Now Is The Hour lyrics and chords
The sheet music notes are included. The Furey Brothers And Davey Arthur [ lyrics ]. This song was originally called ''The Swiss Cradle Song'' with music by Clement Scott and lyrics by Maewa Kaihau & Dorothy Stewart. see Wikipedia notes. I'm not 100% sure if the chords are right throughout the whole song some help with the chords by Marc Fahrbach, Marc done the first part and I take responsibility for the second part. It was also recorded by Foster And Allen.
Intro (=2nd half of 1st verse)
A7-D-D-D
D-G-A7-A7
A-A-A-A-A-D-G-D
The [D]people are [F#m or G]leaving[D] now
I say good[G]bye my [A]dear
Farewell my love,
It's now I must [D]go [A]
The promise you'll [D]care for me
Please promise you'll [G]wait for [A7]me
Un[A]til my dying day, to keep my heart [D]sane - G - D - D
[D]Now [G]is the [D]hour
That [A7]we must [A]say good[D]bye.
[G]Soon [A]I'll be [D]sai[Bm]ling
[E]Far across the [A]sea
And [D]while [G]I'm a[D]way
Oh, [A7]please re[A]member [D]me.
And [G]when [A]I re[D]turn I'll [Bm]find
You [E]wai[A7]ting for [D]me - G - D
Repeat Intro
[D]Now [G]is the [D]hour
That [A7]we must [A]say good[D]bye.
[G]Soon [A]I'll be [D]sai[Bm]ling
[E]Far across the [A]sea
And [D]while [G]I'm a[D]way
Oh, [A7]please re[A]member [D]me.
And [G]when [A]I re[D]turn I'll [Bm]find
You [E]wai[A7]ting for [D]me - G - D
A7-D-D-D
D-G-A7-A7
A-A-A-A-A-D-G-D
The [D]people are [F#m or G]leaving[D] now
I say good[G]bye my [A]dear
Farewell my love,
It's now I must [D]go [A]
The promise you'll [D]care for me
Please promise you'll [G]wait for [A7]me
Un[A]til my dying day, to keep my heart [D]sane - G - D - D
[D]Now [G]is the [D]hour
That [A7]we must [A]say good[D]bye.
[G]Soon [A]I'll be [D]sai[Bm]ling
[E]Far across the [A]sea
And [D]while [G]I'm a[D]way
Oh, [A7]please re[A]member [D]me.
And [G]when [A]I re[D]turn I'll [Bm]find
You [E]wai[A7]ting for [D]me - G - D
Repeat Intro
[D]Now [G]is the [D]hour
That [A7]we must [A]say good[D]bye.
[G]Soon [A]I'll be [D]sai[Bm]ling
[E]Far across the [A]sea
And [D]while [G]I'm a[D]way
Oh, [A7]please re[A]member [D]me.
And [G]when [A]I re[D]turn I'll [Bm]find
You [E]wai[A7]ting for [D]me - G - D
“Now Is the Hour (Haere Ra)”, often sung with a gentle, heartfelt rhythm.
Below is the full version arranged in G Major, complete with:
✅ All verses and chorus with chords in G Major
🎸 A flowing folk strumming pattern
🎶 A fingerpicking tab for the first verse
🎵 Now Is the Hour (Haere Ra)
Key: G Major (transposed from D Major)
Verse 1
The [G]people are [Bm]leaving [G]now,
I say good[C]bye my [D]dear,
Farewell my love,
It’s now I must [G]go [D]
The promise you’ll [G]care for me,
Please promise you’ll [C]wait for [D7]me,
Un[D]til my dying day,
To keep my heart [G]sane.
Chorus
[G]Now [C]is the [G]hour,
That [D7]we must [D]say good[G]bye.
[C]Soon [D]I’ll be [G]sai[Em]ling,
[A]Far across the [D]sea.
And [G]while [C]I’m a[G]way,
Oh, [D7]please re[D]member [G]me,
And [C]when [D]I re[G]turn I’ll [Em]find,
You [A]wai[D7]ting for [G]me.
Verse 2 (repeat verse 1 chords)
The [G]moon will be [Bm]shining [G]bright,
And all the [C]stars will [D]gleam,
And in my heart
You’ll always be [G]near [D].
So keep your [G]love light aglow,
‘Til I return [C]home, you [D7]know,
My [D]darling wait for me,
I’ll soon be back [G]home.
Chorus (repeat)
[G]Now [C]is the [G]hour... (same as above)
🎸 Strumming Pattern (Gentle Folk 4/4)
This song works best with a slow, swaying rhythm, almost a cross between a ballad and a waltz — but in 4/4 time.
Pattern:
D – D U – U D U
Count:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
D (1) – (2) D U (3 &) – (4) U D U (&)
Feel:
Keep your wrist relaxed and fluid, not percussive.
Emphasize beats 2 and 4 slightly for that soft “rolling” flow.
On emotional lines (like “please remember me”), let the chord ring naturally.
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab (First Verse)
A Travis picking pattern fits beautifully — steady alternating bass, gentle treble.
Pattern (per chord):
Thumb (P) = alternating bass
Index (i) = G string
Middle (m) = B string
Pattern: P (bass) – i (G) – m (B) – i (G)
Verse 1 Fingerpicking Tab
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|3---------------|3---------------|
The people are leaving now
[Bm]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----4---4-------|----4---4-------|
D|4---------------|4---------------|
A|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
I say goodbye my dear
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|3---------------|3---------------|
Farewell my love, it’s now I must go
[C]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|2---------------|2---------------|
A|3---------------|3---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
The promise you'll care for me
[D7]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
Please promise you'll wait for me
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|3---------------|3---------------|
Until my dying day, to keep my heart sane
Below is the full version arranged in G Major, complete with:
✅ All verses and chorus with chords in G Major
🎸 A flowing folk strumming pattern
🎶 A fingerpicking tab for the first verse
🎵 Now Is the Hour (Haere Ra)
Key: G Major (transposed from D Major)
Verse 1
The [G]people are [Bm]leaving [G]now,
I say good[C]bye my [D]dear,
Farewell my love,
It’s now I must [G]go [D]
The promise you’ll [G]care for me,
Please promise you’ll [C]wait for [D7]me,
Un[D]til my dying day,
To keep my heart [G]sane.
Chorus
[G]Now [C]is the [G]hour,
That [D7]we must [D]say good[G]bye.
[C]Soon [D]I’ll be [G]sai[Em]ling,
[A]Far across the [D]sea.
And [G]while [C]I’m a[G]way,
Oh, [D7]please re[D]member [G]me,
And [C]when [D]I re[G]turn I’ll [Em]find,
You [A]wai[D7]ting for [G]me.
Verse 2 (repeat verse 1 chords)
The [G]moon will be [Bm]shining [G]bright,
And all the [C]stars will [D]gleam,
And in my heart
You’ll always be [G]near [D].
So keep your [G]love light aglow,
‘Til I return [C]home, you [D7]know,
My [D]darling wait for me,
I’ll soon be back [G]home.
Chorus (repeat)
[G]Now [C]is the [G]hour... (same as above)
🎸 Strumming Pattern (Gentle Folk 4/4)
This song works best with a slow, swaying rhythm, almost a cross between a ballad and a waltz — but in 4/4 time.
Pattern:
D – D U – U D U
Count:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
D (1) – (2) D U (3 &) – (4) U D U (&)
Feel:
Keep your wrist relaxed and fluid, not percussive.
Emphasize beats 2 and 4 slightly for that soft “rolling” flow.
On emotional lines (like “please remember me”), let the chord ring naturally.
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab (First Verse)
A Travis picking pattern fits beautifully — steady alternating bass, gentle treble.
Pattern (per chord):
Thumb (P) = alternating bass
Index (i) = G string
Middle (m) = B string
Pattern: P (bass) – i (G) – m (B) – i (G)
Verse 1 Fingerpicking Tab
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|3---------------|3---------------|
The people are leaving now
[Bm]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----4---4-------|----4---4-------|
D|4---------------|4---------------|
A|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
I say goodbye my dear
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|3---------------|3---------------|
Farewell my love, it’s now I must go
[C]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|2---------------|2---------------|
A|3---------------|3---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
The promise you'll care for me
[D7]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
Please promise you'll wait for me
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|3---------------|3---------------|
Until my dying day, to keep my heart sane
Below is the sheet music notes for Now Is The Hour
