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Harp Without A Crown lyrics and chords

 By The Irish Brigade [ lyrics ]. Written by Gerry O'Glacain. An Irish rebel song.
The sheet music / tin whistle notes to Harp Without A Crown / Kevin Lynch are 
​in the pdf ebook of rebel songs here .
Those [G] friends around Dungiven town,
They [C] miss you Kevin [G] still,
Your [Dm] memory lingers [G] in their hearts,
You [C] know it always [G] will,
Your [Dm] sacrifice fans [G] up the flames,
That [C] never will be [G] drowned,
So in our hearts we'll struggle on,
For the [C] harp without a [G] crown
 
[chorus]
Let [Dm] touts and traitors [G] do their worst,
Our [C] flag we'll still hold [G] tight,
We have brave men yet like Kevin Lynch,
Who'll [C] not stand idly [G] by.
 
In childhood years you saw the rise,
Of your people from their knees,
Demanding only civil rights,
They were beaten savagely,
On that dark Derry Sunday,
Fourteen brave men shot down,
Through Ireland's woe your love did grow
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​Below you’ll find:

🎵 Full chords for verses and chorus (in G Major)

🎸 A strumming pattern (for ballad or group singing)

🎶 A fingerpicking tab for all verses (lyrics aligned line-by-line for performance)

🎵 “Kevin Lynch Tribute” — in G Major

Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~70–75 BPM (slow Irish ballad tempo)
Time Signature: 4/4

🎶 1. Full Song with Chords (in G Major)
Verse
Those [G]friends around Dungiven town,  
They [C]miss you, Kevin [G]still,  
Your [Am]memory lingers [G]in their hearts,  
You [C]know it always [G]will,  
Your [Am]sacrifice fans [G]up the flames,  
That [C]never will be [G]drowned,  
So in our hearts we’ll struggle on,  
For the [C]harp without a [G]crown.

Chorus
Let [Am]touts and traitors [G]do their worst,  
Our [C]flag we’ll still hold [G]tight,  
We have brave men yet like Kevin Lynch,  
Who’ll [C]not stand idly [G]by.

🎸 2. Strumming Pattern

Since this is a slow reflective song, keep it gentle — like a soft heartbeat.

Basic Ballad Strumming Pattern (per measure):

↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑

Count:

1 2& &4&

Optional Simplified for verses:

↓ ↓ ↓↑ (slower, lighter)

Tips:

Use your fingers or a soft pick for warmth.

Slightly accent the second downstroke for Irish lilt.

Let chords ring and breathe — don’t rush transitions.

For the chorus, strum a bit stronger to lift the emotion.

🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)

Style: Travis or arpeggiated picking — calm, slow pattern.

Thumb = alternating bass (E–D or A–D depending on chord)

Index = G string

Middle = B string

Picking pattern:

T – I – T – M

Verse Fingerpicking Arrangement
   G
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
 Those friends around Dungiven town,

   C                              G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
 They miss you, Kevin still,

   Am                             G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--0-------------|--0-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
 Your memory lingers in their hearts,
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