Ireland unfree lyrics and chords
The phrase'' Ireland unfree shall never be at peace'' was part of a speech given by Padraic Pearse [ song words ] at the grave of Jeremiah O' Donovan Rossa in 1915. I only ever heard The Wolfe Tones sing this song, I have no idea who wrote it. The song features an old man reminiscing about days long ago when he fought in The Easter Rising [ lyrics ]with his friend Padraic Pearse. My version of the sheet music is included in G Major.
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In[G] a dimly lit room by a smouldering[D] fire
Sat an[C] old man so[G] lonely so sad and so[D] tired Once he[G] struggled for freedom now he struggles to[D] live With his[C] few small pos[G]sessions and his past to re[D]live [Chorus] There's a[C] faded old picture on the[G] wall all a[Em]lone A[C] dusty old[D] picture the[C] pride of his[D] home With[C] a harp and a shamrock with these[G] words under[Em]neath [C]Ireland un[D]free shall[C] never be at[D] peace [2] And his thoughts wander back to the days of his prime Oh there seems now that nothing goes faster than time To his comrades of old he remembers the day When he marched behind Pearse and the bold IRA [3] And it's to Easter week and his thoughts wander back Oh those leaders of men sure no courage did lack But now he's just left with his memories of old For his name nor his story will never be told [4] He gazed at the picture and gave a sad smile For each wrinkle and line told a struggle of time Then he gazed once again and his eyes filled with tears For the man in that picture was his friend Padraic Pearse 
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To play along with the Wolfe Tones [ Tommy Byrne Singing ] use the following chords.
In[D] a dimly lit room by a smouldering[A] fire Sat an[G] old man so[D] lonely so sad and so[A] tired Once he[D] struggled for freedom now he struggles to[A] live With his[G] few small pos[D]sessions and his past to re[A]live [Chorus] There's a[G] faded old picture on the[D] wall all alone[Bm] A[G] dusty old[A] picture the[G] pride of his[A] home With[G] a harp and a shamrock with these[D] words under[Bm]neath [G]Ireland un[A]free shall[G] never be at[A] peace. And his [D]thoughts wander back to the [A]days of his prime Oh trhere [G]seems now that [D]nothing goes faster than [A]time To his [D]comrades of old he remembers the [A]day When he [G]marched behind [D]Pearse and the bold IR[A]A There's a[G] faded old picture on the[D] wall all alone[Bm] A[G] dusty old[A] picture the[G] pride of his[A] home With[G] a harp and a shamrock with these[D] words under[Bm]neath [G]Ireland un[A]free shall[G] never be at[F#m]] peac[A]e. [3] And it's to [D]easter week and his thoughts wander [A]back Oh thoes [G]leaders of [D]men sure no courage did [A]lack But [D]now he's just left with his [Bm]memories of[A] old For his [G]name nor his [D]story will never be [A]told [4] He [D]gazed at the picture and [Bm]gave a sad [A]smile For each [G]rinkle and [D]line told a struggle of [A]time Then he [D]gazed once again and his [Bm]eyes filled with [A]tears For the [G]man in that [D]picture was his friend Padraic [A]Pearse |
Below is my interpretation of the sheet music notes for Ireland Unfree by The Wolfe Tones
