Lovely Derry On The Banks Of The Foyle Irish song lyrics and

Written around the 1920s by J.J. McCready. The guitar chords in chordpro are in C with another version in G Major. Recorded by Ruby Murray, Jim Brannigan, Larry Cunningham, Declan Nerney and Josef Locke, Bridie Gallagher who sang the beautiful version of A Mother's Love's A Blessing ,  among others. Bridie is the singer in the youtube video. Other songs from this area include Hometown On The Foyle . The Sheet Music Plus The Tin Whistle Notes Are Included.

Oh I know a wee spot, 'tis a place of great fame 
And it lies to the[Am] North, now I'll tell you it's name 
'Tis my own little birthplace, and it's on Irish soil 
Sure they call it lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle
 
 
Now I courted a wee girl, her age was nineteen 
She was the fairest colleen that ever you've seen 
For her cheeks were like roses and her hair waved in coil 
And she came from lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle
 
 
By those banks I have roamed, in the dear days gone by 
With my dear girl I strolled, not a tear, not a sigh 
Her fair charms without equal, from the Nore to the Moyle 
Oh, sweet maid from lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle
 
 
But now cruel misfortune drove me from my home 
'Twas my fate in deep sorrow to sail o'er the foam 
And now from dark strangers, in grief I recoil 
While I pine from dear old Derry on the banks of the Foyle
 
 
Oh, mind when I left her, for to cross o'er the sea 
For to try and make a fortune, for Mary and me 
How I cried when I left her, but my tears fell in toil 
Far away from dear old Derry on the banks of the Foyle
 
 
I was young, I was wild, like the rest of the boys 
I had not many sorrows nor yet many joys 
I worked hard for a living, all day I did toil 
Far away from dear old Derry on the banks of the Foyle
 
 
I was fearing that another had a place in her heart 
And that from me my darling forever would part 
That no more she would brighten with her sweet sunny smile 
My dear home in lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle
 
 
For my true love was buxom, and a fine girl to see 
That she won my affection, all my friends did agree 
And I long for to wed her, on our own native soil 
Though I'm far from dear old Derry on the banks of the Foyle
 
 
But a wee bird came flying from over the sea 
And he brought me a letter from my true love to see 
Saying "Come home, my darling, to your native soil 
And I'll wed you in lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle"
 
 
Now when I make a fortune, then to home I will go 
To the dear land of my boyhood, to the sweet girl I know 
I will build her a mansion, and no more need we toil 
far away from lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle .

​The Guitar Chords In The Key Of C Major
[Verse 1]
[C]Oh I know a wee [Am]spot, 'tis a [F]place of great [G]fame,  
[G7]And it [C]lies to the [Am]North, now I'll [F]tell you its [G]name.  
[C7]'Tis my [C]own little [Am]birthplace, and it's [F]on Irish [G]soil,  
Sure they [Am]call it lovely [G]Derry on the [F]banks of the [C]Foyle.  


[Verse 2]
[C]Now I courted a [Am]wee girl, her [F]age was nine[G]teen,  
[G7]She was [C]the fairest [Am]colleen that [F]ever you've [G]seen.  
[C7]For her [C]cheeks were like [Am]roses and her [F]hair waved in [G]coil,  
And she [Am]came from lovely [G]Derry on the [F]banks of the [C]Foyle.  


[Verse 3]
[C]By those banks I have [Am]roamed, in the [F]dear days gone [G]by,  
[G7]With my [C]dear girl I [Am]strolled, not a [F]tear, not a [G]sigh.  
[C7]Her fair [C]charms without [Am]equal, from the [F]Nore to the [G]Moyle,  
Oh sweet [Am]maid from lovely [G]Derry on the [F]banks of the [C]Foyle.  


[Verse 4]
[C]But now cruel mis[Am]fortune drove me [F]far from my [G]home,  
[G7]'Twas my [C]fate in deep [Am]sorrow to [F]sail o’er the [G]foam.  
[C7]And now [C]from dark [Am]strangers, in [F]grief I re[G]coil,  
While I [Am]pine for dear old [G]Derry on the [F]banks of the [C]Foyle.  


[Verse 5]
[C]Oh mind when I [Am]left her, for to [F]cross o’er the [G]sea,  
[G7]For to [C]try and make a [Am]fortune, for [F]Mary and [G]me.  
[C7]How I [C]cried when I [Am]left her, but my [F]tears fell in [G]toil,  
Far a[Am]way from dear old [G]Derry on the [F]banks of the [C]Foyle.  


[Verse 6]
[C]I was young, I was [Am]wild, like the [F]rest of the [G]boys,  
[G7]I had [C]not many [Am]sorrows nor [F]yet many [G]joys.  
[C7]I [C]worked hard for a [Am]living, all [F]day I did [G]toil,  
Far a[Am]way from dear old [G]Derry on the [F]banks of the [C]Foyle.  


[Verse 7]
[C]I was fearing that [Am]another had a [F]place in her [G]heart,  
[G7]And that [C]from me my [Am]darling for[F]ever would [G]part.  
[C7]That no [C]more she would [Am]brighten with her [F]sweet sunny [G]smile,  
My dear [Am]home in lovely [G]Derry on the [F]banks of the [C]Foyle.  


[Verse 8]
[C]For my true love was [Am]buxom, and a [F]fine girl to [G]see,  
[G7]That she [C]won my af[Am]fection, all my [F]friends did a[G]gree.  
[C7]And I [C]long for to [Am]wed her, on our [F]own native [G]soil,  
Though I’m [Am]far from dear old [G]Derry on the [F]banks of the [C]Foyle.  


[Verse 9]
[C]But a wee bird came [Am]flying from [F]over the [G]sea,  
[G7]And he [C]brought me a [Am]letter from my [F]true love to [G]see.  
[C7]Saying [C]"Come home, my [Am]darling, to your [F]own native [G]soil,  
And I’ll [Am]wed you in lovely [G]Derry on the [F]banks of the [C]Foyle."  


[Verse 10]
[C]Now when I make a [Am]fortune, then to [F]home I will [G]go,  
[G7]To the [C]dear land of my [Am]boyhood, to the [F]sweet girl I [G]know.  
[C7]I will [C]build her a [Am]mansion, and no [F]more need we [G]toil,  
Far a[Am]way from lovely [G]Derry on the [F]banks of the [C]Foyle.

Chords in the key of D

[D]Oh I know a wee [Bm]spot, 'tis a [G]place of great [A]fame,  
[A7]And it [D]lies to the [Bm]North, now I'll [G]tell you its [A]name.  
[D7]'Tis my [D]own little [Bm]birthplace, and it's [G]on Irish [A]soil,  
Sure they [Bm]call it lovely [A]Derry on the [G]banks of the [D]Foyle.  

[D]Now I courted a [Bm]wee girl, her [G]age was nine[A]teen,  
[A7]She was [D]the fairest [Bm]colleen that [G]ever you've [A]seen.  
[D7]For her [D]cheeks were like [Bm]roses and her [G]hair waved in [A]coil,  
And she [Bm]came from lovely [A]Derry on the [G]banks of the [D]Foyle.  

[D]By those banks I have [Bm]roamed, in the [G]dear days gone [A]by,  
[A7]With my [D]dear girl I [Bm]strolled, not a [G]tear, not a [A]sigh.  
[D7]Her fair [D]charms without [Bm]equal, from the [G]Nore to the [A]Moyle,  
Oh sweet [Bm]maid from lovely [A]Derry on the [G]banks of the [D]Foyle.  

[D]But now cruel mis[Bm]fortune drove me [G]far from my [A]home,  
[A7]'Twas my [D]fate in deep [Bm]sorrow to [G]sail o'er the [A]foam.  
[D7]And now [D]from dark [Bm]strangers, in [G]grief I re[A]coil,  
While I [Bm]pine for dear old [A]Derry on the [G]banks of the [D]Foyle.  

[D]Oh mind when I [Bm]left her, for to [G]cross o'er the [A]sea,  
[A7]For to [D]try and make a [Bm]fortune, for [G]Mary and [A]me.  
[D7]How I [D]cried when I [Bm]left her, but my [G]tears fell in [A]toil,  
Far a[Bm]way from dear old [A]Derry on the [G]banks of the [D]Foyle.  

[D]I was young, I was [Bm]wild, like the [G]rest of the [A]boys,  
[A7]I had [D]not many [Bm]sorrows nor [G]yet many [A]joys.  
[D7]I [D]worked hard for a [Bm]living, all [G]day I did [A]toil,  
Far a[Bm]way from dear old [A]Derry on the [G]banks of the [D]Foyle.  


[D]I was fearing that [Bm]another had a [G]place in her [A]heart,  
[A7]And that [D]from me my [Bm]darling for[G]ever would [A]part.  
[D7]That no [D]more she would [Bm]brighten with her [G]sweet sunny [A]smile,  
My dear [Bm]home in lovely [A]Derry on the [G]banks of the [D]Foyle.  

[D]For my true love was [Bm]buxom, and a [G]fine girl to [A]see,  
[A7]That she [D]won my af[Bm]fection, all my [G]friends did a[A]gree.  
[D7]And I [D]long for to [Bm]wed her, on our [G]own native [A]soil,  
Though I'm [Bm]far from dear old [A]Derry on the [G]banks of the [D]Foyle.  

[D]But a wee bird came [Bm]flying from [G]over the [A]sea,  
[A7]And he [D]brought me a [Bm]letter from my [G]true love to [A]see.  
[D7]Saying [D]"Come home, my [Bm]darling, to your [G]own native [A]soil,  
And I'll [Bm]wed you in lovely [A]Derry on the [G]banks of the [D]Foyle."  

[D]Now when I make a [Bm]fortune, then to [G]home I will [A]go,  
[A7]To the [D]dear land of my [Bm]boyhood, to the [G]sweet girl I [A]know.  
[D7]I will [D]build her a [Bm]mansion, and no [G]more need we [A]toil,  
Far a[Bm]way from lovely [A]Derry on the [G]banks of the [D]Foyle.

🎸 Strumming Pattern (optional, 3/4)↓ ↓↑ ↓
(waltz feel: STRUM – brush – STRUM)

🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern (3/4)T – I – M | T – I – M | T – I – M
Thumb = bass
Index = G
Middle = B

🎵 Lovely Derry on the Banks of the Foyle — Fingerpicking Version
[G]Oh I know a wee [Em]spot, 'tis a [C]place of great [D]fame,  

   G (3 bars)
e|--------3--------3--------3------|
B|------0---0----0---0----0---0----|
G|----0-------0--------0-----------|
D|--0------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------—|
E|3--------------------------------|

   Em (3 bars)
e|--------0--------0--------0------|
B|------0---0----0---0----0---0----|
G|----0-------0--------0-----------|
D|--2------------------------------|
A|2--------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|

   C (3 bars)                                D (3 bars)
e|--------0--------0--------0------|--------2--------2--------2------|
B|------1---1----1---1----1---1----|------3---3----3---3----3---3----|
G|----0-------0--------0-----------|----2-------2--------2-----------|
D|--2------------------------------|--0------------------------------|
A|3--------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

[D7]And it [G]lies to the [Em]North, now I'll [C]tell you its [D]name.  

   D7 (3 bars)
e|--------2--------2--------2------|
B|------1---1----1---1----1---1----|
G|----2-------2--------2-----------|
D|--0------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|

   G (3 bars)
e|--------3--------3--------3------|
B|------0---0----0---0----0---0----|
G|----0-------0--------0-----------|
D|--0------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------—|
E|3--------------------------------|

   Em (3 bars)                              C (3 bars)
e|--------0--------0--------0------|--------0--------0--------0------|
B|------0---0----0---0----0---0----|------1---1----1---1----1---1----|
G|----0-------0--------0-----------|----0-------0--------0-----------|
D|--2------------------------------|--2------------------------------|
A|2--------------------------------|3--------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

[G7]'Tis my [G]own little [Em]birthplace, and it's [C]on Irish [D]soil,  

   G7 (3 bars)
e|--------1--------1--------1------|
B|------0---0----0---0----0---0----|
G|----0-------0--------0-----------|
D|----------------0----------------|
A|-------------------------------—|
E|3--------------------------------|

   G (3 bars)
e|--------3--------3--------3------|
B|------0---0----0---0----0---0----|
G|----0-------0--------0-----------|
D|--0------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------—|
E|3--------------------------------|

   Em (3 bars)                              C (3 bars)
e|--------0--------0--------0------|--------0--------0--------0------|
B|------0---0----0---0----0---0----|------1---1----1---1----1---1----|
G|----0-------0--------0-----------|----0-------0--------0-----------|
D|--2------------------------------|--2------------------------------|
A|2--------------------------------|3--------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

Sure they [Em]call it lovely [D]Derry on the [C]banks of the [G]Foyle.  

   Em (3 bars)                              D (3 bars)
e|--------0--------0--------0------|--------2--------2--------2------|
B|------0---0----0---0----0---0----|------3---3----3---3----3---3----|
G|----0-------0--------0-----------|----2-------2--------2-----------|
D|--2------------------------------|--0------------------------------|
A|2--------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

   G (3 bars)
e|--------3--------3--------3------|
B|------0---0----0---0----0---0----|
G|----0-------0--------0-----------|
D|--0------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------—|
E|3--------------------------------|​

Chords in the key of G
[G]Oh I know a wee [Em]spot, 'tis a [C]place of great [D]fame,  
[D7]And it [G]lies to the [Em]North, now I'll [C]tell you its [D]name.  
[G7]'Tis my [G]own little [Em]birthplace, and it's [C]on Irish [D]soil,  
Sure they [Em]call it lovely [D]Derry on the [C]banks of the [G]Foyle.  

[G]Now I courted a [Em]wee girl, her [C]age was nine[D]teen,  
[D7]She was [G]the fairest [Em]colleen that [C]ever you've [D]seen.  
[G7]For her [G]cheeks were like [Em]roses and her [C]hair waved in [D]coil,  
And she [Em]came from lovely [D]Derry on the [C]banks of the [G]Foyle.  

[G]By those banks I have [Em]roamed, in the [C]dear days gone [D]by,  
[D7]With my [G]dear girl I [Em]strolled, not a [C]tear, not a [D]sigh.  
[G7]Her fair [G]charms without [Em]equal, from the [C]Nore to the [D]Moyle,  
Oh sweet [Em]maid from lovely [D]Derry on the [C]banks of the [G]Foyle.  

[G]But now cruel mis[Em]fortune drove me [C]far from my [D]home,  
[D7]'Twas my [G]fate in deep [Em]sorrow to [C]sail o'er the [D]foam.  
[G7]And now [G]from dark [Em]strangers, in [C]grief I re[D]coil,  
While I [Em]pine for dear old [D]Derry on the [C]banks of the [G]Foyle.  


[G]Oh mind when I [Em]left her, for to [C]cross o'er the [D]sea,  
[D7]For to [G]try and make a [Em]fortune, for [C]Mary and [D]me.  
[G7]How I [G]cried when I [Em]left her, but my [C]tears fell in [D]toil,  
Far a[Em]way from dear old [D]Derry on the [C]banks of the [G]Foyle.  


[G]I was young, I was [Em]wild, like the [C]rest of the [D]boys,  
[D7]I had [G]not many [Em]sorrows nor [C]yet many [D]joys.  
[G7]I [G]worked hard for a [Em]living, all [C]day I did [D]toil,  
Far a[Em]way from dear old [D]Derry on the [C]banks of the [G]Foyle.  


[G]I was fearing that [Em]another had a [C]place in her [D]heart,  
[D7]And that [G]from me my [Em]darling for[C]ever would [D]part.  
[G7]That no [G]more she would [Em]brighten with her [C]sweet sunny [D]smile,  
My dear [Em]home in lovely [D]Derry on the [C]banks of the [G]Foyle.  



[G]For my true love was [Em]buxom, and a [C]fine girl to [D]see,  
[D7]That she [G]won my af[Em]fection, all my [C]friends did a[D]gree.  
[G7]And I [G]long for to [Em]wed her, on our [C]own native [D]soil,  
Though I'm [Em]far from dear old [D]Derry on the [C]banks of the [G]Foyle.  



[G]But a wee bird came [Em]flying from [C]over the [D]sea,  
[D7]And he [G]brought me a [Em]letter from my [C]true love to [D]see.  
[G7]Saying [G]"Come home, my [Em]darling, to your [C]own native [D]soil,  
And I'll [Em]wed you in lovely [D]Derry on the [C]banks of the [G]Foyle."  



[G]Now when I make a [Em]fortune, then to [C]home I will [D]go,  
[D7]To the [G]dear land of my [Em]boyhood, to the [C]sweet girl I [D]know.  
[G7]I will [G]build her a [Em]mansion, and no [C]more need we [D]toil,  
Far a[Em]way from lovely [D]Derry on the [C]banks of the [G]Foyle.

​Lovely Derry On The Banks Of The Foyle Sheet Music

Tin Whistle Notes

The River Foyle Derry from above showing green fields