Irish soldier laddie lyrics and chords
This song was written by singer / songwriter Written by Pat Mc Guigan [ R.I.P.]
Pat has written many classic Irish songs,including The Boys Of The Old Brigade [ song lyrics ],
The Men Behind The Wire. Pat used to play with Barleycorn, the video is of Danny Doyle who gigs in America now and has made a life for himself there. A brilliant balladeer. The song was also recorded by The Wolfe Tones [ chords ], Charlie And The Bhoys, Gary Og, and Brier
Pat has written many classic Irish songs,including The Boys Of The Old Brigade [ song lyrics ],
The Men Behind The Wire. Pat used to play with Barleycorn, the video is of Danny Doyle who gigs in America now and has made a life for himself there. A brilliant balladeer. The song was also recorded by The Wolfe Tones [ chords ], Charlie And The Bhoys, Gary Og, and Brier
IRISH SOLDIER LADDIE
Some songwriters have the ability to create songs that can be applied to almost any "rebel era" with equal case. Paddy McGuigan is such a writer. Having "paid his rebel dues" with a sojourn of internment on HMS Maidstone, he has fired off a barrage of rebel songs that are widely sung. This rousing, though perhaps not historically accurate, modern example is representative of the heady feeling in the South after the Oulart Hill fight in 1798. A few word changes, however, and we could place this Irish Soldier Laddie at the side of Patrick Sarsfield or Pádraig Pearse... or Seán MacStiofáin.
Some songwriters have the ability to create songs that can be applied to almost any "rebel era" with equal case. Paddy McGuigan is such a writer. Having "paid his rebel dues" with a sojourn of internment on HMS Maidstone, he has fired off a barrage of rebel songs that are widely sung. This rousing, though perhaps not historically accurate, modern example is representative of the heady feeling in the South after the Oulart Hill fight in 1798. A few word changes, however, and we could place this Irish Soldier Laddie at the side of Patrick Sarsfield or Pádraig Pearse... or Seán MacStiofáin.
T'was[C] one morning in July,I was[F] walking through Tippe[C]rary,
When I heard the battle cry from the[D] mountains over[G]head,
As I[C] looked up to the sky,saw an[F] Irish[C] soldier laddie,
Who looked at me quiet[G] fearlessly and[C] said,
[Chorus]
Will you[G] stand in the band like a[C] true Irish man,
And go to fight the forces of the[G] crown,
Will you[C] march with O'Neill to an[F] Irish battle field,
For[C] tonight we're going to[G] free old Wexford[C] town [ song ],
[2]
Said I to that soldier lad will you take me to your captain,
It will be my pride and joy to march with you this day,
My young brother fell at Cork and my son in Enniscorthy,
And to this noble captain I will say,
[3]
[This verse is song slow]
As we marched back again in the shadow of the evening,
With our banners flying low to the memory of our dead,
We returned to our homes,but without our soldier laddie,
But I never will forget those words he said
[Chorus after each verse]
When I heard the battle cry from the[D] mountains over[G]head,
As I[C] looked up to the sky,saw an[F] Irish[C] soldier laddie,
Who looked at me quiet[G] fearlessly and[C] said,
[Chorus]
Will you[G] stand in the band like a[C] true Irish man,
And go to fight the forces of the[G] crown,
Will you[C] march with O'Neill to an[F] Irish battle field,
For[C] tonight we're going to[G] free old Wexford[C] town [ song ],
[2]
Said I to that soldier lad will you take me to your captain,
It will be my pride and joy to march with you this day,
My young brother fell at Cork and my son in Enniscorthy,
And to this noble captain I will say,
[3]
[This verse is song slow]
As we marched back again in the shadow of the evening,
With our banners flying low to the memory of our dead,
We returned to our homes,but without our soldier laddie,
But I never will forget those words he said
[Chorus after each verse]
🎸 Chords Used (in G Major)
G 320003
C x32010
D xx0232
Am x02210
F 133211 (or easy version: xx3211)
🪘 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Irish Ballad Style)
This song is march-like, steady but emotional — similar to The Foggy Dew.
✅ Pattern:
D – D U – U D U
(Down, down-up, up-down-up)
Count: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
💡 Tips:
Keep beats 1 and 3 strong for a march rhythm.
Lightly palm mute during verses for control.
Strum more openly for the chorus for lift and energy.
🎶 Lyrics with Chords (in G Major)
Verse 1
'Twas [G]one morning in July, I was [C]walking through Tippe[G]rary,
When I heard the battle cry from the [D]mountains o’er my [G]head,
As I [G]looked up to the sky, saw an [C]Irish soldier [G]laddie,
Who looked at me quite [D]fearlessly and [G]said,
Chorus
Will you [D]stand in the band like a [G]true Irish man,
And go to fight the forces of the [D]crown,
Will you [G]march with O'Neill to an [C]Irish battle [G]field,
For to[G]night we're going to [D]free old Wexford [G]town.
Verse 2
Said [G]I to that soldier lad, will you [C]take me to your [G]captain,
It will be my pride and joy to [D]march with you this [G]day,
My young [G]brother fell at Cork, and my [C]son in Enniscor[G]thy,
And to this noble [D]captain I will [G]say.
(→ then chorus)
Verse 3 (slower, reflective)
As we [G]marched back again in the [C]shadow of the [G]evening,
With our banners flying low to the [D]memory of our [G]dead,
We re[G]turned to our homes, but with[C]out our soldier [G]laddie,
But I [G]never will for[D]get those words he [G]said.
(→ final chorus, slower first line, then full tempo)
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern (for Verse & Chorus)
Use a 4/4 arpeggio to create a calm, storytelling rhythm.
T – i – m – i – m – i
(T = thumb, i = index, m = middle)
Thumb plays the bass (E/A/D)
Index/middle alternate on G/B strings
Keep a steady pulse — 1 2 3 4
🎶 Fingerpicking TAB – First Verse & Chorus
Verse 1
G C G D
e|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------2-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|-------3-----------3---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----2---2-------2---2-|
D|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|---0-----------0-------|
A|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|
G C G D
e|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------2-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|-------3-----------3---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----2---2-------2---2-|
D|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|---0-----------0-------|
A|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|
Chorus
D G C G
e|-----------2-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|
B|-------3-----------3---|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|
G|-----2---2-------2---2-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|---0-----------0-------|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|---3-------------------|---2-----------2-------|
E|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|
G D G
e|-----------3-----------|-----------2-----------|-----------3-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------3-----------3---|-------0-----------0---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----2---2-------2---2-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|-----------------------|---0-----------0-------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|
🔊 Playing Tips
Fingerpick softly for the verses, let notes ring.
Switch to light strumming for the chorus for more presence.
On the final verse, slow your tempo slightly to highlight the emotion.
End gently by letting the final G chord ring out.
G 320003
C x32010
D xx0232
Am x02210
F 133211 (or easy version: xx3211)
🪘 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Irish Ballad Style)
This song is march-like, steady but emotional — similar to The Foggy Dew.
✅ Pattern:
D – D U – U D U
(Down, down-up, up-down-up)
Count: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
💡 Tips:
Keep beats 1 and 3 strong for a march rhythm.
Lightly palm mute during verses for control.
Strum more openly for the chorus for lift and energy.
🎶 Lyrics with Chords (in G Major)
Verse 1
'Twas [G]one morning in July, I was [C]walking through Tippe[G]rary,
When I heard the battle cry from the [D]mountains o’er my [G]head,
As I [G]looked up to the sky, saw an [C]Irish soldier [G]laddie,
Who looked at me quite [D]fearlessly and [G]said,
Chorus
Will you [D]stand in the band like a [G]true Irish man,
And go to fight the forces of the [D]crown,
Will you [G]march with O'Neill to an [C]Irish battle [G]field,
For to[G]night we're going to [D]free old Wexford [G]town.
Verse 2
Said [G]I to that soldier lad, will you [C]take me to your [G]captain,
It will be my pride and joy to [D]march with you this [G]day,
My young [G]brother fell at Cork, and my [C]son in Enniscor[G]thy,
And to this noble [D]captain I will [G]say.
(→ then chorus)
Verse 3 (slower, reflective)
As we [G]marched back again in the [C]shadow of the [G]evening,
With our banners flying low to the [D]memory of our [G]dead,
We re[G]turned to our homes, but with[C]out our soldier [G]laddie,
But I [G]never will for[D]get those words he [G]said.
(→ final chorus, slower first line, then full tempo)
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern (for Verse & Chorus)
Use a 4/4 arpeggio to create a calm, storytelling rhythm.
T – i – m – i – m – i
(T = thumb, i = index, m = middle)
Thumb plays the bass (E/A/D)
Index/middle alternate on G/B strings
Keep a steady pulse — 1 2 3 4
🎶 Fingerpicking TAB – First Verse & Chorus
Verse 1
G C G D
e|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------2-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|-------3-----------3---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----2---2-------2---2-|
D|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|---0-----------0-------|
A|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|
G C G D
e|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------2-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|-------3-----------3---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----2---2-------2---2-|
D|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|---0-----------0-------|
A|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|
Chorus
D G C G
e|-----------2-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|
B|-------3-----------3---|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|
G|-----2---2-------2---2-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|---0-----------0-------|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|---3-------------------|---2-----------2-------|
E|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|
G D G
e|-----------3-----------|-----------2-----------|-----------3-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------3-----------3---|-------0-----------0---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----2---2-------2---2-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|-----------------------|---0-----------0-------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|
🔊 Playing Tips
Fingerpick softly for the verses, let notes ring.
Switch to light strumming for the chorus for more presence.
On the final verse, slow your tempo slightly to highlight the emotion.
End gently by letting the final G chord ring out.
Here's the chords in the key of D
T'was [D] one morning in July,I was [G] walking through Tippe [D] rary,
When I heard the battle cry from the [E] mountains over [A] head,
As I [D] looked up to the sky,saw an [G] Irish [D] soldier laddie,
Who looked at me quiet [A] fearlessly and [D] said,
[Chorus]
Will you [A] stand in the band like a [D] true Irish man,
And go to fight the forces of the [A] crown,
Will you [D] march with O'Neill to an [G] Irish battle field,
For [D] tonight we're going to [A] free old Wexford [D] town,
T'was [D] one morning in July,I was [G] walking through Tippe [D] rary,
When I heard the battle cry from the [E] mountains over [A] head,
As I [D] looked up to the sky,saw an [G] Irish [D] soldier laddie,
Who looked at me quiet [A] fearlessly and [D] said,
[Chorus]
Will you [A] stand in the band like a [D] true Irish man,
And go to fight the forces of the [A] crown,
Will you [D] march with O'Neill to an [G] Irish battle field,
For [D] tonight we're going to [A] free old Wexford [D] town,
Gary Og Irish Soldier Laddie
