Only Our Rivers Run Free Lyrics And Guitar Chords
Written by Michael McConnell. These Are The Easy Guitar Chords I Use On The Youtube Video. I have the capo on the 4th fret and am playing in the key of B Major. It's a bit tricky trying to find the right key for this song as it goes a bit high, still B doesn't sound too bad. It was recorded by Christy Moore, The Wolfe Tones, Eire Og, Planxty, Paddy Reilly, The Irish Brigade, Angelo Kelly, Tommy Flemming who sings the old Irish / American ballad When You Were Sweet Sixteen song, to name a few. The guitar chords are in C in chordpro .
Lyrics With Guitar Chords
When[C] apples stil[G]l grow in Novem[C]ber,when[F] blossoms still[C] bloom on each[G] tree,
When[F] leaves are still green in[C] December,it's[G] then that our land will be[Am] free,
I[F] wandered her hills and her[C] valleys,and[F] still through my sorrow I[G] see,
A[F] land that has never known[C] freedom,and[G] only our rivers run[Am] free,
[2]
I drink to the death of her manhood,those men who would rather have died,
Than to live in the cold chains of bondage,to bring back their rights were denied,
Oh where are you now that we need you,what burns where the flame used to be,
Are you gone like the snows of last winter,and will only our rivers run free.
[3]
How sweet is a life but were crying,how mellow the wine but we're dry,
How fragrant the rose but it's dying,how gentle the wind but it sighs,
What good is in youth when it's ageing,what joy is in eyes that cant see,
When theres sorrow in sunshine and flowers,and still only our rivers run free.
When[C] apples stil[G]l grow in Novem[C]ber,when[F] blossoms still[C] bloom on each[G] tree,
When[F] leaves are still green in[C] December,it's[G] then that our land will be[Am] free,
I[F] wandered her hills and her[C] valleys,and[F] still through my sorrow I[G] see,
A[F] land that has never known[C] freedom,and[G] only our rivers run[Am] free,
[2]
I drink to the death of her manhood,those men who would rather have died,
Than to live in the cold chains of bondage,to bring back their rights were denied,
Oh where are you now that we need you,what burns where the flame used to be,
Are you gone like the snows of last winter,and will only our rivers run free.
[3]
How sweet is a life but were crying,how mellow the wine but we're dry,
How fragrant the rose but it's dying,how gentle the wind but it sighs,
What good is in youth when it's ageing,what joy is in eyes that cant see,
When theres sorrow in sunshine and flowers,and still only our rivers run free.
✅ Chords for all verses
✅ A gentle fingerpicked intro tab
✅ A folk-style strumming pattern perfect for slow 4/4 time
🎶 Key: G Major
Tempo: ♩ = ~70–75 (slow, expressive ballad)
Time: 4/4
🎸 "Only Our Rivers Run Free" — Fingerpicking (3 Bars Per Line)
[G] [D] [G]
e|-----3---------3---------|-----2---------2---------|-----3---------3---------|
B|---0---0-----0---0-------|---3---3-----3---3-------|---0---0-----0---0-------|
G|-----0---------0---------|-----2---------2---------|-----0---------0---------|
D|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
A|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
E|---3---------3-----------|---2---------2-----------|---3---------3-------------|
When apples still grow in November, when blossoms still bloom
[C] [G] [D]
e|-----0---------0---------|-----3---------3---------|-----2---------2---------|
B|---1---1-----1---1-------|---0---0-----0---0-------|---3---3-----3---3-------|
G|-----0---------0---------|-----0---------0---------|-----2---------2---------|
D|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
A|---3---------3-----------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|---3---------3-----------|---2---------2-------------|
on each tree, when leaves are still green in December,
[C] [G] [D]
e|-----0---------0---------|-----3---------3---------|-----2---------2---------|
B|---1---1-----1---1-------|---0---0-----0---0-------|---3---3-----3---3-------|
G|-----0---------0---------|-----0---------0---------|-----2---------2---------|
D|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
A|---3---------3-----------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|---3---------3-----------|---2---------2-------------|
it’s then that our land will be free, I wandered her hills
[C] [G] [C]
e|-----0---------0---------|-----3---------3---------|-----0---------0---------|
B|---1---1-----1---1-------|---0---0-----0---0-------|---1---1-----1---1-------|
G|-----0---------0---------|-----0---------0---------|-----0---------0---------|
D|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
A|---3---------3-----------|--------------------------|---3---------3-------------|
E|--------------------------|---3---------3-----------|--------------------------|
and her valleys, and still through my sorrow I see,
[G] [D] [Em]
e|-----3---------3---------|-----2---------2---------|-----0---------0---------|
B|---0---0-----0---0-------|---3---3-----3---3-------|---0---0-----0---0-------|
G|-----0---------0---------|-----2---------2---------|-----0---------0---------|
D|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
A|--------------------------|--------------------------|---2---------2-----------|
E|---3---------3-----------|---2---------2-----------|---------------------------|
a land that has never known freedom, and only our rivers run free.
Play softly — let notes ring and overlap slightly.
(You can continue this pattern throughout verses for a fingerpicked version.)
🪕 Strumming Pattern (Slow Folk Feel – 4/4)
Pattern: ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Count: 1 2 & & 4 &
Use light, flowing strokes
Accent beat 1 and let the second ↑ ring for emotional phrasing
Keep it gentle — this is a lament, not a march
🎶 Lyrics with Full Chords (Key of G)
Verse 1
When [G]apples still [D]grow in No[G]vember,
when [C]blossoms still [G]bloom on each [D]tree,
When [C]leaves are still green in [G]December,
it’s [D]then that our land will be [Em]free,
I [C]wandered her hills and her [G]valleys,
and [C]still through my sorrow I [D]see,
A [C]land that has never known [G]freedom,
and [D]only our rivers run [Em]free.
Verse 2
I [G]drink to the [D]death of her [G]manhood,
those [C]men who would [G]rather have [D]died,
Than [C]live in the cold chains of [G]bondage,
to [D]win back the rights were de[Em]nied,
Oh [C]where are you now that we [G]need you,
what [C]burns where the flame used to [D]be,
Are [C]you gone like the snows of last [G]winter,
and [D]will only our rivers run [Em]free.
Verse 3
How [G]sweet is a [D]life but we’re [G]crying,
how [C]mellow the [G]wine but we’re [D]dry,
How [C]fragrant the rose but it’s [G]dying,
how [D]gentle the wind but it [Em]sighs,
What [C]good is in youth when it’s [G]aging,
what [C]joy in the eyes that can’t [D]see,
When there’s [C]sorrow in sunshine and [G]flowers,
and [D]still only our rivers run [Em]free.
🎵 Ending Suggestion
After the final line:
“... and still only our rivers run free.”
→ Fingerpick the last Em → C → G progression slowly and let the G chord ring:
Em → C → G (hold)
Optionally, end by repeating:
“... and only our rivers run free.”
Softly on a final G chord.
🌿 Performance Tips
Use fingerpicking for the verses and light strumming for the later verses to build emotion.
Keep your tempo steady but expressive — slow down slightly at the end of each verse.
A capo on 2nd fret (playing in G) gives a brighter tone that matches many Irish singers’ keys.
✅ A gentle fingerpicked intro tab
✅ A folk-style strumming pattern perfect for slow 4/4 time
🎶 Key: G Major
Tempo: ♩ = ~70–75 (slow, expressive ballad)
Time: 4/4
🎸 "Only Our Rivers Run Free" — Fingerpicking (3 Bars Per Line)
[G] [D] [G]
e|-----3---------3---------|-----2---------2---------|-----3---------3---------|
B|---0---0-----0---0-------|---3---3-----3---3-------|---0---0-----0---0-------|
G|-----0---------0---------|-----2---------2---------|-----0---------0---------|
D|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
A|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
E|---3---------3-----------|---2---------2-----------|---3---------3-------------|
When apples still grow in November, when blossoms still bloom
[C] [G] [D]
e|-----0---------0---------|-----3---------3---------|-----2---------2---------|
B|---1---1-----1---1-------|---0---0-----0---0-------|---3---3-----3---3-------|
G|-----0---------0---------|-----0---------0---------|-----2---------2---------|
D|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
A|---3---------3-----------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|---3---------3-----------|---2---------2-------------|
on each tree, when leaves are still green in December,
[C] [G] [D]
e|-----0---------0---------|-----3---------3---------|-----2---------2---------|
B|---1---1-----1---1-------|---0---0-----0---0-------|---3---3-----3---3-------|
G|-----0---------0---------|-----0---------0---------|-----2---------2---------|
D|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
A|---3---------3-----------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|---3---------3-----------|---2---------2-------------|
it’s then that our land will be free, I wandered her hills
[C] [G] [C]
e|-----0---------0---------|-----3---------3---------|-----0---------0---------|
B|---1---1-----1---1-------|---0---0-----0---0-------|---1---1-----1---1-------|
G|-----0---------0---------|-----0---------0---------|-----0---------0---------|
D|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
A|---3---------3-----------|--------------------------|---3---------3-------------|
E|--------------------------|---3---------3-----------|--------------------------|
and her valleys, and still through my sorrow I see,
[G] [D] [Em]
e|-----3---------3---------|-----2---------2---------|-----0---------0---------|
B|---0---0-----0---0-------|---3---3-----3---3-------|---0---0-----0---0-------|
G|-----0---------0---------|-----2---------2---------|-----0---------0---------|
D|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
A|--------------------------|--------------------------|---2---------2-----------|
E|---3---------3-----------|---2---------2-----------|---------------------------|
a land that has never known freedom, and only our rivers run free.
Play softly — let notes ring and overlap slightly.
(You can continue this pattern throughout verses for a fingerpicked version.)
🪕 Strumming Pattern (Slow Folk Feel – 4/4)
Pattern: ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Count: 1 2 & & 4 &
Use light, flowing strokes
Accent beat 1 and let the second ↑ ring for emotional phrasing
Keep it gentle — this is a lament, not a march
🎶 Lyrics with Full Chords (Key of G)
Verse 1
When [G]apples still [D]grow in No[G]vember,
when [C]blossoms still [G]bloom on each [D]tree,
When [C]leaves are still green in [G]December,
it’s [D]then that our land will be [Em]free,
I [C]wandered her hills and her [G]valleys,
and [C]still through my sorrow I [D]see,
A [C]land that has never known [G]freedom,
and [D]only our rivers run [Em]free.
Verse 2
I [G]drink to the [D]death of her [G]manhood,
those [C]men who would [G]rather have [D]died,
Than [C]live in the cold chains of [G]bondage,
to [D]win back the rights were de[Em]nied,
Oh [C]where are you now that we [G]need you,
what [C]burns where the flame used to [D]be,
Are [C]you gone like the snows of last [G]winter,
and [D]will only our rivers run [Em]free.
Verse 3
How [G]sweet is a [D]life but we’re [G]crying,
how [C]mellow the [G]wine but we’re [D]dry,
How [C]fragrant the rose but it’s [G]dying,
how [D]gentle the wind but it [Em]sighs,
What [C]good is in youth when it’s [G]aging,
what [C]joy in the eyes that can’t [D]see,
When there’s [C]sorrow in sunshine and [G]flowers,
and [D]still only our rivers run [Em]free.
🎵 Ending Suggestion
After the final line:
“... and still only our rivers run free.”
→ Fingerpick the last Em → C → G progression slowly and let the G chord ring:
Em → C → G (hold)
Optionally, end by repeating:
“... and only our rivers run free.”
Softly on a final G chord.
🌿 Performance Tips
Use fingerpicking for the verses and light strumming for the later verses to build emotion.
Keep your tempo steady but expressive — slow down slightly at the end of each verse.
A capo on 2nd fret (playing in G) gives a brighter tone that matches many Irish singers’ keys.
These are the easy guitar chords I'm playing in the youtube video with a capo on the 4th fret.
When[G] apples stil[D]l grow in Novem[G]ber,when[C] blossoms still[G] bloom on each[D] tree,
When[C] leaves are still green in[G] December,it's[D] then that our land will be[Em] free,
I[C] wandered her hills and her[G] valleys,and[C] still through my sorrow I[D] see,
A[C] land that has never known[G] freedom,and[D] only our rivers run[Em] free,
In the Wolfe Tones Lyrics And Chords section you'll find at least 100 of the group's most popular
hit songs over the decades.
When[G] apples stil[D]l grow in Novem[G]ber,when[C] blossoms still[G] bloom on each[D] tree,
When[C] leaves are still green in[G] December,it's[D] then that our land will be[Em] free,
I[C] wandered her hills and her[G] valleys,and[C] still through my sorrow I[D] see,
A[C] land that has never known[G] freedom,and[D] only our rivers run[Em] free,
In the Wolfe Tones Lyrics And Chords section you'll find at least 100 of the group's most popular
hit songs over the decades.
Micky McConnell song Only Our Rivers Run Free
Below is the ebook list of Irish Folk Songs with guitar chords
in 3 keys. Price €8.90 and I'll email the ebook after purchase .
The chords are suited to ukulele, banjo or mandolin also.
Martin
Below is the ebook list of Irish Folk Songs with guitar chords
in 3 keys. Price €8.90 and I'll email the ebook after purchase .
The chords are suited to ukulele, banjo or mandolin also.
Martin
