Sally Greer Lyrics And Guitar Chords
Sometimes called ''Charming Sally Greer'' this one would be more popular in Newfoundland Canada than Ireland as it's a song of migration. The guitar chords are by Marc Fahrbach,Covered beautifully on the "Exiles Return" CD by Karan Casey and John Doyle. No video for this one. Requested by David F.
Intro: D-D-G-D Bm-(Em-A)-D-D. Other songs with the name Sally include ''Down By The Sally Gardens '' which is quiet popular .
Intro: D-D-G-D Bm-(Em-A)-D-D. Other songs with the name Sally include ''Down By The Sally Gardens '' which is quiet popular .
A grand yarn full of misery, romance, and heroic melodrama — the kind of Irish tale where every disaster only makes the sentiment more poetic. Let me give it the proper Irish treatment:
This lad starts off by announcing he’s 23, which means he knows everything and nothing simultaneously — peak Irish adulthood. His parents threw him out “unto Americay” because he wouldn’t dump his girlfriend. Imagine that:
Ma: “Break up with Sally!”
Him: “Never!”
Ma: “Fine then — off to Canada with ye.”
That’s some hardcore Irish parenting --
“We’d rather ship you across the Atlantic than let you date that woman.”
He boards The Rose of Aberdeen,
which sounds more like a cheap whiskey brand than a seaworthy vessel.
There’s 18 emigrants aboard,
but only 14 survive,
which is either tragic or thrifty depending on whether someone paid return fare.
The ship hits a rock --
because back then Irish navigation was basically:
“Aim that direction and hope for the best.”
They end up on St. Paul’s Island
lying on bare earth like a bunch of unfortunate camping enthusiasts.
His bed is the ground,
his blanket is the sky,
and his dreams are full of salty fantasies of cuddling Sally Greer.
Meanwhile, the four drowned emigrants are probably thinking:
“Lucky man — YOU get the romantic ballad.”
Once in Quebec he gets friends and money,
but still he’s pining away like a lovesick hound:
“Sure I’m safe, employed, and alive --
—but I’d rather be broke and freezing back home with Sally.”
That’s Irish love for you --
completely irrational and proud of it.
He vows to sail back by year’s end,
and this time hopefully chooses a boat made of something sturdier than wet cardboard.
He’s dreaming of embracing Sally again,
while Sally back in Ireland is probably:
In short:
This is the touching, dramatic, slightly ridiculous saga
of a young Irish romantic who survives shipwreck, starvation, and frostbite --
but is still traumatised most by
being separated from his girlfriend.
It’s the classic Irish emigrant heartbreak story --
equal parts tragedy, affection, and absolute stubbornness --
all told with the poetic flair of a lad who’d rather fight the Atlantic
than break a promise to his sweetheart.
This lad starts off by announcing he’s 23, which means he knows everything and nothing simultaneously — peak Irish adulthood. His parents threw him out “unto Americay” because he wouldn’t dump his girlfriend. Imagine that:
Ma: “Break up with Sally!”
Him: “Never!”
Ma: “Fine then — off to Canada with ye.”
That’s some hardcore Irish parenting --
“We’d rather ship you across the Atlantic than let you date that woman.”
He boards The Rose of Aberdeen,
which sounds more like a cheap whiskey brand than a seaworthy vessel.
There’s 18 emigrants aboard,
but only 14 survive,
which is either tragic or thrifty depending on whether someone paid return fare.
The ship hits a rock --
because back then Irish navigation was basically:
“Aim that direction and hope for the best.”
They end up on St. Paul’s Island
lying on bare earth like a bunch of unfortunate camping enthusiasts.
His bed is the ground,
his blanket is the sky,
and his dreams are full of salty fantasies of cuddling Sally Greer.
Meanwhile, the four drowned emigrants are probably thinking:
“Lucky man — YOU get the romantic ballad.”
Once in Quebec he gets friends and money,
but still he’s pining away like a lovesick hound:
“Sure I’m safe, employed, and alive --
—but I’d rather be broke and freezing back home with Sally.”
That’s Irish love for you --
completely irrational and proud of it.
He vows to sail back by year’s end,
and this time hopefully chooses a boat made of something sturdier than wet cardboard.
He’s dreaming of embracing Sally again,
while Sally back in Ireland is probably:
- half convinced he drowned
- half expecting a better offer
- and fully enjoying the gossip.
In short:
This is the touching, dramatic, slightly ridiculous saga
of a young Irish romantic who survives shipwreck, starvation, and frostbite --
but is still traumatised most by
being separated from his girlfriend.
It’s the classic Irish emigrant heartbreak story --
equal parts tragedy, affection, and absolute stubbornness --
all told with the poetic flair of a lad who’d rather fight the Atlantic
than break a promise to his sweetheart.
![Sally Greer song lyrics [ Irish Folk ]](/uploads/4/3/3/6/43368469/sally-greer-song-lyrics_orig.jpg)
Good (D)people all both (G)old and (D)young, my (Bm)age is (Em)twen(A)ty-(D)three,
My (G)parents turned me (D)from their door un(Bm)to Am(Em)eri(G)cay;
All (G)from that verdant (D)Ireland where (Bm)my first (Em)breath I (G)drew,
They (D)forced me to (G)Ameri(D)cay my (Bm)fortune (Em)to (A)pur(D)sue.
The (D)reason why they trans(G)ported (D)me I in(Bm)tend to (Em)let (A)you (D)hear,
'Twas be(G)cause I would not (D)break my vow from the (Bm)girl I (Em)love so (G)dear;
'Twas be(G)cause I would not (D)break my vow from the (Bm)girl I (Em)love so (G)dear,
That (D)girl I love so (G)tenderl(D)y, my (Bm)charming (Em)Sal(A)ly (D)Greer.
'Twas on (D)board the Rose of (G)Aber(D)deen from (Bm)Belfast (Em)we (A)bore (D)down,
With (G)eighteen emi(D)grants on board, 'twas to (Bm)Quebec (Em)we were (G)bound;
We were (G)long time on the (D)ocean but no (Bm)danger (Em)did I (G)fear,
For my (D)heart was with the (G)girl I (D)left, my (Bm)charming (Em)Sal(A)ly (D)Greer;
When the (D)seas are all in (G)motion (D)they keep (Bm)rolling (Em)to (A)and (D)fro,
Our (G)vessel struck a(D)gainst a rock and in (Bm)pieces (Em)she did (G)go;
And 'twas (G)out of eighteen (D)emigrants only (Bm)fourteen (Em)reached the (G)shore,
And the (D)other four souls to the (G)bottom (D)went and they (Bm)never were (Em)seen (A)no (D)more.
Then (D)'twas on the island (G)of St. (D)Paul's for (Bm)twelve days (Em)we (A)did (D)lie,
Our (G)bedding was the (D)cold, cold ground, our (Bm)covering (Em)was the (G)sky;
And our (G)clothes and money we (D)had with us were (Bm)lost on (Em)board the (G)wreck,
We (D)were a sight for (G)to be(D)hold when we (Bm)landed (Em)in (A)Que(D)bec.
So (D)now I'm safe in (G)Quebec (D)town, got (Bm)friends and (Em)mon(A)ey (D)there,
But (G)still I long for the (D)land I love and the (Bm)girl who (Em)is so (G)fair;
I'm in (G)hopes to be back in (D)old Ireland be(Bm)fore the (Em)end of the (G)year,
Then (D)I will roll (G)in the (D)arms of my (Bm)charming (Em)Sal(A)ly (D)Greer.
My (G)parents turned me (D)from their door un(Bm)to Am(Em)eri(G)cay;
All (G)from that verdant (D)Ireland where (Bm)my first (Em)breath I (G)drew,
They (D)forced me to (G)Ameri(D)cay my (Bm)fortune (Em)to (A)pur(D)sue.
The (D)reason why they trans(G)ported (D)me I in(Bm)tend to (Em)let (A)you (D)hear,
'Twas be(G)cause I would not (D)break my vow from the (Bm)girl I (Em)love so (G)dear;
'Twas be(G)cause I would not (D)break my vow from the (Bm)girl I (Em)love so (G)dear,
That (D)girl I love so (G)tenderl(D)y, my (Bm)charming (Em)Sal(A)ly (D)Greer.
'Twas on (D)board the Rose of (G)Aber(D)deen from (Bm)Belfast (Em)we (A)bore (D)down,
With (G)eighteen emi(D)grants on board, 'twas to (Bm)Quebec (Em)we were (G)bound;
We were (G)long time on the (D)ocean but no (Bm)danger (Em)did I (G)fear,
For my (D)heart was with the (G)girl I (D)left, my (Bm)charming (Em)Sal(A)ly (D)Greer;
When the (D)seas are all in (G)motion (D)they keep (Bm)rolling (Em)to (A)and (D)fro,
Our (G)vessel struck a(D)gainst a rock and in (Bm)pieces (Em)she did (G)go;
And 'twas (G)out of eighteen (D)emigrants only (Bm)fourteen (Em)reached the (G)shore,
And the (D)other four souls to the (G)bottom (D)went and they (Bm)never were (Em)seen (A)no (D)more.
Then (D)'twas on the island (G)of St. (D)Paul's for (Bm)twelve days (Em)we (A)did (D)lie,
Our (G)bedding was the (D)cold, cold ground, our (Bm)covering (Em)was the (G)sky;
And our (G)clothes and money we (D)had with us were (Bm)lost on (Em)board the (G)wreck,
We (D)were a sight for (G)to be(D)hold when we (Bm)landed (Em)in (A)Que(D)bec.
So (D)now I'm safe in (G)Quebec (D)town, got (Bm)friends and (Em)mon(A)ey (D)there,
But (G)still I long for the (D)land I love and the (Bm)girl who (Em)is so (G)fair;
I'm in (G)hopes to be back in (D)old Ireland be(Bm)fore the (Em)end of the (G)year,
Then (D)I will roll (G)in the (D)arms of my (Bm)charming (Em)Sal(A)ly (D)Greer.
Sally Greer Song Lyrics And Chords In C Major
Good (C)people all both (F)old and (C)young, my (Am)age is (Dm)twen(G)ty-(C)three,
My (F)parents turned me (C)from their door un(Am)to Am(Dm)eri(F)cay;
All (F)from that verdant (C)Ireland where (Am)my first (Dm)breath I (F)drew,
They (C)forced me to (F)Ameri(C)cay my (Am)fortune (Dm)to (G)pur(C)sue.
The (C)reason why they trans(F)ported (C)me I in(Am)tend to (Dm)let (G)you (C)hear,
'Twas be(F)cause I would not (C)break my vow from the (Am)girl I (Dm)love so (F)dear;
'Twas be(F)cause I would not (C)break my vow from the (Am)girl I (Dm)love so (F)dear,
That (C)girl I love so (F)tenderl(C)y, my (Am)charming (Dm)Sal(G)ly (C)Greer.
Key of G Major
🎵 Tempo & Feel
Key: G major
Tempo: ~90–100 BPM
Time Signature: 3/4 (waltz time)
Mood: Lyrical and flowing — like an old emigration ballad.
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Waltz)
Use a gentle, swaying rhythm:
Pattern (per measure):
↓ (bass) ↓↑ ↓↑
1 2 & 3 &
You can alternate between the root and fifth bass notes for movement:
For G: 6th string (root G), 4th string (D)
For C: 5th string (root C), 4th string (G)
For D: 4th string (root D), 5th string (A)
For Em: 6th string (root E), 4th string (B)
For Am: 5th string (root A), 4th string (E)
Example:
Beat Action
1 ↓ on bass (root)
2 ↓↑ softly
3 ↓↑ softly
This pattern gives that classic Irish waltz pulse — think “The Star of the County Down” or “The Fields of Athenry.”
🎶 Fingerpicking Pattern (for 1st Verse)
Use a Travis-style alternating thumb and gentle roll.
Notation: P = thumb, i = index, m = middle, a = ring.
Pattern (3/4 time):
Beat 1: Bass (thumb) — string 6, 5, or 4 depending on chord
Beat 2: i + m pluck together (G + B strings)
Beat 3: a (top string) + bass (alternating)
Or in shorthand:
P – (i+m) – (P+a)
🎸 Fingerpicking TAB for Verse 1
Good (G)people all both (C)old and (G)young, my (Em)age is (Am)twen(D)ty-(G)three,
G C G
e|-------3-----------3-|-------0-----------0-|-------3-----------3-|
B|-----0---0-------0---|-----1---1-------1---|-----0---0-------0---|
G|---0-------0---0-----|---0-------0---0-----|---0-------0---0-----|
D|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|
A|---------------------|-3-----------3-------|---------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------|---------------------|-3-----------3-------|
Em Am D
e|-------0-----------0-|-------0-----------0-|-------2-----------2-|
B|-----0---0-------0---|-----1---1-------1---|-----3---3-------3---|
G|---0-------0---0-----|---2-------2---2-----|---2-------2---2-----|
D|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|
A|---------------------|-0-----------0-------|---------------------|
E|-0-----------0-------|---------------------|---------------------|
G
e|-------3-----------3-|
B|-----0---0-------0---|
G|---0-------0---0-----|
D|---------------------|
A|---------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------|
Continue this same picking feel throughout the first verse — it matches the lyric’s melancholy flow.
Good (G)people all both (C)old and (G)young, my (Em)age is (Am)twen(D)ty-(G)three,
My (C)parents turned me (G)from their door un(Em)to Am(Am)eri(C)cay;
All (C)from that verdant (G)Ireland where (Em)my first (Am)breath I (C)drew,
They (G)forced me to (C)Ameri(G)cay my (Em)fortune (Am)to (D)pur(G)sue.
The (G)reason why they trans(C)ported (G)me I in(Em)tend to (Am)let (D)you (G)hear,
'Twas be(C)cause I would not (G)break my vow from the (Em)girl I (Am)love so (C)dear;
'Twas be(C)cause I would not (G)break my vow from the (Em)girl I (Am)love so (C)dear,
That (G)girl I love so (C)tenderl(G)y, my (Em)charming (Am)Sal(D)ly (G)Greer.
List of all the song titles here that are called ''Sally''
