Don't Hand Me Over Lyrics And Chords

Notes by Christy Moore.
​Don't Hand Me Over,Author Unknown
I rang Mick Hanly about this song thinking
he had written it but he had not heard it
before. I've no idea when I recorded it or
who wrote it but that sounds to me like Arty
McGlynn on guitar.
C.M. - vocal and guitar
Donal Lunny - bodhrán
Arty McGlynn - guitar (I think]

​[C#]I was born in Derry City,
I grew [F#]up in that war torn [C#]town
As  I watched the system crumble
I [Ab]saw people's lives turned upside [C#]down.

How do you [F#]fight back to get your [C#]right back
To walk [Ab]free down the [C#]street
When your name and address singles you out
For [Ab]every Peeler on the [C#]beat.

Don't hand me [F#]over, Don't hand me [C#]over
For a [Ab]crime I haven't [C#]done.
I'm not [F#]guilty and you [C#]know it
But [Ab]you said one day you'd send me [C#]down.

I [C#]kept my distance, I kept my silence
I got more [F#]angry day by [C#]day
I say the soldiers beat my neighbours
[Ab]Come and take my closest friends a[C#]way.

I left [F#]home, moved down to [C#]Dublin,
Not [Ab]knowing what I'd [c#]find,
When I got me a job and a place to stay
I thought [Ab]that I could leave the war be[C#]hind.

Don't hand me over, Don't hand me over
For a crime I haven't done.
I'm not guilty and you know it
But you said one day you'd send me down.

Then they began to watch me,
And follow me 'round town,
We know your name and where you come from
Tell me the day would send me down.

At dawn one morning I was arrested
And extradited the very same day
I was terrorised and beaten so badly
That I signed my life away.

Don't hand me over, Don't hand me over
For a crime I haven't done.
I'm not guilty and you know it
But you said one day you'd send me down.

The rags in Fleet street had a field day
If you were Irish you were scum,
Long before my trial was opened
The media had me all but hung.

English justice for Irish people
The case of the Birmingham Six sums it up
These people must be guilty 
Or forty policemen will be seen to be currupt

Over here I'm hated, I'm isolated
I find it hard to live in hope
I'm just reefing through this bible
And wondering how long that I can cope

Don't hand me over, Don't hand me over
For a crime I haven't done.
I'm not guilty and you know it
But you said one day you'd send me down.

​[Here's the easy version of the chords in the key of G]

[G]I was born in Derry City,
I grew [C]up in that war torn [G]town
As  I watched the system crumble
I [D]saw people's lives turned upside [G]down.

How do you [C]fight back to get your [G]right back
To walk [D]free down the [G]street
When your name and address singles you out
For [D]every Peeler on the [G]beat.

Don't hand me [C]over, Don't hand me [G]over
For a [D]crime I haven't [G]done.
I'm not [C]guilty and you [G]know it
But [D]you said one day you'd send me [G]down.

I [G]kept my distance, I kept my silence
I got more [C]angry day by [G]day
I say the soldiers beat my neighbours
[D]Come and take my closest friends a[G]way.

I left [C]home, moved down to [G]Dublin,
Not [D]knowing what I'd [c#]find,
When I got me a job and a place to stay
I thought [D]that I could leave the war be[G]hind.