Irish folk songs
  • Home
  • Lyrics And Chords
  • Tin Whistle Song Book
  • Tin Whistle

Long Held In Chains lyrics and chords

The Irish Brigade Guitar Chords And Lyrics. Written by M. McNally. A song detailing the long history of Ireland's oppression from the 1798 rebellion to the recent past. For The Irish Brigade's [ songs ] version use capo on the 4th fret.

Intro: Bm-A-Bm-A-F#m-Bm

In [Bm]seventeen-ninety-[A]eight we [Bm]rose against [A]England, 
We [Bm]fought with our [A]pikes but they [Bm]an[A]swered [F#m]with [Bm]guns, 
We fought them on the [A]mountains, we [Bm]fought by the [A]rivers, 
We [Bm]knew that if [A]captured we'd be [Bm]tor[A]tured [F#m]and [Bm]hung, 
From [D]Antrim to [A]Derry, from [Bm]Wexford to [F#m]Kerry, 
We [Bm]prayed that our [A]freedom was [Bm]soon [A]to [F#m]be [Bm]won.
 
Chorus
[D]Ireland, Ireland [G]long held in [D]chains, 
[Bm]Never de[A]feated we've [Bm]ri[A]sen [F#m]a[Bm]gain.
 
A [Bm]dark time in [A]Ireland there [Bm]came a great [A]famine, 
The [Bm]people were [A]starving, the [Bm]rents [A]were [F#m]too [Bm]high, 
Evictions, then [A]hunger then [Bm]forced emmi[A]gration, 
Our [Bm]people with [A]Typhoid in [Bm]dit[A]ches [F#m]did [Bm]die, 
The "Young [D]Irelanders" [A]fought back with [Bm]determi[F#m]nation, 
That [Bm]once more in [A]Ireland the [Bm]green [A]flag [F#m]would [Bm]fly.
 
Chorus
The [Bm]Fenians [A]fought both in [Bm]Ireland and [A]England, 
Their [Bm]leaders were [A]captured, [Bm]trans[A]ported [F#m]for [Bm]years, 
In exile they [A]planned to re[Bm]turn and free [A]Ireland, 
[Bm]Rossa then [A]died and at his [Bm]grave[A]side [F#m]stood [Bm]Pearse, 
In [D]nineteen-six[A]teen the [Bm]people had [F#m]risen, 
For the [Bm]age old de[A]mands: [Bm]freedom [A]justice [F#m]and [Bm]peace.
 
Chorus twice
Repeat Intro 
Picture
Picture
Irish Sheet Music Ebook
Blog
Privacy Policy
Cookie Consent
Copyright 2002 - 2025
Contact
  • Home
  • Lyrics And Chords
  • Tin Whistle Song Book
  • Tin Whistle