PA‘ LOS DEL SAN PATRICIO Lyrics And Guitar Chords
4/4 (Charlie O’Brien) To play along to Charlie O’Brien’s on his CD “Songs From An Outpost” use a capo on the 3rd fret The air of this song is very similar to the traditional song ‘Dainty Davy’ , this song is about John Reilly from Galway who fought for the Mexican Army against The Americans in the 1846-48 war. John was originally on the American side
Instrumental Intro
[D]Fourty-Seven too long a [G]year, men [D]died in [A]chains men [D]died in [A7]fear
[D]Some were lost under Irish [G]sky and [D]some on Mexico’s [A]fields were [D]hung.
The [G]gallows [A]there four[D]teen feet high [G]two score men con[A]demned to [A7]die
[D]Hung at noon in scorching [G]heat, three [D]hours they waited bound [A]hand and [D]feet.
[D)Fourty-Seven so dark a [G]year, men [D]shook their [A]chains and [D]fell in [A7]fear
From [D]Vera Cruz a flag un[G]furled many [D]men rallied [A]round [D]it.
A [G]Mexican [A]eagle and a [D]Celtic cross [G]under the green flag [A]men were [A7]lost
[D]Shot down as soldiers, hung as [G]slaves their [D]cruel fate a [A]shallow [D]grave.
[D]Birds wouldn’t cross the Pedra[G]gal [D]through it [A]General Lee he [D]carved a [A7]path
Va[D]lencia’s army were routed [G]there Churu[D]busco’s fate was [A]cal[D]ling.
The [G]Yankees [A]tumbled [D]through high corn at [G]Churubusco we [A]shot them [A7]down
[D]Mexican guns they soon gave [G]out with [D]bayonets we joined the [A]slaugh[D]ter.
Bridge:
D-D-A-A D-D-A-A7 D-D-A-A D-A7-D-D D-A7-D-D
Three [D]times the white flag swung [G]round three [D]times O’[A]Riley [D]pulled it [A7]down
When [D]blood ran down into the [G]sand only [D]then did they sur[A]ren[D]der.
The [G]Mexican [A]eagle and a [D]Celtic cross [G]under the green flag [A]men were [A7]lost
[D]Shot down as soldiers and hung as [G]slaves their [D]cruel fate a [A]shallow [D]grave..
The [G]gallows [A]there four[D]teen feet high [G]two score men con[A]demned to [A7]die
[D]Hung at noon in scorching [G]heat, three [D]hours they waited bound [A]hand and [D]feet.
Instrumental Outro.
Lyrics and chords N-R
[D]Fourty-Seven too long a [G]year, men [D]died in [A]chains men [D]died in [A7]fear
[D]Some were lost under Irish [G]sky and [D]some on Mexico’s [A]fields were [D]hung.
The [G]gallows [A]there four[D]teen feet high [G]two score men con[A]demned to [A7]die
[D]Hung at noon in scorching [G]heat, three [D]hours they waited bound [A]hand and [D]feet.
[D)Fourty-Seven so dark a [G]year, men [D]shook their [A]chains and [D]fell in [A7]fear
From [D]Vera Cruz a flag un[G]furled many [D]men rallied [A]round [D]it.
A [G]Mexican [A]eagle and a [D]Celtic cross [G]under the green flag [A]men were [A7]lost
[D]Shot down as soldiers, hung as [G]slaves their [D]cruel fate a [A]shallow [D]grave.
[D]Birds wouldn’t cross the Pedra[G]gal [D]through it [A]General Lee he [D]carved a [A7]path
Va[D]lencia’s army were routed [G]there Churu[D]busco’s fate was [A]cal[D]ling.
The [G]Yankees [A]tumbled [D]through high corn at [G]Churubusco we [A]shot them [A7]down
[D]Mexican guns they soon gave [G]out with [D]bayonets we joined the [A]slaugh[D]ter.
Bridge:
D-D-A-A D-D-A-A7 D-D-A-A D-A7-D-D D-A7-D-D
Three [D]times the white flag swung [G]round three [D]times O’[A]Riley [D]pulled it [A7]down
When [D]blood ran down into the [G]sand only [D]then did they sur[A]ren[D]der.
The [G]Mexican [A]eagle and a [D]Celtic cross [G]under the green flag [A]men were [A7]lost
[D]Shot down as soldiers and hung as [G]slaves their [D]cruel fate a [A]shallow [D]grave..
The [G]gallows [A]there four[D]teen feet high [G]two score men con[A]demned to [A7]die
[D]Hung at noon in scorching [G]heat, three [D]hours they waited bound [A]hand and [D]feet.
Instrumental Outro.
Lyrics and chords N-R
this is the stirring ballad “San Patricio Brigade” (or “The San Patricios”), telling of the Irish soldiers who fought for Mexico in 1847.
Here’s your complete G major arrangement with:
✅ Full chords for every verse
🎸 Intro fingerpicking tab
🎶 Folk-style strumming pattern (suitable for storytelling ballads)
🎼 Key: G Major
Tempo: Moderate (♩ = 85–95)
Time Signature: 4/4
Style: Irish Folk / Ballad
🎶 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Time)
For a steady storytelling pulse:
Pattern: ↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
(Count: 1 2& 3&4&)
Alternative march ballad feel:
Bass ↓ Down-Up Bass ↓ Down-Up
G chord → play bass on 6th string
C chord → 5th string
D chord → 4th string
Alternate roots for variation on longer chords
🎸 Intro Fingerpicking Tab (G Major)
A slow, solemn intro before the vocals enter:
G C G
e|--------3--------2--0-|--------0--1--0----------3---|
B|----0--------1--------|----1-----------3----0-------|
G|--0--------0----------|--0--------------------------|
D|----------------------|-----------------------------|
A|----------------------|3----------------------------|
E|3---------------------|-----------------------------|
Play once or twice depending on performance length.
🎵 Lyrics with Chords (Key: G Major)
Verse 1
[G]Forty-seven too long a [C]year,
Men [G]died in [D]chains, men [G]died in [D7]fear.
[G]Some were lost under Irish [C]sky,
And [G]some on Mexico’s [D]fields were [G]hung.
The [C]gallows [D]there four[G]teen feet high,
[C]Two score men con[D]demned to [D7]die.
[G]Hung at noon in scorching [C]heat,
Three [G]hours they waited bound [D]hand and [G]feet.
Verse 2
[G]Forty-seven so dark a [C]year,
Men [G]shook their [D]chains and [G]fell in [D7]fear.
From [G]Vera Cruz a flag un[C]furled,
Many [G]men rallied [D]’round [G]it.
A [C]Mexican [D]eagle and a [G]Celtic cross,
[C]Under the green flag [D]men were [D7]lost.
[G]Shot down as soldiers, hung as [C]slaves,
Their [G]cruel fate a [D]shallow [G]grave.
Verse 3
[G]Birds wouldn’t cross the Pedra[C]gal,
Through it [G]General Lee he [D]carved his [G]path.
Va[G]lencia’s army was routed [C]there,
Churu[G]busco’s fate was [D]calling.
The [C]Yankees [D]tumbled [G]through high corn,
At [C]Churubusco we [D]shot them [D7]down.
[G]Mexican guns they soon gave [C]out,
With [G]bayonets we joined the [D]slaugh[G]ter.
Bridge
G - G - D - D
G - G - D - D7
G - G - D - D
G - D7 - G - G
G - D7 - G - G
Verse 4
Three [G]times the white flag swung [C]’round,
Three [G]times O’[D]Riley [G]pulled it [D7]down.
When [G]blood ran down into the [C]sand,
Only [G]then did they sur[D]ren[G]der.
The [C]Mexican [D]eagle and a [G]Celtic cross,
[C]Under the green flag [D]men were [D7]lost.
[G]Shot down as soldiers and hung as [C]slaves,
Their [G]cruel fate a [D]shallow [G]grave.
Verse 5 (Refrain)
The [C]gallows [D]there four[G]teen feet high,
[C]Two score men con[D]demned to [D7]die.
[G]Hung at noon in scorching [C]heat,
Three [G]hours they waited bound [D]hand and [G]feet.
🎸 Instrumental Outro
Repeat the intro tab softly or play the chord progression of Verse 1 instrumentally to fade out.
Here’s your complete G major arrangement with:
✅ Full chords for every verse
🎸 Intro fingerpicking tab
🎶 Folk-style strumming pattern (suitable for storytelling ballads)
🎼 Key: G Major
Tempo: Moderate (♩ = 85–95)
Time Signature: 4/4
Style: Irish Folk / Ballad
🎶 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Time)
For a steady storytelling pulse:
Pattern: ↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
(Count: 1 2& 3&4&)
Alternative march ballad feel:
Bass ↓ Down-Up Bass ↓ Down-Up
G chord → play bass on 6th string
C chord → 5th string
D chord → 4th string
Alternate roots for variation on longer chords
🎸 Intro Fingerpicking Tab (G Major)
A slow, solemn intro before the vocals enter:
G C G
e|--------3--------2--0-|--------0--1--0----------3---|
B|----0--------1--------|----1-----------3----0-------|
G|--0--------0----------|--0--------------------------|
D|----------------------|-----------------------------|
A|----------------------|3----------------------------|
E|3---------------------|-----------------------------|
Play once or twice depending on performance length.
🎵 Lyrics with Chords (Key: G Major)
Verse 1
[G]Forty-seven too long a [C]year,
Men [G]died in [D]chains, men [G]died in [D7]fear.
[G]Some were lost under Irish [C]sky,
And [G]some on Mexico’s [D]fields were [G]hung.
The [C]gallows [D]there four[G]teen feet high,
[C]Two score men con[D]demned to [D7]die.
[G]Hung at noon in scorching [C]heat,
Three [G]hours they waited bound [D]hand and [G]feet.
Verse 2
[G]Forty-seven so dark a [C]year,
Men [G]shook their [D]chains and [G]fell in [D7]fear.
From [G]Vera Cruz a flag un[C]furled,
Many [G]men rallied [D]’round [G]it.
A [C]Mexican [D]eagle and a [G]Celtic cross,
[C]Under the green flag [D]men were [D7]lost.
[G]Shot down as soldiers, hung as [C]slaves,
Their [G]cruel fate a [D]shallow [G]grave.
Verse 3
[G]Birds wouldn’t cross the Pedra[C]gal,
Through it [G]General Lee he [D]carved his [G]path.
Va[G]lencia’s army was routed [C]there,
Churu[G]busco’s fate was [D]calling.
The [C]Yankees [D]tumbled [G]through high corn,
At [C]Churubusco we [D]shot them [D7]down.
[G]Mexican guns they soon gave [C]out,
With [G]bayonets we joined the [D]slaugh[G]ter.
Bridge
G - G - D - D
G - G - D - D7
G - G - D - D
G - D7 - G - G
G - D7 - G - G
Verse 4
Three [G]times the white flag swung [C]’round,
Three [G]times O’[D]Riley [G]pulled it [D7]down.
When [G]blood ran down into the [C]sand,
Only [G]then did they sur[D]ren[G]der.
The [C]Mexican [D]eagle and a [G]Celtic cross,
[C]Under the green flag [D]men were [D7]lost.
[G]Shot down as soldiers and hung as [C]slaves,
Their [G]cruel fate a [D]shallow [G]grave.
Verse 5 (Refrain)
The [C]gallows [D]there four[G]teen feet high,
[C]Two score men con[D]demned to [D7]die.
[G]Hung at noon in scorching [C]heat,
Three [G]hours they waited bound [D]hand and [G]feet.
🎸 Instrumental Outro
Repeat the intro tab softly or play the chord progression of Verse 1 instrumentally to fade out.
