Sally McLennane Lyrics Chords and tin whistle notes
Written by Shane MacGowan. I played this song with Shane back in the 90's in Waterville , Co.Kerry . If you want to play along with the video , the chords I have given are the ones The Pogues [ lyrics and chords ] use. Tin whistle sheet music notes are included but not in the key of the Pogues as the Pogues version doesn't suit the tin whistle as the notes go too low.
Well[D] Jimmy played harmonica in the[G] pub where I was[D] born
He[D] played it from the night-time to the[G] peaceful early[A] morn
He[G] soothed souls of psychos and the[D] men who had the[A] horn
and they[D] all looked very[G] happy in the[A] morn[D]ing
VERSE 2
Now Jimmy didn't like his place in this world of ours
Where the elephant man broke strong men's necks when he'd had too many powers
So sad to see the grieving of the people he was leaving
And he took the road from nowhere in the morning
CHORUS
We[D] walked him to the[G] station in the[D] rain
We[D] kissed him as we[G] put him on the[A] train
And we[G] sang him a[D] song of times long[G] gone
though we[D] knew that we'd be[A] seeing him a[D]gain
Sad[D] to say I must be on my way
so[G] buy me beer and[D] whiskey 'cause I'm[A] going far away
I'd[D] like to think I'll be returning when I can
to the[G] greatest little[D] boozer and to[A] Sally McLen[D]nane
VERSE 3
The years passed by the times had changed Igrew to be a man
I learned to love the virtues of sweet Sally McLennane
I took the jeers and drank the beers and I crawled back home at dawn
And ended up a barman in the morning
VERSE 4
I played the pump and took the hump and watered whiskey down
I talked of whores and horses to the men who drank the brown
I heard them say that Jimmy's making money far away
Some people left for heaven without warning
CHORUS
VERSE 5
When Jimmy came back home he was surprised that they where gone
He asked me all the details of the train that they went on
Some people they arescared to croak but Jimmy drank until he choked
And took the road for heaven in the morning
He[D] played it from the night-time to the[G] peaceful early[A] morn
He[G] soothed souls of psychos and the[D] men who had the[A] horn
and they[D] all looked very[G] happy in the[A] morn[D]ing
VERSE 2
Now Jimmy didn't like his place in this world of ours
Where the elephant man broke strong men's necks when he'd had too many powers
So sad to see the grieving of the people he was leaving
And he took the road from nowhere in the morning
CHORUS
We[D] walked him to the[G] station in the[D] rain
We[D] kissed him as we[G] put him on the[A] train
And we[G] sang him a[D] song of times long[G] gone
though we[D] knew that we'd be[A] seeing him a[D]gain
Sad[D] to say I must be on my way
so[G] buy me beer and[D] whiskey 'cause I'm[A] going far away
I'd[D] like to think I'll be returning when I can
to the[G] greatest little[D] boozer and to[A] Sally McLen[D]nane
VERSE 3
The years passed by the times had changed Igrew to be a man
I learned to love the virtues of sweet Sally McLennane
I took the jeers and drank the beers and I crawled back home at dawn
And ended up a barman in the morning
VERSE 4
I played the pump and took the hump and watered whiskey down
I talked of whores and horses to the men who drank the brown
I heard them say that Jimmy's making money far away
Some people left for heaven without warning
CHORUS
VERSE 5
When Jimmy came back home he was surprised that they where gone
He asked me all the details of the train that they went on
Some people they arescared to croak but Jimmy drank until he choked
And took the road for heaven in the morning
🍺 "Sally Maclennane" Chords in D Major. The same as The Pogues version
Verse 1
Well [D] Jimmy played harmonica in the [G] pub where I was [D] born He [D] played it from the night-time to the [G] peaceful early [A] morn He [G] soothed souls of psychos and the [D] men who had the [A] horn and they [D] all looked very [G] happy in the [A] morn [D] ing
Verse 2
Now [D] Jimmy didn't like his place in this [G] world of [D] ours Where the [D] elephant man broke strong men's [G] necks when he'd had too many [A] powers So [G] sad to see the grieving of the [D] people he was [A] leaving And he [D] took the road from [G] nowhere in the [A] morn [D] ing
Chorus
We [D] walked him to the [G] station in the [D] rain We [D] kissed him as we [G] put him on the [A] train And we [G] sang him a [D] song of times long [G] gone though we [D] knew that we'd be [A] seeing him a [D] gain Sad [D] to say I must be on my [G] way so [D] buy me beer and [G] whiskey 'cause I'm [A] going far away I'd [D] like to think I'll be returning [G] when I can to the [D] greatest little [A] boozer and to [D] Sally MacLennane
Verse 3
The [D] years passed by the times had [G] changed I grew to be a [D] man I [D] learned to love the virtues of sweet [G] Sally McLen [A] nane I [G] took the jeers and drank the [D] beers and I crawled [A] back home at dawn And [D] ended up a [G] barman in the [A] morn [D] ing
Verse 4
I [D] played the pump and took the [G] hump and watered whiskey [D] down I [D] talked of whores and horses to the [G] men who drank the [A] brown I [G] heard them say that Jimmy's making [D] money far [A] away Some [D] people left for [G] heaven without [A] warn [D] ing
Verse 5
When [D] Jimmy came back home he was sur [G] prised that they were [D] gone He [D] asked me all the details of the [G] train that they went [A] on Some [G] people they are scared to [D] croak but Jimmy drank until he [A] choked And [D] took the road for [G] heaven in the [A] morn [D] ing
Verse 1
Well [D] Jimmy played harmonica in the [G] pub where I was [D] born He [D] played it from the night-time to the [G] peaceful early [A] morn He [G] soothed souls of psychos and the [D] men who had the [A] horn and they [D] all looked very [G] happy in the [A] morn [D] ing
Verse 2
Now [D] Jimmy didn't like his place in this [G] world of [D] ours Where the [D] elephant man broke strong men's [G] necks when he'd had too many [A] powers So [G] sad to see the grieving of the [D] people he was [A] leaving And he [D] took the road from [G] nowhere in the [A] morn [D] ing
Chorus
We [D] walked him to the [G] station in the [D] rain We [D] kissed him as we [G] put him on the [A] train And we [G] sang him a [D] song of times long [G] gone though we [D] knew that we'd be [A] seeing him a [D] gain Sad [D] to say I must be on my [G] way so [D] buy me beer and [G] whiskey 'cause I'm [A] going far away I'd [D] like to think I'll be returning [G] when I can to the [D] greatest little [A] boozer and to [D] Sally MacLennane
Verse 3
The [D] years passed by the times had [G] changed I grew to be a [D] man I [D] learned to love the virtues of sweet [G] Sally McLen [A] nane I [G] took the jeers and drank the [D] beers and I crawled [A] back home at dawn And [D] ended up a [G] barman in the [A] morn [D] ing
Verse 4
I [D] played the pump and took the [G] hump and watered whiskey [D] down I [D] talked of whores and horses to the [G] men who drank the [A] brown I [G] heard them say that Jimmy's making [D] money far [A] away Some [D] people left for [G] heaven without [A] warn [D] ing
Verse 5
When [D] Jimmy came back home he was sur [G] prised that they were [D] gone He [D] asked me all the details of the [G] train that they went [A] on Some [G] people they are scared to [D] croak but Jimmy drank until he [A] choked And [D] took the road for [G] heaven in the [A] morn [D] ing
Key of G Major.
Well [G] Jimmy played harmonica in the [C] pub where I was [G] born He [G] played it from the night-time to the [C] peaceful early [D] morn He [C] soothed souls of psychos and the [G] men who had the [D] horn and they [G] all looked very [C] happy in the [D] morn [G] ing
Verse 2
Now [G] Jimmy didn't like his place in this [C] world of [G] ours Where the [G] elephant man broke strong men's [C] necks when he'd had too many [D] powers So [C] sad to see the grieving of the [G] people he was [D] leaving And he [G] took the road from [C] nowhere in the [D] morn [G] ing
Chorus
We [G] walked him to the [C] station in the [G] rain We [G] kissed him as we [C] put him on the [D] train And we [C] sang him a [G] song of times long [C] gone though we [G] knew that we'd be [D] seeing him a [G] gain Sad [G] to say I must be on my [C] way so [G] buy me beer and [C] whiskey 'cause I'm [D] going far away I'd [G] like to think I'll be returning [C] when I can to the [G] greatest little [D] boozer and to [G] Sally MacLennane
Verse 3
The [G] years passed by the times had [C] changed I grew to be a [G] man I [G] learned to love the virtues of sweet [C] Sally McLen [D] nane I [C] took the jeers and drank the [G] beers and I crawled [D] back home at dawn And [G] ended up a [C] barman in the [D] morn [G] ing
Verse 4
I [G] played the pump and took the [C] hump and watered whiskey [G] down I [G] talked of whores and horses to the [C] men who drank the [D] brown I [C] heard them say that Jimmy's making [G] money far [D] away Some [G] people left for [C] heaven without [D] warn [G] ing
Verse 5
When [G] Jimmy came back home he was sur [C] prised that they were [G] gone He [G] asked me all the details of the [C] train that they went [D] on Some [C] people they are scared to [G] croak but Jimmy drank until he [D] choked And [G] took the road for [C] heaven in the [D] morn [G] ing
Well [G] Jimmy played harmonica in the [C] pub where I was [G] born He [G] played it from the night-time to the [C] peaceful early [D] morn He [C] soothed souls of psychos and the [G] men who had the [D] horn and they [G] all looked very [C] happy in the [D] morn [G] ing
Verse 2
Now [G] Jimmy didn't like his place in this [C] world of [G] ours Where the [G] elephant man broke strong men's [C] necks when he'd had too many [D] powers So [C] sad to see the grieving of the [G] people he was [D] leaving And he [G] took the road from [C] nowhere in the [D] morn [G] ing
Chorus
We [G] walked him to the [C] station in the [G] rain We [G] kissed him as we [C] put him on the [D] train And we [C] sang him a [G] song of times long [C] gone though we [G] knew that we'd be [D] seeing him a [G] gain Sad [G] to say I must be on my [C] way so [G] buy me beer and [C] whiskey 'cause I'm [D] going far away I'd [G] like to think I'll be returning [C] when I can to the [G] greatest little [D] boozer and to [G] Sally MacLennane
Verse 3
The [G] years passed by the times had [C] changed I grew to be a [G] man I [G] learned to love the virtues of sweet [C] Sally McLen [D] nane I [C] took the jeers and drank the [G] beers and I crawled [D] back home at dawn And [G] ended up a [C] barman in the [D] morn [G] ing
Verse 4
I [G] played the pump and took the [C] hump and watered whiskey [G] down I [G] talked of whores and horses to the [C] men who drank the [D] brown I [C] heard them say that Jimmy's making [G] money far [D] away Some [G] people left for [C] heaven without [D] warn [G] ing
Verse 5
When [G] Jimmy came back home he was sur [C] prised that they were [G] gone He [G] asked me all the details of the [C] train that they went [D] on Some [C] people they are scared to [G] croak but Jimmy drank until he [D] choked And [G] took the road for [C] heaven in the [D] morn [G] ing
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4 time)
This gives you the lively, rolling feel of an Irish pub ballad like “Sally MacLennane” by The Pogues.
Pattern:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Count:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Tips:
Emphasize the first downstroke (the bass note).
Keep your wrist loose for the ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ part — that’s where the swing lives.
Use light palm muting on downstrokes during verses for a storytelling tone, then open up in the chorus for lift.
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab (First Verse + Chorus)
This is a gentle Travis-picking pattern in 4/4 — thumb alternates bass strings while fingers outline the chords.
Key of G major.
Tempo: ♩ = 90–100 bpm.
Time: 4/4.
Verse 1
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
Well Jimmy played harmonica in the pub where I was born
C
e|---------0-----------0-|---------0-----------0-|
B|-----1-----------1-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-2-----------2---------|-2-----------2---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
He played it from the night-time to the peaceful early morn
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
He soothed souls of psychos and the men who had the horn
D
e|---------2-----------2-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----3-----------3-----|-----3-----------3-----|
G|---2---2-------2---2---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-0-----------0---------|-0-----------0---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
And they all looked very happy in the morning
Chorus
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
We walked him to the station in the rain
C
e|---------0-----------0-|---------0-----------0-|
B|-----1-----------1-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-2-----------2---------|-2-----------2---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
We kissed him as we put him on the train
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
And we sang him a song of times long gone
D
e|---------2-----------2-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----3-----------3-----|-----3-----------3-----|
G|---2---2-------2---2---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-0-----------0---------|-0-----------0---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
Though we knew that we'd be seeing him again
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
Sad to say I must be on my way
C
e|---------0-----------0-|---------0-----------0-|
B|-----1-----------1-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-2-----------2---------|-2-----------2---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
So buy me beer and whiskey 'cause I'm going far away
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
I'd like to think I'll be returning when I can
D
e|---------2-----------2-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----3-----------3-----|-----3-----------3-----|
G|---2---2-------2---2---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-0-----------0---------|-0-----------0---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
To the greatest little boozer and to Sally MacLennane
💡 Performance Tips
Verses: Use the fingerpicking tab softly — storytelling style.
Chorus: Switch to the strumming pattern for energy and contrast.
You can add bass walk-ups between chords (like G–A–B into C, or G–F#–E into D) to add that classic folk motion.
This gives you the lively, rolling feel of an Irish pub ballad like “Sally MacLennane” by The Pogues.
Pattern:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Count:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Tips:
Emphasize the first downstroke (the bass note).
Keep your wrist loose for the ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ part — that’s where the swing lives.
Use light palm muting on downstrokes during verses for a storytelling tone, then open up in the chorus for lift.
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab (First Verse + Chorus)
This is a gentle Travis-picking pattern in 4/4 — thumb alternates bass strings while fingers outline the chords.
Key of G major.
Tempo: ♩ = 90–100 bpm.
Time: 4/4.
Verse 1
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
Well Jimmy played harmonica in the pub where I was born
C
e|---------0-----------0-|---------0-----------0-|
B|-----1-----------1-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-2-----------2---------|-2-----------2---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
He played it from the night-time to the peaceful early morn
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
He soothed souls of psychos and the men who had the horn
D
e|---------2-----------2-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----3-----------3-----|-----3-----------3-----|
G|---2---2-------2---2---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-0-----------0---------|-0-----------0---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
And they all looked very happy in the morning
Chorus
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
We walked him to the station in the rain
C
e|---------0-----------0-|---------0-----------0-|
B|-----1-----------1-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-2-----------2---------|-2-----------2---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
We kissed him as we put him on the train
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
And we sang him a song of times long gone
D
e|---------2-----------2-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----3-----------3-----|-----3-----------3-----|
G|---2---2-------2---2---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-0-----------0---------|-0-----------0---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
Though we knew that we'd be seeing him again
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
Sad to say I must be on my way
C
e|---------0-----------0-|---------0-----------0-|
B|-----1-----------1-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-2-----------2---------|-2-----------2---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
So buy me beer and whiskey 'cause I'm going far away
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
I'd like to think I'll be returning when I can
D
e|---------2-----------2-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----3-----------3-----|-----3-----------3-----|
G|---2---2-------2---2---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-0-----------0---------|-0-----------0---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
To the greatest little boozer and to Sally MacLennane
💡 Performance Tips
Verses: Use the fingerpicking tab softly — storytelling style.
Chorus: Switch to the strumming pattern for energy and contrast.
You can add bass walk-ups between chords (like G–A–B into C, or G–F#–E into D) to add that classic folk motion.
A Man wearing a Pogues T-Shirt playing the tin whistle in a bar
Ebook of tin whistle tabs for The Pogues
Shane MacGowan singer of Sally McLennane
