------0---|
B|-----0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------|
D|-----------------------------------------------|
A|-2-----------2-----------2-----------2---------|
E|-----------------------------------------------|
His days are often empty, he’s nothing much to do
[A] [A7]
e|-------0-----------0-----------0-----------0---|
B|-----2---2-------2---2-------2---2-------2---2-|
G|---2-------2---2-------2---0-------0---0-------|
D|-2-----------2-----------2-----------2---------|
A|-----------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------|
So he sits and tells me stories of the travelling life he knew
[G] [D]
e|-------3-----------3-----------2-----------2---|
B|-----0---0-------0---0-------3---3-------3---3-|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---2-------2---2-------|
D|-----------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------|
E|-3-----------2-----------0-----------4---------|
(instrumental fill / transition)
Below is the list of songs in the Furey Brothers Tin Whistle Sheet Music Tabs.
Some of the later songs that were recorded by Finbar Furey are included
The price of the ebook is €9.95. Campfire in the dark sheet music is included.
Some of the later songs that were recorded by Finbar Furey are included
The price of the ebook is €9.95. Campfire in the dark sheet music is included.
Campfire In The Dark Song by The Fureys
