John Williams lyrics and chords by Johnny McEvoy
Words and music of John Williams are by Irish folk singer and songwriter Johnny McEvoy. Included is the sheet music which I put into the key of D Major. Recorded by Irish singer Jack Keogh in 2023.
The mandolin / tenor banjo tab for John Williams is in the ebook of mandolin tabs here . The tin whistle notes are in my other ebook here
The mandolin / tenor banjo tab for John Williams is in the ebook of mandolin tabs here . The tin whistle notes are in my other ebook here
[G]When last I saw John Williams, a[C] young man [G]full of[D] pride
His lovely bride of just four[C] days was [G]standing[D] by his[G] side
He[G] smiled and took me by the hand, saying [C]"Boyo[G] can't you [D]see
I've[G] seen the last of windswept bogs and[C] [G]bogs the[D] last of [G]me!
And the[C] peelers and the land[G]lords and the[C] risings [G]of the[D] moon
And if [G]ever I return a[C]gain, 'twill[G]] be too[D] bloody[G] soon"
CHO:[D]] Rich man ,[D7] poor man,[C]] beggar man,[G] wife
[D]Sailed a[D7]way into the[G] night
Where they'll wind up [C]no-one[G] knows
[G]Round and round the[D] story[G] goes
He said "I'll go and take my chance in far off New York Town
For they say there's lots of work there and a good man's not put down
And with my lassie by my side we'll build a better home
And when the sea trip's over lads we never more will roam"
So we said farewell upon the quay, there was nothing left to do
But to pray for John and his lovely bride, that their dreams
might all come true
How I envied you, John Williams, and your lovely fair haired bride
To be sailing on that mighty ship across the ocean wide
For she's the finest liner, that was ever built by man
And they say there's naught can sink her, no not even God's own hand
Man's pride can be his own downfall, that big ship sailed form home
And I thought I heard the banshee cry, and it chilled me to the bone
CHO: Rich man , poor man, beggar man, wife
Sailed away into the night
Where they'll wind up no-one knows
Round and round the story goes
Round and around the icebergs flow.
His lovely bride of just four[C] days was [G]standing[D] by his[G] side
He[G] smiled and took me by the hand, saying [C]"Boyo[G] can't you [D]see
I've[G] seen the last of windswept bogs and[C] [G]bogs the[D] last of [G]me!
And the[C] peelers and the land[G]lords and the[C] risings [G]of the[D] moon
And if [G]ever I return a[C]gain, 'twill[G]] be too[D] bloody[G] soon"
CHO:[D]] Rich man ,[D7] poor man,[C]] beggar man,[G] wife
[D]Sailed a[D7]way into the[G] night
Where they'll wind up [C]no-one[G] knows
[G]Round and round the[D] story[G] goes
He said "I'll go and take my chance in far off New York Town
For they say there's lots of work there and a good man's not put down
And with my lassie by my side we'll build a better home
And when the sea trip's over lads we never more will roam"
So we said farewell upon the quay, there was nothing left to do
But to pray for John and his lovely bride, that their dreams
might all come true
How I envied you, John Williams, and your lovely fair haired bride
To be sailing on that mighty ship across the ocean wide
For she's the finest liner, that was ever built by man
And they say there's naught can sink her, no not even God's own hand
Man's pride can be his own downfall, that big ship sailed form home
And I thought I heard the banshee cry, and it chilled me to the bone
CHO: Rich man , poor man, beggar man, wife
Sailed away into the night
Where they'll wind up no-one knows
Round and round the story goes
Round and around the icebergs flow.
Below is the complete version in G Major, with embedded chords, a 3/4 strumming pattern,
and a fingerpicking tab for the first verse and chorus.
🎵 John Williams
Key: G major
Time: 3/4 (Waltz time)
🎶 Full Lyrics with Embedded Chords
[G]When last I saw John Williams, a [C]young man [G]full of [D]pride
His [G]lovely bride of just four days was [C]standing [G]by his [D]side
He [G]smiled and took me by the hand, saying [C]"Boyo [G]can’t you [D]see
I’ve [G]seen the last of windswept bogs and [C]bogs the [G]last of [D]me!
And the [C]peelers and the landlords and the [C]risings [G]of the [D]moon
And if [G]ever I return again, [C]'twill [G]be too [D]bloody [G]soon!"
[Chorus]
[D]Rich man, [D7]poor man, [C]beggar man, [G]wife
[D]Sailed a[D7]way into the [G]night
Where they’ll wind up [C]no-one [G]knows
[G]Round and round the [D]story [G]goes
He [G]said "I’ll go and take my chance in [C]far off [G]New York [D]Town
For they [G]say there’s lots of work there and a [C]good man’s [G]not put [D]down
And with my [G]lassie by my side we’ll build a [C]better [G]home
And [G]when the sea trip’s over lads we [C]never [G]more will [D]roam"
So we [G]said farewell upon the quay, there was [C]nothing [G]left to [D]do
But to [G]pray for John and his lovely bride, that [C]their dreams [G]might all [D]come [G]true
How I [G]envied you, John Williams, and your [C]lovely [G]fair-haired [D]bride
To be [G]sailing on that mighty ship a[C]cross the [G]ocean [D]wide
For [G]she’s the finest liner that was [C]ever [G]built by [D]man
And they [G]say there’s naught can sink her, no [C]not even [G]God’s own [D]hand
Man’s [C]pride can be his own downfall, that [C]big ship [G]sailed for [D]home
And I [G]thought I heard the banshee cry, it [C]chilled me [G]to the [D]bone
[Chorus]
[D]Rich man, [D7]poor man, [C]beggar man, [G]wife
[D]Sailed a[D7]way into the [G]night
Where they’ll wind up [C]no-one [G]knows
[G]Round and round the [D]story [G]goes
[G]Round and round the [D]story [G]goes
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Waltz)
Count: 1 – 2 – 3
Pattern: 🎵 Bass – Down – Down
Soft and flowing — emphasize beat 1 slightly to give that lilting Irish waltz pulse.
Chord Bass Notes
G 6th → 4th
C 5th → 4th
D / D7 4th → 3rd
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab (First Verse + Chorus)
A simple arpeggio using thumb–index–middle (P–I–M) on each 3/4 bar.
Tempo: ♩ = 90 | Time: 3/4
G C G D
e|---------0-------------0-------------0-------------2-------------|
B|-----0-----0-------1-----1-------0-----0-------3-----3-----------|
G|---0---0-----0---0---0-----0---0---0-----0---2---2-----2---------|
D|----------------2-------------0----------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------0----------------|
E|-3---------------------------------------------------------------|
G C G D G
e|---------0-------------0-------------0-------------2-------------3-|
B|-----0-----0-------1-----1-------0-----0-------3-----1-------0-----|
G|---0---0-----0---0---0-----0---0---0-----0---2---2-----2---0---0---|
D|----------------2-------------0----------------0-------------0-----|
A|------------------------------------------------3------------------|
E|-3---------------------------------------------------------------|
[Chorus]
D D7 C G
e|---------2-------------2-------------0-------------3-------------|
B|-----3-----3-------1-----1-------1-----1-------0-----0-----------|
G|---2---2-----2---2---2-----2---0---0-----0---0---0-----0---------|
D|-0-------------0-------------2-----------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------3-------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------3---------------|
D D7 G D G
e|---------2-------------2-------------0-------------2-------------3-|
B|-----3-----3-------1-----1-------0-----0-------3-----1-------0-----|
G|---2---2-----2---2---2-----2---0---0-----0---2---2-----2---0---0---|
D|-0-------------0-------------0----------------0-------------0-----|
A|------------------------------------------------3------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------|
This gentle fingerpicking works perfectly for a reflective storytelling tone --
you can play it throughout the verses and switch to light strumming for the choruses.
and a fingerpicking tab for the first verse and chorus.
🎵 John Williams
Key: G major
Time: 3/4 (Waltz time)
🎶 Full Lyrics with Embedded Chords
[G]When last I saw John Williams, a [C]young man [G]full of [D]pride
His [G]lovely bride of just four days was [C]standing [G]by his [D]side
He [G]smiled and took me by the hand, saying [C]"Boyo [G]can’t you [D]see
I’ve [G]seen the last of windswept bogs and [C]bogs the [G]last of [D]me!
And the [C]peelers and the landlords and the [C]risings [G]of the [D]moon
And if [G]ever I return again, [C]'twill [G]be too [D]bloody [G]soon!"
[Chorus]
[D]Rich man, [D7]poor man, [C]beggar man, [G]wife
[D]Sailed a[D7]way into the [G]night
Where they’ll wind up [C]no-one [G]knows
[G]Round and round the [D]story [G]goes
He [G]said "I’ll go and take my chance in [C]far off [G]New York [D]Town
For they [G]say there’s lots of work there and a [C]good man’s [G]not put [D]down
And with my [G]lassie by my side we’ll build a [C]better [G]home
And [G]when the sea trip’s over lads we [C]never [G]more will [D]roam"
So we [G]said farewell upon the quay, there was [C]nothing [G]left to [D]do
But to [G]pray for John and his lovely bride, that [C]their dreams [G]might all [D]come [G]true
How I [G]envied you, John Williams, and your [C]lovely [G]fair-haired [D]bride
To be [G]sailing on that mighty ship a[C]cross the [G]ocean [D]wide
For [G]she’s the finest liner that was [C]ever [G]built by [D]man
And they [G]say there’s naught can sink her, no [C]not even [G]God’s own [D]hand
Man’s [C]pride can be his own downfall, that [C]big ship [G]sailed for [D]home
And I [G]thought I heard the banshee cry, it [C]chilled me [G]to the [D]bone
[Chorus]
[D]Rich man, [D7]poor man, [C]beggar man, [G]wife
[D]Sailed a[D7]way into the [G]night
Where they’ll wind up [C]no-one [G]knows
[G]Round and round the [D]story [G]goes
[G]Round and round the [D]story [G]goes
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Waltz)
Count: 1 – 2 – 3
Pattern: 🎵 Bass – Down – Down
Soft and flowing — emphasize beat 1 slightly to give that lilting Irish waltz pulse.
Chord Bass Notes
G 6th → 4th
C 5th → 4th
D / D7 4th → 3rd
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab (First Verse + Chorus)
A simple arpeggio using thumb–index–middle (P–I–M) on each 3/4 bar.
Tempo: ♩ = 90 | Time: 3/4
G C G D
e|---------0-------------0-------------0-------------2-------------|
B|-----0-----0-------1-----1-------0-----0-------3-----3-----------|
G|---0---0-----0---0---0-----0---0---0-----0---2---2-----2---------|
D|----------------2-------------0----------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------0----------------|
E|-3---------------------------------------------------------------|
G C G D G
e|---------0-------------0-------------0-------------2-------------3-|
B|-----0-----0-------1-----1-------0-----0-------3-----1-------0-----|
G|---0---0-----0---0---0-----0---0---0-----0---2---2-----2---0---0---|
D|----------------2-------------0----------------0-------------0-----|
A|------------------------------------------------3------------------|
E|-3---------------------------------------------------------------|
[Chorus]
D D7 C G
e|---------2-------------2-------------0-------------3-------------|
B|-----3-----3-------1-----1-------1-----1-------0-----0-----------|
G|---2---2-----2---2---2-----2---0---0-----0---0---0-----0---------|
D|-0-------------0-------------2-----------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------3-------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------3---------------|
D D7 G D G
e|---------2-------------2-------------0-------------2-------------3-|
B|-----3-----3-------1-----1-------0-----0-------3-----1-------0-----|
G|---2---2-----2---2---2-----2---0---0-----0---2---2-----2---0---0---|
D|-0-------------0-------------0----------------0-------------0-----|
A|------------------------------------------------3------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------|
This gentle fingerpicking works perfectly for a reflective storytelling tone --
you can play it throughout the verses and switch to light strumming for the choruses.
Alternative guitar chords for the key of D Major.
[D]When last I saw John Williams, a[G] young man [D]full of[A] pride
His lovely bride of just four[G] days was [D]standing[A] by his[D] side
He[D] smiled and took me by the hand, saying [G]"Boyo[D] can't you [A]see
I've[D] seen the last of windswept bogs and[G], [D]bogs the[A] last of [D]me!
And the[G] peelers and the land[D]lords and the[G] risings [D]of the[A] moon
And if [D]ever I return a[G]gain, 'twill[D] be too[A] bloody[D] soon"
CHO:[A] Rich man ,[A7] poor man,[G] beggar man,[D] wife
[A]Sailed a[A7]way into the[D] night
Where they'll wind up [G]no-one[D] knows
[D]Round and round the[A] story[D] goes
[D]When last I saw John Williams, a[G] young man [D]full of[A] pride
His lovely bride of just four[G] days was [D]standing[A] by his[D] side
He[D] smiled and took me by the hand, saying [G]"Boyo[D] can't you [A]see
I've[D] seen the last of windswept bogs and[G], [D]bogs the[A] last of [D]me!
And the[G] peelers and the land[D]lords and the[G] risings [D]of the[A] moon
And if [D]ever I return a[G]gain, 'twill[D] be too[A] bloody[D] soon"
CHO:[A] Rich man ,[A7] poor man,[G] beggar man,[D] wife
[A]Sailed a[A7]way into the[D] night
Where they'll wind up [G]no-one[D] knows
[D]Round and round the[A] story[D] goes
Here's the sheet music for The Ballad Of John Williams In D Major
The above list of sheet music / tin whistle notes are in
The Johnny McEvoy ebook of songs at the bottom of this page.
The Johnny McEvoy ebook of songs at the bottom of this page.
The Main Character: John Williams: The song centers on a young man named John Williams, who is filled with optimism and hope for a new life. He's recently married and is about to emigrate from Ireland. His words, "I've seen the last of windswept bogs / bogs the last of me!" and his dismissal of "the peelers and the landlords," clearly indicate he is leaving a life of hardship and oppression in Ireland, a common theme for Irish emigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The "peelers" are a term for the Royal Irish Constabulary, the police force in Ireland under British rule. The landlords were often absentee and exploited their tenants. His desire to leave reflects the political and economic struggles of the time.
The Destination: New York Town: John's destination, New York, was the gateway to a new life for millions of Irish people seeking opportunity. He's confident in his ability to find work and build a "better home," a dream shared by many who undertook the perilous journey across the Atlantic.
The Central Tragedy: The Titanic: The song takes a dark and poignant turn with the line, "How I envied you, John Williams, and your lovely fair haired bride / To be sailing on that mighty ship across the ocean wide." The mention of "the finest liner, that was ever built by man" and the hubristic boast that "they say there's naught can sink her, no not even God's own hand" immediately clues the listener in to the ship's identity: the RMS Titanic. The chorus "Round and around the icebergs flow" is the final, chilling confirmation of the ship's fate.
Themes of Pride and Hubris: The line "Man's pride can be his own downfall" is a direct commentary on the Titanic itself. The ship was a symbol of human ingenuity and technological advancement, but that very pride led to the disregard of warnings about icebergs, resulting in a devastating tragedy. The narrator's envy of John's journey turns to a premonition of disaster.
The Banshee: The reference to hearing the "banshee cry" is a powerful piece of Irish folklore. A banshee is a female spirit whose wail or cry is believed to be a harbinger of death, specifically for a person from a certain family. This adds a layer of supernatural dread and foreshadowing to the story, connecting the modern tragedy back to ancient Irish beliefs.
The Chorus: "Rich man, poor man...": The chorus is a powerful and universal statement. It highlights that the Titanic disaster, and indeed life's journey, does not discriminate based on social class. The ship carried people from all walks of life, from the wealthy in first class to the poor in steerage. The line "Sailed away into the night / Where they'll wind up no-one knows" encapsulates the uncertainty of fate and the finality of the tragedy.
n summary, "John Williams" is a masterful folk song that uses a personal story of emigration and hope to tell a much larger and more tragic tale. It’s a song about the harsh realities of Irish life, the dreams of a better future in America, the ultimate futility of human pride in the face of nature, and the shared fate of all those who lost their lives on the Titanic. The song is a tribute to the victims, both those who were full of hope like John Williams, and those who simply wanted a chance at a new life.
The Destination: New York Town: John's destination, New York, was the gateway to a new life for millions of Irish people seeking opportunity. He's confident in his ability to find work and build a "better home," a dream shared by many who undertook the perilous journey across the Atlantic.
The Central Tragedy: The Titanic: The song takes a dark and poignant turn with the line, "How I envied you, John Williams, and your lovely fair haired bride / To be sailing on that mighty ship across the ocean wide." The mention of "the finest liner, that was ever built by man" and the hubristic boast that "they say there's naught can sink her, no not even God's own hand" immediately clues the listener in to the ship's identity: the RMS Titanic. The chorus "Round and around the icebergs flow" is the final, chilling confirmation of the ship's fate.
Themes of Pride and Hubris: The line "Man's pride can be his own downfall" is a direct commentary on the Titanic itself. The ship was a symbol of human ingenuity and technological advancement, but that very pride led to the disregard of warnings about icebergs, resulting in a devastating tragedy. The narrator's envy of John's journey turns to a premonition of disaster.
The Banshee: The reference to hearing the "banshee cry" is a powerful piece of Irish folklore. A banshee is a female spirit whose wail or cry is believed to be a harbinger of death, specifically for a person from a certain family. This adds a layer of supernatural dread and foreshadowing to the story, connecting the modern tragedy back to ancient Irish beliefs.
The Chorus: "Rich man, poor man...": The chorus is a powerful and universal statement. It highlights that the Titanic disaster, and indeed life's journey, does not discriminate based on social class. The ship carried people from all walks of life, from the wealthy in first class to the poor in steerage. The line "Sailed away into the night / Where they'll wind up no-one knows" encapsulates the uncertainty of fate and the finality of the tragedy.
n summary, "John Williams" is a masterful folk song that uses a personal story of emigration and hope to tell a much larger and more tragic tale. It’s a song about the harsh realities of Irish life, the dreams of a better future in America, the ultimate futility of human pride in the face of nature, and the shared fate of all those who lost their lives on the Titanic. The song is a tribute to the victims, both those who were full of hope like John Williams, and those who simply wanted a chance at a new life.
Johnny McEvoy Irish folk singer
The ballad of John Williams tin whistle notes by Johnny McEvoy
