Rambling Irishman Guitar Chords And Song Lyrics
Recorded by Cathal McConnell And The Boys Of The Lough, The Wolfe Tones from the album ''Across The Broad Atlantic'', De Danann with Dolores Keane, The Oyster Band, The Starlight Singers.Dolores Keane would be better known for singing My Own Dear Galway Bay Song or Caledonia. A traditional Irish song. The guitar chords in G are in chordpro. The tin whistle sheet music is included plus a youtube video of The Sands Family.
Rambling Irishman Lyrics And Chords In G
I[G]am a rambling[C] Irish[G]man
In Ulster [C]I was [G]born [D]in
And [G]many's the pleasant [C]day I [G]spent
Round the shores of [C]sweet Lough[D] Er[G]in
[G]For to be [C]poor I could[G] not endu[D]re
Like [G]others [C]of my [D]stati[G]on
To A[C]mericae I [D]sailed a[D]way
And [Em]]left this Irish [C]nati[D]on
Rye[G] tan tin a na,[C] tan tin a [G]na
Rye [G]tan tin a [C]nore in a[G] nan[D]dy
Rye[G] tan tin a na,[C] tan tin a [G]na
Rye tan tin a [C]nore in a [D]nan[G]dy
The night before I went away
I spent it with my darling
Three o'clock in the afternoon
'Til the break of day next morning
But when that we were going to part
We linked in each others arms
For Americae we soon set sail
A journey without no charms
Rye tan tin a na, tan tin a na
Rye tan tin a nore in a nandy
Rye tan tin a na, tan tin a na
Rye tan tin a nore in a nandy
And when we reached the other side
we were both stout and healthy
We dropped our anchor in the bay
Going down to Philadelphi
So let every lass drink to her lad
In blue jacket and white trousers
And let every lad drink to his lass
And take them as lifes spouses
Rye tan tin a na, tan tin a na
Rye tan tin a nore in a nandy
Rye tan tin a na, tan tin a na
Rye tan tin a nore in a nandy
I[G]am a rambling[C] Irish[G]man
In Ulster [C]I was [G]born [D]in
And [G]many's the pleasant [C]day I [G]spent
Round the shores of [C]sweet Lough[D] Er[G]in
[G]For to be [C]poor I could[G] not endu[D]re
Like [G]others [C]of my [D]stati[G]on
To A[C]mericae I [D]sailed a[D]way
And [Em]]left this Irish [C]nati[D]on
Rye[G] tan tin a na,[C] tan tin a [G]na
Rye [G]tan tin a [C]nore in a[G] nan[D]dy
Rye[G] tan tin a na,[C] tan tin a [G]na
Rye tan tin a [C]nore in a [D]nan[G]dy
The night before I went away
I spent it with my darling
Three o'clock in the afternoon
'Til the break of day next morning
But when that we were going to part
We linked in each others arms
For Americae we soon set sail
A journey without no charms
Rye tan tin a na, tan tin a na
Rye tan tin a nore in a nandy
Rye tan tin a na, tan tin a na
Rye tan tin a nore in a nandy
And when we reached the other side
we were both stout and healthy
We dropped our anchor in the bay
Going down to Philadelphi
So let every lass drink to her lad
In blue jacket and white trousers
And let every lad drink to his lass
And take them as lifes spouses
Rye tan tin a na, tan tin a na
Rye tan tin a nore in a nandy
Rye tan tin a na, tan tin a na
Rye tan tin a nore in a nandy
Excellent — you’ve chosen a classic Irish emigrant ballad, sometimes known as The Rambling Irishman or Sweet Lough Erne. It fits beautifully in G major, with a lilting folk rhythm and a storytelling flow.
Below is the complete version with chords on all verses, a strumming pattern for the song’s main rhythm, and a fingerpicking tab for the first verse (great for a gentle intro before joining in with full strumming).
🎸 Key: G MajorTempo: Moderate Irish lilt (~100 BPM)
Time Signature: 4/4
🎶 Strumming PatternIrish-folk style (steady 4/4 jig-like swing):
Down – Down-Up – Up-Down-Up
(Count: 1 – 2& – &4&)
For more drive:
🎸 Fingerpicking Tab (for 1st Verse Only)A gentle Travis-picking pattern with alternating bass:
Pattern (per chord):
Thumb plays bass → Index, Middle, Ring pick upper strings
Tab (first verse):
G C G e|--------3-------------3-------------0-------------3-------------| B|------0---0---------0---0---------1---1---------0---0-----------| G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----0-------0-----0-------0---------| D|-------------------------------2-----------2-0-----------0------| A|--2-----------2-3-----------3-----------------------------------| E|--3-------------------------------------------------------------| C G D e|--------0-------------3-------------2-------------2-------------| B|------1---1---------0---0---------3---3---------3---3-----------| G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----2-------2-----2-------2---------| D|--2-----------2-0-----------0-0-----------0-0-----------0-------| A|--3-------------------------------------------------------------| E|---------------------------------------------------------------| G C D G e|--------3-------------0-------------2-------------3-------------| B|------0---0---------1---1---------3---3---------0---0-----------| G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----2-------2-----0-------0---------| D|-----------------2-----------2-0-----------0-0-----------0------| A|--2-----------2-3----------------------------------------------| E|--3-------------------------------------------------------------| This pattern flows gently — perfect for the opening verse before you move into strumming.
🎤 Lyrics with ChordsVerse 1 (Fingerpicking)[G]I am a rambling [C]Irish [G]man,
In Ulster [C]I was [G]born [D]in,
And [G]many’s the pleasant [C]day I [G]spent,
Round the shores of [C]sweet Lough [D]Er[G]in.
[G]For to be [C]poor I could [G]not en[D]dure,
Like [G]others [C]of my [D]stati[G]on,
To A[C]mericae I [D]sailed a[D]way,
And [Em]left this Irish [C]na[D]tion.
Chorus (Strumming)Rye [G]tan tin a na, [C]tan tin a [G]na,
Rye [G]tan tin a [C]nore in a [G]nan[D]dy,
Rye [G]tan tin a na, [C]tan tin a [G]na,
Rye tan tin a [C]nore in a [D]nan[G]dy.
Verse 2The [G]night before I [C]went a[G]way,
I spent it [C]with my [G]dar[D]ling,
Three [G]o’clock in the after[C]noon,
'Til the break of [C]day next [D]mor[G]ning.
But [G]when that we were [C]going to [G]part,
We [G]linked in each other’s [D]arms,
For A[G]mericae we [C]soon set [G]sail,
A [C]journey with[D]out no [G]charms.
ChorusRye [G]tan tin a na, [C]tan tin a [G]na,
Rye [G]tan tin a [C]nore in a [G]nan[D]dy,
Rye [G]tan tin a na, [C]tan tin a [G]na,
Rye tan tin a [C]nore in a [D]nan[G]dy.
Below is the complete version with chords on all verses, a strumming pattern for the song’s main rhythm, and a fingerpicking tab for the first verse (great for a gentle intro before joining in with full strumming).
🎸 Key: G MajorTempo: Moderate Irish lilt (~100 BPM)
Time Signature: 4/4
🎶 Strumming PatternIrish-folk style (steady 4/4 jig-like swing):
Down – Down-Up – Up-Down-Up
(Count: 1 – 2& – &4&)
For more drive:
- G chord: alternate bass between 6th → 4th string
- C chord: 5th → 4th string
- D chord: 4th → 5th string
🎸 Fingerpicking Tab (for 1st Verse Only)A gentle Travis-picking pattern with alternating bass:
Pattern (per chord):
Thumb plays bass → Index, Middle, Ring pick upper strings
Tab (first verse):
G C G e|--------3-------------3-------------0-------------3-------------| B|------0---0---------0---0---------1---1---------0---0-----------| G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----0-------0-----0-------0---------| D|-------------------------------2-----------2-0-----------0------| A|--2-----------2-3-----------3-----------------------------------| E|--3-------------------------------------------------------------| C G D e|--------0-------------3-------------2-------------2-------------| B|------1---1---------0---0---------3---3---------3---3-----------| G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----2-------2-----2-------2---------| D|--2-----------2-0-----------0-0-----------0-0-----------0-------| A|--3-------------------------------------------------------------| E|---------------------------------------------------------------| G C D G e|--------3-------------0-------------2-------------3-------------| B|------0---0---------1---1---------3---3---------0---0-----------| G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----2-------2-----0-------0---------| D|-----------------2-----------2-0-----------0-0-----------0------| A|--2-----------2-3----------------------------------------------| E|--3-------------------------------------------------------------| This pattern flows gently — perfect for the opening verse before you move into strumming.
🎤 Lyrics with ChordsVerse 1 (Fingerpicking)[G]I am a rambling [C]Irish [G]man,
In Ulster [C]I was [G]born [D]in,
And [G]many’s the pleasant [C]day I [G]spent,
Round the shores of [C]sweet Lough [D]Er[G]in.
[G]For to be [C]poor I could [G]not en[D]dure,
Like [G]others [C]of my [D]stati[G]on,
To A[C]mericae I [D]sailed a[D]way,
And [Em]left this Irish [C]na[D]tion.
Chorus (Strumming)Rye [G]tan tin a na, [C]tan tin a [G]na,
Rye [G]tan tin a [C]nore in a [G]nan[D]dy,
Rye [G]tan tin a na, [C]tan tin a [G]na,
Rye tan tin a [C]nore in a [D]nan[G]dy.
Verse 2The [G]night before I [C]went a[G]way,
I spent it [C]with my [G]dar[D]ling,
Three [G]o’clock in the after[C]noon,
'Til the break of [C]day next [D]mor[G]ning.
But [G]when that we were [C]going to [G]part,
We [G]linked in each other’s [D]arms,
For A[G]mericae we [C]soon set [G]sail,
A [C]journey with[D]out no [G]charms.
ChorusRye [G]tan tin a na, [C]tan tin a [G]na,
Rye [G]tan tin a [C]nore in a [G]nan[D]dy,
Rye [G]tan tin a na, [C]tan tin a [G]na,
Rye tan tin a [C]nore in a [D]nan[G]dy.
whatever country the Irish people went to over the years They took with them their music and songs. They took with them too the stories and folk-tales which had been handed down to them from generation to generation.Our emigrants however, ` were not just content with the songs and stories they took with them to other lands; for these in the main told of events and happenings in their own land. As far as our emigrants were concerned
different climes influenced them in producing different stories and different rhymes. ` These new folk songs were born out of their experiences in such far-flung lands as Australia, America and Canada.
different climes influenced them in producing different stories and different rhymes. ` These new folk songs were born out of their experiences in such far-flung lands as Australia, America and Canada.
Rambling Irishman sheet music in G Major
Rambling Irishman Lyrics And Chords In D Major
I[D]am a rambling[G] Irish[D]man
In Ulster [G]I was [D]born [A]in
And [D]many's the pleasant [G]day I [D]spent
Round the shores of [G]sweet Lough[A] Er[D]in
[D]For to be [G]poor I could[D] not endu[A]re
Like [D]others [G]of my [A]stati[D]on
To A[G]mericae I [A]sailed a[A]way
And [Bm]left this Irish [G]nati[A]on
Rye[D] tan tin a na,[G] tan tin a [D]na
Rye [D]tan tin a [G]nore in a[D] nan[A]dy
Rye[D] tan tin a na,[G] tan tin a [D]na
Rye tan tin a [G]nore in a [A]nan[D]dy
I[D]am a rambling[G] Irish[D]man
In Ulster [G]I was [D]born [A]in
And [D]many's the pleasant [G]day I [D]spent
Round the shores of [G]sweet Lough[A] Er[D]in
[D]For to be [G]poor I could[D] not endu[A]re
Like [D]others [G]of my [A]stati[D]on
To A[G]mericae I [A]sailed a[A]way
And [Bm]left this Irish [G]nati[A]on
Rye[D] tan tin a na,[G] tan tin a [D]na
Rye [D]tan tin a [G]nore in a[D] nan[A]dy
Rye[D] tan tin a na,[G] tan tin a [D]na
Rye tan tin a [G]nore in a [A]nan[D]dy
Dolores Keane Rambling Irishman Song
this one’s a fine emigration ballad, full of homesick hearts, long farewells, and enough rhythmic nonsense syllables to keep a fiddler busy ’til closing time.
☘️ Act 1: A Lad From Ulster With Empty Pockets and Big Dreams. We’ve a young fella born in Ulster,
wandering around sweet Lough Erne
in the days when life was lovely --
except for the small inconvenience of being completely skint.
He basically says:
“For to be poor I could not endure.”
Which is Irish for:
“There’s only so long you’ll survive on porridge and holy hope.”
So, like many a lad before him,
he packs his dreams,
his heartbreak,
and probably a stolen potato or two,
and sails for Americae --
the land of opportunity,
dollar bills,
and future drinking songs.
☘️ Act 2: The Last Night of Passion (and Possibly Bad Decisions)The night before departure,
he spends one last evening
with his sweetheart.
And by “evening”
he means from 3 in the afternoon
to sunrise the next day.
That’s not a farewell,
that’s a marathon.
They cling to each other like two people
who know damn well that long–distance relationships
didn’t work in the days before WhatsApp.
“We linked in each other’s arms.”
Translation:
They glued themselves together
like two lonely barnacles on a rock.
☘️ Act 3: The Sail to Nowhere Come morning,
it’s time to board the ship.
There’s no cheerful fanfare,
no brass band,
no Titanic orchestra.
Just salt air, sea sickness,
and the grim realization that this “journey”
might be the emotional equivalent
of being smacked with a wet cod.
He says:
“A journey without no charms.”
Which is absolutely accurate.
There were three charms missing:
☘️ Act 4: The Magical Gibberish Chorus Rye tan tin a na, tan tin a na…
It’s not Gaelic.
It’s not English.
It’s not even human speech.
It’s just the universal sound of a man
who’s had three pints
and forgot the words
but kept the melody.
It’s musical filler --
like humming while your brain catches up.
It’s pure Irish vocal wallpaper.
☘️ The Irish Spirit Summary This song is:
A lad leaves home,
leaves love behind,
sings a nonsense chorus
to keep from crying,
and sails toward a future
that’s uncertain --
but at least has a chance of
better wages and decent meat.
Sure that’s Irish life in a nutshell --
a sad tale told with a grin,
a silly chorus,
and a twinkle of mischief in the eye.
☘️ Act 1: A Lad From Ulster With Empty Pockets and Big Dreams. We’ve a young fella born in Ulster,
wandering around sweet Lough Erne
in the days when life was lovely --
except for the small inconvenience of being completely skint.
He basically says:
“For to be poor I could not endure.”
Which is Irish for:
“There’s only so long you’ll survive on porridge and holy hope.”
So, like many a lad before him,
he packs his dreams,
his heartbreak,
and probably a stolen potato or two,
and sails for Americae --
the land of opportunity,
dollar bills,
and future drinking songs.
☘️ Act 2: The Last Night of Passion (and Possibly Bad Decisions)The night before departure,
he spends one last evening
with his sweetheart.
And by “evening”
he means from 3 in the afternoon
to sunrise the next day.
That’s not a farewell,
that’s a marathon.
They cling to each other like two people
who know damn well that long–distance relationships
didn’t work in the days before WhatsApp.
“We linked in each other’s arms.”
Translation:
They glued themselves together
like two lonely barnacles on a rock.
☘️ Act 3: The Sail to Nowhere Come morning,
it’s time to board the ship.
There’s no cheerful fanfare,
no brass band,
no Titanic orchestra.
Just salt air, sea sickness,
and the grim realization that this “journey”
might be the emotional equivalent
of being smacked with a wet cod.
He says:
“A journey without no charms.”
Which is absolutely accurate.
There were three charms missing:
- comfort
- good company
- and dry underpants
☘️ Act 4: The Magical Gibberish Chorus Rye tan tin a na, tan tin a na…
It’s not Gaelic.
It’s not English.
It’s not even human speech.
It’s just the universal sound of a man
who’s had three pints
and forgot the words
but kept the melody.
It’s musical filler --
like humming while your brain catches up.
It’s pure Irish vocal wallpaper.
☘️ The Irish Spirit Summary This song is:
- 40% homesickness
- 30% heartbreak
- 20% hope
- 10% pure melodic nonsense
A lad leaves home,
leaves love behind,
sings a nonsense chorus
to keep from crying,
and sails toward a future
that’s uncertain --
but at least has a chance of
better wages and decent meat.
Sure that’s Irish life in a nutshell --
a sad tale told with a grin,
a silly chorus,
and a twinkle of mischief in the eye.
