Danny Farrell Irish lyrics and chords
written by singer / songwriter Pete St.John, recorded by The Dublin City Ramblers, The Dubliners also recorded it with Ronnie Drew doing the singing. If your not Irish you might not recognize some of the words or their meaning might not be known to you. Wellers are Wellington Boots, Gurrier is a blackguard or bad person, Amadan is Irish for a fool, Tinkers are members of the travelling people. This song was the flip side of the Dublin City Ramblers single The Rare Auld Times song which was their biggest hit song. The tin whistle sheet music is included. The whistle notes are in a different key than the guitar chords. I had to bring the notes several tones for the song to work on the whistle. The youtube video is by The Dublin City Ramblers and as far as I know were the first to record Danny Farrell. The ramblers version include a key change towards the end which is optional. They change to the key of E Major. Other songs here that include the name ''Danny'' in the title would be Danny Boy Song which is one of the must well known folk songs of all time.
I[D] knew Danny Farrell when his football was a can.
In his hand me down's and wellers and[A7] sandwiches of grand,
But[D] now this pave ment pesent,is a[G] full grown bitter [D]man,
With all his trials and troubles,of hes[A7] travelling people's[D] clan
[Chorus]
He's[D] a looser a boozer,me and you user,
A[A7] rater a traitor,peoples police hater,
So[D] lonely and only,what you call a gurrier,
[A7]Still now,Danny Farrell he's a man.
[2]
I knew Danny Farrell when he joined the national school,
He was lousy at the gaelic,called him amadan and fool
He was brilliant at the toss school
Or trading objects in the pawn
By the time he was an adult all his charming ways were gone.
[3]
I knew Danny Farrell when he queued up for the dole,
And he tried to hide his loss of pride,
That eats away the soul,
Mending pots and kettles,is a trade lost in the past.
There's no hand out's here for tinkers was the answer when he asked.
[4]
I still know Danny Farrell,saw him just there yesterday,
Drinking methylated spirits,with some winos on the quay,
Now he's fourty going on eighty,with his eyes of hope bereft,
And he told me this for certain,theres not many of us left,
[Repeat Chorus After Each Verse]
In his hand me down's and wellers and[A7] sandwiches of grand,
But[D] now this pave ment pesent,is a[G] full grown bitter [D]man,
With all his trials and troubles,of hes[A7] travelling people's[D] clan
[Chorus]
He's[D] a looser a boozer,me and you user,
A[A7] rater a traitor,peoples police hater,
So[D] lonely and only,what you call a gurrier,
[A7]Still now,Danny Farrell he's a man.
[2]
I knew Danny Farrell when he joined the national school,
He was lousy at the gaelic,called him amadan and fool
He was brilliant at the toss school
Or trading objects in the pawn
By the time he was an adult all his charming ways were gone.
[3]
I knew Danny Farrell when he queued up for the dole,
And he tried to hide his loss of pride,
That eats away the soul,
Mending pots and kettles,is a trade lost in the past.
There's no hand out's here for tinkers was the answer when he asked.
[4]
I still know Danny Farrell,saw him just there yesterday,
Drinking methylated spirits,with some winos on the quay,
Now he's fourty going on eighty,with his eyes of hope bereft,
And he told me this for certain,theres not many of us left,
[Repeat Chorus After Each Verse]
a fingerpicking version of “Danny Farrell” brings out its sadness and Irish storytelling heart beautifully.
Here’s a gentle, folk-style fingerpicking arrangement in D Major, perfect for solo acoustic guitar.
🎵 Danny Farrell – Fingerpicking Version (D Major)
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Time Signature: 4/4 (slow ballad)
Tempo: ~70–75 BPM
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern
This is a steady alternating bass pattern, great for Irish-style ballads.
Counting: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Pattern:
Thumb (T) → Index (I) → Thumb (T) → Middle (M)
Or simply think:
Bass – Treble – Bass – Treble
You can assign your fingers as follows:
Thumb (T): plays bass (E, A, or D string)
Index (I): plays G string
Middle (M): plays B string
Ring (A): can add the high E if you want a fuller sound
🎶 Example Pattern by Chord
Chord Bass (Thumb) Finger Pick (I+M)
D 4th string 3rd + 2nd strings
A7 5th string 3rd + 2nd strings
G 6th string 3rd + 2nd strings
Pattern (in TAB)
D chord example (4/4 fingerpicking)
e|-------2---------2-----|
B|-----3---3-----3---3---|
G|---2-------2-2-------2-|
D|-0---------------------|
A|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|
🎵 Verse 1 – Fingerpicking TAB + Chords
(Use this same picking pattern throughout all verses.)
D A7
e|-------2---------2-----|-------0---------0-----|
B|-----3---3-----3---3---|-----2---2-----2---2---|
G|---2-------2-2-------2-|---0-------0-0-------0-|
D|-0---------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-0---------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
D G
e|-------2---------2-----|-------3---------3-----|
B|-----3---3-----3---3---|-----0---0-----0---0---|
G|---2-------2-2-------2-|---0-------0-0-------0-|
D|-0---------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-3---------------------|
D A7 D
e|-------2---------2-----|-------0---------0-----|-------2---------2-----|
B|-----3---3-----3---3---|-----2---2-----2---2---|-----3---3-----3---3---|
G|---2-------2-2-------2-|---0-------0-0-------0-|---2-------2-2-------2-|
D|-0---------------------|-----------------------|-0---------------------|
A|-----------------------|-0---------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
Lyrics:
[D]I knew Danny Farrell when his football was a can,
In his hand-me-downs and wellers and [A7]sandwiches of grand,
But [D]now this pavement peasant is a [G]full-grown bitter man,
With all his trials and troubles of his [A7]travelling people's [D]clan.
Fingerpicking Tips
🎵 Keep the rhythm steady — don’t rush.
🎵 Let each note ring (especially the bass).
🎵 Use your thumb alternately between D and A strings on D and A7 chords for movement.
🎵 Between verses, let the last D chord ring for one full measure for reflection.
Optional Irish Ornament (Pull-off or Hammer-on)
On D chord, hammer the high E string 0 → 2 on beat 2 (imitates uilleann pipes).
On G chord, hammer the A string 0 → 2 for lift.
💡 Play Structure
Verse 1 – Soft and reflective
Verse 2 – Slightly stronger, emphasize bass
Verse 3 – Quieter again, melancholy
Verse 4 – Fade out gently, last line slow
🎵 Danny Farrell
Key: D Major
Tempo: ~90 BPM
Time Signature: 4/4
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Folk Ballad Feel)
↓ ↓ ↑↑ ↓ ↑
(count: 1 2 & & 3 & 4 &)
Keep the first two downstrokes soft and even; it should flow gently but rhythmically — not too fast, like a story being told.
Alternatively, for a slower waltz-like feel:
↓ – ↓ ↑ – ↑ ↓ ↑
(try this if you’re fingerpicking or want it gentler)
Verse 1
[D]I knew Danny Farrell when his football was a can,
In his hand-me-downs and wellers and [A7]sandwiches of grand,
But [D]now this pavement peasant is a [G]full-grown bitter [D]man,
With all his trials and troubles of his [A7]travelling people's [D]clan.
Chorus
He's a [D]loser, a boozer, me and you user,
A [A7]rater, a traitor, people's police hater,
So [D]lonely and only, what you call a gurrier,
[A7]Still now, Danny Farrell, he's a [D]man.
Verse 2
[D]I knew Danny Farrell when he joined the national school,
He was lousy at the Gaelic, called [A7]amadan and fool,
He was [D]brilliant at the toss school
Or [G]trading objects in the [D]pawn,
By the time he was an adult, all his [A7]charming ways were [D]gone.
Chorus
He's a [D]loser, a boozer, me and you user,
A [A7]rater, a traitor, people's police hater,
So [D]lonely and only, what you call a gurrier,
[A7]Still now, Danny Farrell, he's a [D]man.
Verse 3
[D]I knew Danny Farrell when he queued up for the dole,
And he tried to hide his loss of pride,
That [A7]eats away the soul,
Mending [D]pots and kettles is a [G]trade lost in the [D]past,
"There's no handouts here for tinkers,"
Was the [A7]answer when he [D]asked.
Chorus
He's a [D]loser, a boozer, me and you user,
A [A7]rater, a traitor, people's police hater,
So [D]lonely and only, what you call a gurrier,
[A7]Still now, Danny Farrell, he's a [D]man.
Verse 4
[D]I still know Danny Farrell, saw him just there yesterday,
Drinking methylated spirits with some [A7]winos on the quay,
Now he's [D]forty going on eighty, with his [G]eyes of hope bereft,
And he [D]told me this for certain —
There's not [A7]many of us [D]left.
Final Chorus (slow it down slightly)
He's a [D]loser, a boozer, me and you user,
A [A7]rater, a traitor, people's police hater,
So [D]lonely and only, what you call a gurrier,
[A7]Still now, Danny Farrell, he's a [D]man.
🎶 Performance Notes
Keep the verses quieter and storytelling-focused.
Bring up the energy a bit for the chorus, like a tavern sing-along.
On the last line, strum once slowly on the final D chord and let it ring.
Here’s a gentle, folk-style fingerpicking arrangement in D Major, perfect for solo acoustic guitar.
🎵 Danny Farrell – Fingerpicking Version (D Major)
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Time Signature: 4/4 (slow ballad)
Tempo: ~70–75 BPM
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern
This is a steady alternating bass pattern, great for Irish-style ballads.
Counting: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Pattern:
Thumb (T) → Index (I) → Thumb (T) → Middle (M)
Or simply think:
Bass – Treble – Bass – Treble
You can assign your fingers as follows:
Thumb (T): plays bass (E, A, or D string)
Index (I): plays G string
Middle (M): plays B string
Ring (A): can add the high E if you want a fuller sound
🎶 Example Pattern by Chord
Chord Bass (Thumb) Finger Pick (I+M)
D 4th string 3rd + 2nd strings
A7 5th string 3rd + 2nd strings
G 6th string 3rd + 2nd strings
Pattern (in TAB)
D chord example (4/4 fingerpicking)
e|-------2---------2-----|
B|-----3---3-----3---3---|
G|---2-------2-2-------2-|
D|-0---------------------|
A|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|
🎵 Verse 1 – Fingerpicking TAB + Chords
(Use this same picking pattern throughout all verses.)
D A7
e|-------2---------2-----|-------0---------0-----|
B|-----3---3-----3---3---|-----2---2-----2---2---|
G|---2-------2-2-------2-|---0-------0-0-------0-|
D|-0---------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-0---------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
D G
e|-------2---------2-----|-------3---------3-----|
B|-----3---3-----3---3---|-----0---0-----0---0---|
G|---2-------2-2-------2-|---0-------0-0-------0-|
D|-0---------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-3---------------------|
D A7 D
e|-------2---------2-----|-------0---------0-----|-------2---------2-----|
B|-----3---3-----3---3---|-----2---2-----2---2---|-----3---3-----3---3---|
G|---2-------2-2-------2-|---0-------0-0-------0-|---2-------2-2-------2-|
D|-0---------------------|-----------------------|-0---------------------|
A|-----------------------|-0---------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
Lyrics:
[D]I knew Danny Farrell when his football was a can,
In his hand-me-downs and wellers and [A7]sandwiches of grand,
But [D]now this pavement peasant is a [G]full-grown bitter man,
With all his trials and troubles of his [A7]travelling people's [D]clan.
Fingerpicking Tips
🎵 Keep the rhythm steady — don’t rush.
🎵 Let each note ring (especially the bass).
🎵 Use your thumb alternately between D and A strings on D and A7 chords for movement.
🎵 Between verses, let the last D chord ring for one full measure for reflection.
Optional Irish Ornament (Pull-off or Hammer-on)
On D chord, hammer the high E string 0 → 2 on beat 2 (imitates uilleann pipes).
On G chord, hammer the A string 0 → 2 for lift.
💡 Play Structure
Verse 1 – Soft and reflective
Verse 2 – Slightly stronger, emphasize bass
Verse 3 – Quieter again, melancholy
Verse 4 – Fade out gently, last line slow
🎵 Danny Farrell
Key: D Major
Tempo: ~90 BPM
Time Signature: 4/4
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Folk Ballad Feel)
↓ ↓ ↑↑ ↓ ↑
(count: 1 2 & & 3 & 4 &)
Keep the first two downstrokes soft and even; it should flow gently but rhythmically — not too fast, like a story being told.
Alternatively, for a slower waltz-like feel:
↓ – ↓ ↑ – ↑ ↓ ↑
(try this if you’re fingerpicking or want it gentler)
Verse 1
[D]I knew Danny Farrell when his football was a can,
In his hand-me-downs and wellers and [A7]sandwiches of grand,
But [D]now this pavement peasant is a [G]full-grown bitter [D]man,
With all his trials and troubles of his [A7]travelling people's [D]clan.
Chorus
He's a [D]loser, a boozer, me and you user,
A [A7]rater, a traitor, people's police hater,
So [D]lonely and only, what you call a gurrier,
[A7]Still now, Danny Farrell, he's a [D]man.
Verse 2
[D]I knew Danny Farrell when he joined the national school,
He was lousy at the Gaelic, called [A7]amadan and fool,
He was [D]brilliant at the toss school
Or [G]trading objects in the [D]pawn,
By the time he was an adult, all his [A7]charming ways were [D]gone.
Chorus
He's a [D]loser, a boozer, me and you user,
A [A7]rater, a traitor, people's police hater,
So [D]lonely and only, what you call a gurrier,
[A7]Still now, Danny Farrell, he's a [D]man.
Verse 3
[D]I knew Danny Farrell when he queued up for the dole,
And he tried to hide his loss of pride,
That [A7]eats away the soul,
Mending [D]pots and kettles is a [G]trade lost in the [D]past,
"There's no handouts here for tinkers,"
Was the [A7]answer when he [D]asked.
Chorus
He's a [D]loser, a boozer, me and you user,
A [A7]rater, a traitor, people's police hater,
So [D]lonely and only, what you call a gurrier,
[A7]Still now, Danny Farrell, he's a [D]man.
Verse 4
[D]I still know Danny Farrell, saw him just there yesterday,
Drinking methylated spirits with some [A7]winos on the quay,
Now he's [D]forty going on eighty, with his [G]eyes of hope bereft,
And he [D]told me this for certain —
There's not [A7]many of us [D]left.
Final Chorus (slow it down slightly)
He's a [D]loser, a boozer, me and you user,
A [A7]rater, a traitor, people's police hater,
So [D]lonely and only, what you call a gurrier,
[A7]Still now, Danny Farrell, he's a [D]man.
🎶 Performance Notes
Keep the verses quieter and storytelling-focused.
Bring up the energy a bit for the chorus, like a tavern sing-along.
On the last line, strum once slowly on the final D chord and let it ring.
Danny Farrell Sheet Music Notes For Tin Whistle
Danny Farrell lyrics
Danny Farrell lyrics by Patsy Watchorn
