Ride On Song lyrics and guitar chords
The sheet music, and mandolin / 4 string banjo tab are is cluded. Christy Moore and written by songwriter Jimmy McCarthy who has written folk songs for many Irish singers including Katie [ lyrics / chords ] for Mary Black. Tin whistle notes are included. Recorded by many other singers and bands including Rapalje and Celtic Thunder plus the Irish ballad group The High Kings.. Christy uses a capo on the first fret. Recently recorded by Celtic Thunder and by Mary Coughlan. The group Cruachan recorded it in 2006 and up until 2015 had more than 600,000 hits on youtube. Included here is an easy to play version in Am along with the guitar chords that Christy Moore sings in. It's got to be one of the shortest songs on the whole site, just two verses and a chorus. The pdf of the piano sheet music is included.
True[Am] you ride the finest horse I've[F] ever seen
[G]Standing sixteen one or two with eyes[Am] wild and green
And[Am] you ride the horse so well hands[F] light to the totch
[G]I could never go with you no matter how I[Am] wanted to
[Chorus]
[Am]Ride on,[F]see you,
[G]I could never go with you no matter how I[Am] wanted to
When you ride into the night without a trace behind
Run your claw along my gut one last time
I turn to face an empty space where you used to lie
And look for the smile to light the night through a teardrop in my eye.
[Chorus twice]
[G]Standing sixteen one or two with eyes[Am] wild and green
And[Am] you ride the horse so well hands[F] light to the totch
[G]I could never go with you no matter how I[Am] wanted to
[Chorus]
[Am]Ride on,[F]see you,
[G]I could never go with you no matter how I[Am] wanted to
When you ride into the night without a trace behind
Run your claw along my gut one last time
I turn to face an empty space where you used to lie
And look for the smile to light the night through a teardrop in my eye.
[Chorus twice]
Below is the full version with chords on all lines, a strumming pattern, and a fingerpicking tab for the first verse and chorus. Everything is in A minor, the traditional key for the song.
🎵 Ride On – Christy Moore
Key: A minor
Time: 6/8 (slow ballad feel)
Verse 1
True [Am]you ride the finest horse I've [F]ever seen
[G]Standing sixteen one or two with eyes [Am]wild and green
And [Am]you ride the horse so well, hands [F]light to the touch
[G]I could never go with you no matter how I [Am]wanted to
Chorus
[Am]Ride on, [F]see you
[G]I could never go with you no matter how I [Am]wanted to
Verse 2
When you [Am]ride into the night, without a [F]trace behind
[G]Run your claw along my gut one last [Am]time
I [Am]turn to face an empty space where [F]you used to lie
And [G]look for the smile to light the night through a [Am]teardrop in my eye
Chorus (repeat)
[Am]Ride on, [F]see you
[G]I could never go with you no matter how I [Am]wanted to
🎸 Strumming Pattern (6/8 feel)
This song works best with a slow rolling 6/8 rhythm, giving that Celtic lilt.
Pattern:
D D U D U
1 2 3 4 5 6
Emphasize the first downstroke (beat 1) for the pulse.
Keep the upstrokes gentle, almost like waves.
You can also simplify it to just D – D U per bar for a more intimate performance.
Example feel:
D D U D U | D D U D U (slow, steady waltz swing)
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab (Intro / Verse 1 & Chorus)
This tab follows the same chords and rhythm as the sung melody — a calm rolling pattern in 6/8 time.
Use standard tuning (EADGBE).
Fingerpicking Pattern (6/8)
Right-hand:
Thumb (p) – bass note (A or E string)
Index (i) – G string
Middle (m) – B string
Ring (a) – high E string
Pattern per bar:
p i m a i m
1 2 3 4 5 6
Tab (Verse 1)
[Am]
e|--------0-------------0-------------0-------------0------|
B|------1---1---------1---1---------1---1---------1---1----|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2--|
D|--2-----------2-2-----------2-2-----------2-2-----------2|
A|-0-------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|
[F]
e|--------1-------------1-------------1-------------1------|
B|------1---1---------1---1---------1---1---------1---1----|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2--|
D|--3-----------3-3-----------3-3-----------3-3-----------3|
A|-3-------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|
[G]
e|--------3-------------3-------------3-------------3------|
B|------0---0---------0---0---------0---0---------0---0----|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----0-------0-----0-------0--|
D|--0-----------0-0-----------0-0-----------0-0-----------0|
A|-----------------------------2-------------2-------------|
E|-3-------------3-----------------------------------------|
[Am]
e|--------0-------------0-------------0-------------0------|
B|------1---1---------1---1---------1---1---------1---1----|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2--|
D|--2-----------2-2-----------2-2-----------2-2-----------2|
A|-0-------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|
Tab (Chorus)
[Am] Ride on,
e|--------0-------------0-------------0-------------0------|
B|------1---1---------1---1---------1---1---------1---1----|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2--|
D|--2-----------2-2-----------2-2-----------2-2-----------2|
A|-0-------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|
[F] see you,
e|--------1-------------1-------------1-------------1------|
B|------1---1---------1---1---------1---1---------1---1----|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2--|
D|--3-----------3-3-----------3-3-----------3-3-----------3|
A|-3-------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|
[G] I could never go with you,
e|--------3-------------3-------------3-------------3------|
B|------0---0---------0---0---------0---0---------0---0----|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----0-------0-----0-------0--|
D|--0-----------0-0-----------0-0-----------0-0-----------0|
A|-----------------------------2-------------2-------------|
E|-3-------------3-----------------------------------------|
[Am] no matter how I wanted to.
e|--------0-------------0-------------0-------------0------|
B|------1---1---------1---1---------1---1---------1---1----|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2--|
D|--2-----------2-2-----------2-2-----------2-2-----------2|
A|-0-------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|
✅ Performance Tips:
Keep a slow 6/8 pulse, let each bass note ring clearly.
Use your thumb for bass and fingers for the arpeggio roll.
For later verses, you can transition smoothly to gentle strumming for dynamic contrast.
🎵 Ride On – Christy Moore
Key: A minor
Time: 6/8 (slow ballad feel)
Verse 1
True [Am]you ride the finest horse I've [F]ever seen
[G]Standing sixteen one or two with eyes [Am]wild and green
And [Am]you ride the horse so well, hands [F]light to the touch
[G]I could never go with you no matter how I [Am]wanted to
Chorus
[Am]Ride on, [F]see you
[G]I could never go with you no matter how I [Am]wanted to
Verse 2
When you [Am]ride into the night, without a [F]trace behind
[G]Run your claw along my gut one last [Am]time
I [Am]turn to face an empty space where [F]you used to lie
And [G]look for the smile to light the night through a [Am]teardrop in my eye
Chorus (repeat)
[Am]Ride on, [F]see you
[G]I could never go with you no matter how I [Am]wanted to
🎸 Strumming Pattern (6/8 feel)
This song works best with a slow rolling 6/8 rhythm, giving that Celtic lilt.
Pattern:
D D U D U
1 2 3 4 5 6
Emphasize the first downstroke (beat 1) for the pulse.
Keep the upstrokes gentle, almost like waves.
You can also simplify it to just D – D U per bar for a more intimate performance.
Example feel:
D D U D U | D D U D U (slow, steady waltz swing)
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab (Intro / Verse 1 & Chorus)
This tab follows the same chords and rhythm as the sung melody — a calm rolling pattern in 6/8 time.
Use standard tuning (EADGBE).
Fingerpicking Pattern (6/8)
Right-hand:
Thumb (p) – bass note (A or E string)
Index (i) – G string
Middle (m) – B string
Ring (a) – high E string
Pattern per bar:
p i m a i m
1 2 3 4 5 6
Tab (Verse 1)
[Am]
e|--------0-------------0-------------0-------------0------|
B|------1---1---------1---1---------1---1---------1---1----|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2--|
D|--2-----------2-2-----------2-2-----------2-2-----------2|
A|-0-------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|
[F]
e|--------1-------------1-------------1-------------1------|
B|------1---1---------1---1---------1---1---------1---1----|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2--|
D|--3-----------3-3-----------3-3-----------3-3-----------3|
A|-3-------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|
[G]
e|--------3-------------3-------------3-------------3------|
B|------0---0---------0---0---------0---0---------0---0----|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----0-------0-----0-------0--|
D|--0-----------0-0-----------0-0-----------0-0-----------0|
A|-----------------------------2-------------2-------------|
E|-3-------------3-----------------------------------------|
[Am]
e|--------0-------------0-------------0-------------0------|
B|------1---1---------1---1---------1---1---------1---1----|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2--|
D|--2-----------2-2-----------2-2-----------2-2-----------2|
A|-0-------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|
Tab (Chorus)
[Am] Ride on,
e|--------0-------------0-------------0-------------0------|
B|------1---1---------1---1---------1---1---------1---1----|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2--|
D|--2-----------2-2-----------2-2-----------2-2-----------2|
A|-0-------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|
[F] see you,
e|--------1-------------1-------------1-------------1------|
B|------1---1---------1---1---------1---1---------1---1----|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2--|
D|--3-----------3-3-----------3-3-----------3-3-----------3|
A|-3-------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|
[G] I could never go with you,
e|--------3-------------3-------------3-------------3------|
B|------0---0---------0---0---------0---0---------0---0----|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----0-------0-----0-------0--|
D|--0-----------0-0-----------0-0-----------0-0-----------0|
A|-----------------------------2-------------2-------------|
E|-3-------------3-----------------------------------------|
[Am] no matter how I wanted to.
e|--------0-------------0-------------0-------------0------|
B|------1---1---------1---1---------1---1---------1---1----|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2-----2-------2--|
D|--2-----------2-2-----------2-2-----------2-2-----------2|
A|-0-------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|
✅ Performance Tips:
Keep a slow 6/8 pulse, let each bass note ring clearly.
Use your thumb for bass and fingers for the arpeggio roll.
For later verses, you can transition smoothly to gentle strumming for dynamic contrast.
Key of G
True[Em] you ride the finest horse I've[C] ever seen
[D]Standing sixteen one or two with eyes[Em] wild and green
And[Em] you ride the horse so well hands[C] light to the totch
[D]I could never go with you no matter how I[Em] wanted to
[Em]Ride on,[C]see you,
[D]I could never go with you no matter how I[Em] wanted to
True[Em] you ride the finest horse I've[C] ever seen
[D]Standing sixteen one or two with eyes[Em] wild and green
And[Em] you ride the horse so well hands[C] light to the totch
[D]I could never go with you no matter how I[Em] wanted to
[Em]Ride on,[C]see you,
[D]I could never go with you no matter how I[Em] wanted to
Here's the chords for the key that Christy sings the song in.
[Bbm]True you ride the finest horse I've[F#] ever seen
Stand[Ab]ing six[Cm]teen [Ab]one or two with eyes[Bbm]] wild and green
And[Bbm]] you ride the horse so well hands[F#] light to the totch
[Ab]I could [Cm]never go with you no matter how I[bBM] wanted to
[Chorus]
[Bbm]Ride on,[F#]see you,
[Ab]I could [Cm]never go with you no matter how I[Bbm] wanted to.
Below is the sheet music for Ride On
[Bbm]True you ride the finest horse I've[F#] ever seen
Stand[Ab]ing six[Cm]teen [Ab]one or two with eyes[Bbm]] wild and green
And[Bbm]] you ride the horse so well hands[F#] light to the totch
[Ab]I could [Cm]never go with you no matter how I[bBM] wanted to
[Chorus]
[Bbm]Ride on,[F#]see you,
[Ab]I could [Cm]never go with you no matter how I[Bbm] wanted to.
Below is the sheet music for Ride On
Ride On piano sheet music with chords
| ride-on-piano-sheet-0music-by-christy-moore.pdf |
Ride on song by Christy Moore
Ride on tin whistle notes. Although the key is in Eb , use your D whistle.
This version of the tab is in the key of C, But use you're D whistle also.
Ride On singer Christy Moore
Ride On Tin Whistle Letter Notes
Verse:
E E E D E F# G
E E F# G
F# F# F# F# G F# F#
E E E D E
E E E D E F# G
E E E F# G
F# F# F# F# G F# F# F# F# E F# G G E E
Chorus:
E G
G E
F# F# F# F# G F# F# F# F# E F# G G E E
Originally written by Jimmy MacCarthy, this is a very simple and captivating tune.
Verse:
E E E D E F# G
E E F# G
F# F# F# F# G F# F#
E E E D E
E E E D E F# G
E E E F# G
F# F# F# F# G F# F# F# F# E F# G G E E
Chorus:
E G
G E
F# F# F# F# G F# F# F# F# E F# G G E E
Originally written by Jimmy MacCarthy, this is a very simple and captivating tune.
Below is the list of songs in the Christy Moore pdf song book. Over 50 of Christy's greatest songs
with sheet music and tin whistle notes. Price €8.75. Ride on included.
with sheet music and tin whistle notes. Price €8.75. Ride on included.
A woman playing Ride On song on tin whistle
