I Wish I Had Someone To Love Me lyrics and guitar chords
I Wish I Had Someone To Love Me lyrics and easy guitar chordsThis old song was recorded by Johnny McEvoy, Masterless Men, and later by The Dubliners with Barney McKenna singing.The ukulele chords are included for the key of A. The guitar chords are in chordpro formatting. Written by Bill Massey.I Wish I Had Someone To Love Me Sheet Music this version is by Barney who sadly passed away on the 5/4/2012 and will be sadly missed by everybody in the world of folk music. He was 72 years old. Other love songs here which are a little bit more lively include Say You Love Me Lyrics by Dessie O'Halloran and Sharon Shannon. Irish country singer Paddy O'Brien also recorded this song on his album ''Country Treasures ''. In America, where the song comes from, it's known as ''The Prisoner's Song''.
About The Song.
This one is an aching, moonlit lament, sung by a lad with a heart heavier than a pub snug on lock-in night. It’s a song soaked in sorrow and longing — not the flashy heartbreak of pop songs, but the quiet, lonely kind that gnaws at you like a bad tooth in winter.
It begins with the poor fella wishing for someone to love him — someone to call him their own. Not a casual fling, mind you — he’s after proper devotion, the kind where you stay through storms, snoring, and unemployment. He’s “weary of being alone” — which in Irish translates to:
“I’ve stared at my own four walls so long I know each crack personally.”
Then he wants to meet in the moonlight to share a sad story — and you just KNOW it’s going to be the kind of story that has alcohol involved at some point.
Sure enough — the man’s going to jail tomorrow, leaving his sweetheart behind. Perhaps theft, perhaps rebellion, perhaps simply being Irish in the wrong era — the song politely doesn’t specify. But he’ll be sleeping with his head on a pillow of stone — which is poetic shorthand for:
“Irish prisons didn’t bother with comfort.”
And then comes the heartbreak twist:
Tonight is their last night together before iron bars and separation tear them apart. It’s like Romeo and Juliet — except with more moonlight and less poetry, and significantly more common sense.
Then he claims he’s got a ship full of silver and gold — which, let’s be honest, is probably about as real as a politician’s promise. But it’s a grand romantic gesture — he swears he’d sell it all before letting her suffer. If he actually had any of it.
Then, the final flourish of dramatic Irish romanticism:
He wishes for the wings of a sparrow so he could fly over the prison walls and into the arms of his love.
A sparrow! Not an eagle, not a swan — a wee bird the size of a potato. That’s Irish modesty even in fantasy.
In short, the song is:
This one is an aching, moonlit lament, sung by a lad with a heart heavier than a pub snug on lock-in night. It’s a song soaked in sorrow and longing — not the flashy heartbreak of pop songs, but the quiet, lonely kind that gnaws at you like a bad tooth in winter.
It begins with the poor fella wishing for someone to love him — someone to call him their own. Not a casual fling, mind you — he’s after proper devotion, the kind where you stay through storms, snoring, and unemployment. He’s “weary of being alone” — which in Irish translates to:
“I’ve stared at my own four walls so long I know each crack personally.”
Then he wants to meet in the moonlight to share a sad story — and you just KNOW it’s going to be the kind of story that has alcohol involved at some point.
Sure enough — the man’s going to jail tomorrow, leaving his sweetheart behind. Perhaps theft, perhaps rebellion, perhaps simply being Irish in the wrong era — the song politely doesn’t specify. But he’ll be sleeping with his head on a pillow of stone — which is poetic shorthand for:
“Irish prisons didn’t bother with comfort.”
And then comes the heartbreak twist:
Tonight is their last night together before iron bars and separation tear them apart. It’s like Romeo and Juliet — except with more moonlight and less poetry, and significantly more common sense.
Then he claims he’s got a ship full of silver and gold — which, let’s be honest, is probably about as real as a politician’s promise. But it’s a grand romantic gesture — he swears he’d sell it all before letting her suffer. If he actually had any of it.
Then, the final flourish of dramatic Irish romanticism:
He wishes for the wings of a sparrow so he could fly over the prison walls and into the arms of his love.
A sparrow! Not an eagle, not a swan — a wee bird the size of a potato. That’s Irish modesty even in fantasy.
In short, the song is:
- sadder than a Sunday evening
- sweeter than a stolen kiss
- full of moonlight-melodrama
- and powered by pure Irish romantic desperation
I wish I had someone to love me lyrics
I wish I had someone to love me / The Prisoner's Song guitar chords and tab
Easy Guitar Chords In The Key Of A Major
[A] I wish I had someone to [D] love [A] me,
[D] Someone to [A] call me their [E] own,
[A] Someone to stay with me [D] al- A] ways,
I'm [D] weary of [E] being [A] alone.
[A] Meet me tonight in the [D] moon- [A] light,
[D] Meet me [A] tonight all [E] alone;
[A] I have a sad story to [D] tell [A] you,
I'll [D] tell by the [E] light of the [A] moon.
[A] I wish I had someone to [D] love [A] me,
[D] Someone to [A] call me their [E] own,
[A] Someone to stay with me [D] al- [A] ways,
I'm [D] weary of [E] being [A] alone.
[A] I'll be sent to the new jail [D] tomor- [A] row,
[D] Leavin' my [A] darlin' [E] alone,
[A] With the cold iron bars all [D] around [A] me,
And [D] my head on a [E] pillow of [A] stone.
[A] I wish I had someone to [D] love [A] me,
[D] Someone to [A] call me their [E] own,
[A] Someone to stay with me [D] al- [A] ways,
I'm [D] weary of [E] being [A] alone.
[A] Tonight is our last night [D] toget- [A] her,
The [D] nearest and [A] dearest must [E] part,
[A] For all that has bound us [D] toget- [A] her,
Is [D] quickly being [E] torn [A] apart.
[A] I wish I had someone to [D] love [A] me,
[D] Someone to [A] call me their [E] own,
[A] Someone to stay with me [D] al- [A] ways,
I'm [D] weary of [E] being [A] alone.
[A] I have a large ship on the [D] o- [A] cean,
All [D] laden with [A] silver and [E] gold,
[A] And before my poor darlin' will [D] suf- [A] fer,
That [D] ship will be [E] anchored and [A] sold.
[A] I wish I had someone to [D] love [A] me,
[D] Someone to [A] call me their [E] own,
[A] Someone to stay with me [D] al- [A] ways,
I'm [D] weary of [E] being [A] alone.
[A] I wish I had wings of a [D] spar- [A] row,
For [D] those prison [A] walls I must [E] flee;
[A] I'd fly to the arms of my [D] true [A] love,
And [D] bring her home [E] safety to [A] me.
[A] I wish I had someone to [D] love [A] me,
[D] Someone to [A] call me their [E] own,
[A] Someone to stay with me [D] al- [A] ways,
I'm [D] weary of [E] being [A] alone.
[A] I'm [E] weary of being [A] alone.
[A] I wish I had someone to [D] love [A] me,
[D] Someone to [A] call me their [E] own,
[A] Someone to stay with me [D] al- A] ways,
I'm [D] weary of [E] being [A] alone.
[A] Meet me tonight in the [D] moon- [A] light,
[D] Meet me [A] tonight all [E] alone;
[A] I have a sad story to [D] tell [A] you,
I'll [D] tell by the [E] light of the [A] moon.
[A] I wish I had someone to [D] love [A] me,
[D] Someone to [A] call me their [E] own,
[A] Someone to stay with me [D] al- [A] ways,
I'm [D] weary of [E] being [A] alone.
[A] I'll be sent to the new jail [D] tomor- [A] row,
[D] Leavin' my [A] darlin' [E] alone,
[A] With the cold iron bars all [D] around [A] me,
And [D] my head on a [E] pillow of [A] stone.
[A] I wish I had someone to [D] love [A] me,
[D] Someone to [A] call me their [E] own,
[A] Someone to stay with me [D] al- [A] ways,
I'm [D] weary of [E] being [A] alone.
[A] Tonight is our last night [D] toget- [A] her,
The [D] nearest and [A] dearest must [E] part,
[A] For all that has bound us [D] toget- [A] her,
Is [D] quickly being [E] torn [A] apart.
[A] I wish I had someone to [D] love [A] me,
[D] Someone to [A] call me their [E] own,
[A] Someone to stay with me [D] al- [A] ways,
I'm [D] weary of [E] being [A] alone.
[A] I have a large ship on the [D] o- [A] cean,
All [D] laden with [A] silver and [E] gold,
[A] And before my poor darlin' will [D] suf- [A] fer,
That [D] ship will be [E] anchored and [A] sold.
[A] I wish I had someone to [D] love [A] me,
[D] Someone to [A] call me their [E] own,
[A] Someone to stay with me [D] al- [A] ways,
I'm [D] weary of [E] being [A] alone.
[A] I wish I had wings of a [D] spar- [A] row,
For [D] those prison [A] walls I must [E] flee;
[A] I'd fly to the arms of my [D] true [A] love,
And [D] bring her home [E] safety to [A] me.
[A] I wish I had someone to [D] love [A] me,
[D] Someone to [A] call me their [E] own,
[A] Someone to stay with me [D] al- [A] ways,
I'm [D] weary of [E] being [A] alone.
[A] I'm [E] weary of being [A] alone.
I wish I had someone to love me ukulele chords
Barney McKenna song I Wish I Had Someone To Love Me
here’s “I Wish I Had Someone to Love Me” transposed from A major → G major, with all chords updated, a clear strumming pattern, and performance notes for that soft, lonesome Irish folk feel.
🎵 I Wish I Had Someone to Love Me
Key: G Major
Tempo: Slow ballad (≈ 70–80 bpm)
Time Signature: 3/4 (waltz feel)
Mood: Lonesome, reflective
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 waltz)
A gentle, flowing pattern fits this song best:
↓ ↓ ↑ | ↓ ↓ ↑
Count: 1 2& | 3 2&
Or fingerpick: Bass – Down – Up on each measure for a slow, emotional style.
🎶 2-Bar Intro (Fingerpicked Lead-In)
Key: G Major
Tempo: Slow Waltz (3/4 time)
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
You’ll play this once before the first verse begins.
🎸 TAB (fingerpicked intro)
G D
e|--------3--------3--------|--------2--------2--------|
B|------0---0----0---0------|------3---3----3---3------|
G|----0--------0------------|----2--------2-------------|
D|---------------------------|--0-----------------------|
A|--2------------------------|--------------------------|
E|3--------------------------|--------------------------|
C G
e|--------0--------0--------|--------3--------3--------|
B|------1---1----1---1------|------0---0----0---0------|
G|----0--------0------------|----0--------0-------------|
D|--2------------------------|--------------------------|
A|3--------------------------|--2-----------------------|
E|---------------------------|3-------------------------|
(Let the final G note ring before you begin singing “I wish I had someone to love me…”)
💡 How to Play It
Use thumb (P) for bass notes (E, A, D strings).
Use index (I) for the G string, middle (M) for the B string, and ring (A) for the high E string.
Each chord pattern lasts one bar (3 beats) — pick bass – G – B – E gently in rhythm.
After the final G, move right into the first vocal line.
🎵 Transition into Verse
As that final G chord rings, take a breath and sing:
🎤 “I wish I had someone to love me…”
and continue into the verse progression:
[G] I wish I had someone to [C] love [G] me...
🎸 Optional Outro (Matching Ending)
End the song by playing the same 2-bar intro pattern again — but slow the final G chord and let it ring softly to silence.
🎶 Lyrics with Chords
Verse 1
[G] I wish I had someone to [C] love [G] me,
[C] Someone to [G] call me their [D] own,
[G] Someone to stay with me [C] al- [G] ways,
I'm [C] weary of [D] being [G] alone.
Verse 2
[G] Meet me tonight in the [C] moon- [G] light,
[C] Meet me [G] tonight all [D] alone;
[G] I have a sad story to [C] tell [G] you,
I'll [C] tell by the [D] light of the [G] moon.
(Repeat Chorus / Verse 1)
[G] I wish I had someone to [C] love [G] me,
[C] Someone to [G] call me their [D] own,
[G] Someone to stay with me [C] al- [G] ways,
I'm [C] weary of [D] being [G] alone.
Verse 3
[G] I'll be sent to the new jail [C] tomor- [G] row,
[C] Leaving my [G] darlin' [D] alone,
[G] With the cold iron bars all [C] around [G] me,
And [C] my head on a [D] pillow of [G] stone.
(Repeat Chorus)
Verse 4
[G] Tonight is our last night [C] toget- [G] her,
[C] The nearest and [G] dearest must [D] part,
[G] For all that has bound us [C] toget- [G] her,
Is [C] quickly being [D] torn [G] apart.
(Repeat Chorus)
Verse 5
[G] I have a large ship on the [C] o- [G] cean,
[C] All laden with [G] silver and [D] gold,
[G] And before my poor darlin' will [C] suf- [G] fer,
That [C] ship will be [D] anchored and [G] sold.
(Repeat Chorus)
Verse 6
[G] I wish I had wings of a [C] spar- [G] row,
[C] For those prison [G] walls I must [D] flee;
[G] I'd fly to the arms of my [C] true [G] love,
And [C] bring her home [D] safely to [G] me.
(Repeat Chorus)
Final Tag
[G] I'm [D] weary of being [G] alone.
🎵 Optional Fingerpicking Pattern (gentle accompaniment)
For a more emotional tone, play:
Bass (string 6 or 5) – Down – Up – Bass – Down – Up
Example for G chord:
Bass: 6th string
Pattern: 6 – 4 – 3 – 6 – 4 – 3
This gives that slow rolling waltz pulse — perfect under vocals.
☘️ Performance Tips
Keep the tempo steady and slow; let the lyrics breathe.
Add a touch of vibrato or hammer-ons between C and G for emotion.
On the last line of each verse, slow slightly for dramatic effect.
End on a soft G chord — let it ring out naturally.
🎵 I Wish I Had Someone to Love Me
Key: G Major
Tempo: Slow ballad (≈ 70–80 bpm)
Time Signature: 3/4 (waltz feel)
Mood: Lonesome, reflective
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 waltz)
A gentle, flowing pattern fits this song best:
↓ ↓ ↑ | ↓ ↓ ↑
Count: 1 2& | 3 2&
Or fingerpick: Bass – Down – Up on each measure for a slow, emotional style.
🎶 2-Bar Intro (Fingerpicked Lead-In)
Key: G Major
Tempo: Slow Waltz (3/4 time)
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
You’ll play this once before the first verse begins.
🎸 TAB (fingerpicked intro)
G D
e|--------3--------3--------|--------2--------2--------|
B|------0---0----0---0------|------3---3----3---3------|
G|----0--------0------------|----2--------2-------------|
D|---------------------------|--0-----------------------|
A|--2------------------------|--------------------------|
E|3--------------------------|--------------------------|
C G
e|--------0--------0--------|--------3--------3--------|
B|------1---1----1---1------|------0---0----0---0------|
G|----0--------0------------|----0--------0-------------|
D|--2------------------------|--------------------------|
A|3--------------------------|--2-----------------------|
E|---------------------------|3-------------------------|
(Let the final G note ring before you begin singing “I wish I had someone to love me…”)
💡 How to Play It
Use thumb (P) for bass notes (E, A, D strings).
Use index (I) for the G string, middle (M) for the B string, and ring (A) for the high E string.
Each chord pattern lasts one bar (3 beats) — pick bass – G – B – E gently in rhythm.
After the final G, move right into the first vocal line.
🎵 Transition into Verse
As that final G chord rings, take a breath and sing:
🎤 “I wish I had someone to love me…”
and continue into the verse progression:
[G] I wish I had someone to [C] love [G] me...
🎸 Optional Outro (Matching Ending)
End the song by playing the same 2-bar intro pattern again — but slow the final G chord and let it ring softly to silence.
🎶 Lyrics with Chords
Verse 1
[G] I wish I had someone to [C] love [G] me,
[C] Someone to [G] call me their [D] own,
[G] Someone to stay with me [C] al- [G] ways,
I'm [C] weary of [D] being [G] alone.
Verse 2
[G] Meet me tonight in the [C] moon- [G] light,
[C] Meet me [G] tonight all [D] alone;
[G] I have a sad story to [C] tell [G] you,
I'll [C] tell by the [D] light of the [G] moon.
(Repeat Chorus / Verse 1)
[G] I wish I had someone to [C] love [G] me,
[C] Someone to [G] call me their [D] own,
[G] Someone to stay with me [C] al- [G] ways,
I'm [C] weary of [D] being [G] alone.
Verse 3
[G] I'll be sent to the new jail [C] tomor- [G] row,
[C] Leaving my [G] darlin' [D] alone,
[G] With the cold iron bars all [C] around [G] me,
And [C] my head on a [D] pillow of [G] stone.
(Repeat Chorus)
Verse 4
[G] Tonight is our last night [C] toget- [G] her,
[C] The nearest and [G] dearest must [D] part,
[G] For all that has bound us [C] toget- [G] her,
Is [C] quickly being [D] torn [G] apart.
(Repeat Chorus)
Verse 5
[G] I have a large ship on the [C] o- [G] cean,
[C] All laden with [G] silver and [D] gold,
[G] And before my poor darlin' will [C] suf- [G] fer,
That [C] ship will be [D] anchored and [G] sold.
(Repeat Chorus)
Verse 6
[G] I wish I had wings of a [C] spar- [G] row,
[C] For those prison [G] walls I must [D] flee;
[G] I'd fly to the arms of my [C] true [G] love,
And [C] bring her home [D] safely to [G] me.
(Repeat Chorus)
Final Tag
[G] I'm [D] weary of being [G] alone.
🎵 Optional Fingerpicking Pattern (gentle accompaniment)
For a more emotional tone, play:
Bass (string 6 or 5) – Down – Up – Bass – Down – Up
Example for G chord:
Bass: 6th string
Pattern: 6 – 4 – 3 – 6 – 4 – 3
This gives that slow rolling waltz pulse — perfect under vocals.
☘️ Performance Tips
Keep the tempo steady and slow; let the lyrics breathe.
Add a touch of vibrato or hammer-ons between C and G for emotion.
On the last line of each verse, slow slightly for dramatic effect.
End on a soft G chord — let it ring out naturally.
Chords In The Key Of G Major
[G] I wish I had someone to [C] love [G] me,
[C] Someone to [G] call me their [D] own,
[G] Someone to stay with me [C] al- [G] ways,
I'm [C] weary of [D] being [G] alone.
[G] Meet me tonight in the [C] moon- [G] light,
[C] Meet me [G] tonight all [D] alone;
[G] I have a sad story to [C] tell [G] you,
I'll [C] tell by the [D] light of the [G] moon.
[G] I wish I had someone to [C] love [G] me,
[C] Someone to [G] call me their [D] own,
[G] Someone to stay with me [C] al- [G] ways,
I'm [C] weary of [D] being [G] alone.
[G] Meet me tonight in the [C] moon- [G] light,
[C] Meet me [G] tonight all [D] alone;
[G] I have a sad story to [C] tell [G] you,
I'll [C] tell by the [D] light of the [G] moon.
Girl playing I Wish I Had Someone To Love Me on the guitar
Notes from the Christy Moore Album
A lovely auld song, I tried to record it
many times after learning it from the
singing of Joe Heaney. I heard it on a
tape he made for Lynn Doherty in Maruba
New South Wales.
Sometimes I love to sing
this but not always. Most songs I can put
out almost at will but this one needs a lonely
air around it. It won't exist in my old
atmosphere but maybe needs the ears
of those who know the feeling of loneliness
I Wish I Had Someone To Love Me-Notes by Christy
Moore, from the box set album C.D.
Irish song lyrics G-J
A lovely auld song, I tried to record it
many times after learning it from the
singing of Joe Heaney. I heard it on a
tape he made for Lynn Doherty in Maruba
New South Wales.
Sometimes I love to sing
this but not always. Most songs I can put
out almost at will but this one needs a lonely
air around it. It won't exist in my old
atmosphere but maybe needs the ears
of those who know the feeling of loneliness
I Wish I Had Someone To Love Me-Notes by Christy
Moore, from the box set album C.D.
Irish song lyrics G-J
Below is the ebook list of Irish Folk Songs with guitar chords
in 3 keys. Price €8.90 and I'll email the ebook after purchase .
The chords are suited to ukulele, banjo or mandolin also.
Martin
in 3 keys. Price €8.90 and I'll email the ebook after purchase .
The chords are suited to ukulele, banjo or mandolin also.
Martin
