Save The Land Lyrics And Chords
4/4 Lyrics and chords fit the Clancy Brothers & Louis Killen on their album ‚Save The Land’ 1972.
(D)Looking 'round the land, that (F#m)once belonged to him.
The (G)looking wasn't (D)easy, there was (G)nothing there but (D)sin
He cried out to the heavens, (F#m)nearly broke his heart.
Oh (G)look at what they've (D)done, torn my (G)land a(D)part.
Chorus
Oh (G)Lord save the (D)land, Oh (G)Lord save my (F#m)land,
Oh (G)Lord save the (D)land, and (G)all your (A)children, (D)too.
(D)See them fighting, (F#m)dying in the streets,
See (G)all your (D)little babies, with (G)nothing more to (D)eat
Oh Lord shine a light, (F#m)shine a light on me,
I (G)know it isn't (D)easy, that's the (G)way it's got to (D)be.
Chorus
What (D)happened to the forest, (F#m)where the red deer run,
(G)Why is a family (D)crying, for their (G)one and only (D)son,
The cruel black smoke is rising, though (F#m)sun is shining through.
Now (G)cry beloved (D)country, what are we (G)going to (D)do?
Chorus twice
Chorus quickly fading
(D)Looking 'round the land, that (F#m)once belonged to him.
The (G)looking wasn't (D)easy, there was (G)nothing there but (D)sin
He cried out to the heavens, (F#m)nearly broke his heart.
Oh (G)look at what they've (D)done, torn my (G)land a(D)part.
Chorus
Oh (G)Lord save the (D)land, Oh (G)Lord save my (F#m)land,
Oh (G)Lord save the (D)land, and (G)all your (A)children, (D)too.
(D)See them fighting, (F#m)dying in the streets,
See (G)all your (D)little babies, with (G)nothing more to (D)eat
Oh Lord shine a light, (F#m)shine a light on me,
I (G)know it isn't (D)easy, that's the (G)way it's got to (D)be.
Chorus
What (D)happened to the forest, (F#m)where the red deer run,
(G)Why is a family (D)crying, for their (G)one and only (D)son,
The cruel black smoke is rising, though (F#m)sun is shining through.
Now (G)cry beloved (D)country, what are we (G)going to (D)do?
Chorus twice
Chorus quickly fading
“Save the Land” by The Clancy Brothers works beautifully as a solemn folk ballad in D major.
Below is a full performance guide: complete chords for all verses, a strumming pattern, and a fingerpicking tab for the first verse that matches the traditional Clancy style (steady, heartfelt, waltz-like).
🎵 Key: D Major
Tempo: ~85 BPM
Time Signature: 3/4 (slow waltz)
Mood: Lamenting, prayerful
🎸 Chords Used
Chord Fingering Function
D xx0232 I
F#m 244222 vi
G 320003 IV
A x02220 V
🎶 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Waltz)
Gentle and steady, like an old prayer tune:
↓ (bass) ↓↑ ↓↑
1 2 & 3 &
💡 Tips:
On beat 1, play only the bass note of the chord.
On beats 2 & 3, softly brush the rest of the strings.
Alternate bass for richness:
D: 4th → 5th string
G: 6th → 4th string
F#m: 6th → 4th string
A: 5th → 4th string
This gives a flowing folk-waltz rhythm — perfect for The Clancy Brothers’ storytelling tone.
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern (for First Verse)
Gentle arpeggio using:
P – i – m – a – m – i (thumb, index, middle, ring, middle, index)
Count (3/4):
Beat 1 → thumb (bass)
Beat 2 → upward pluck (i + m)
Beat 3 → upward pluck (a + m)
🎵 Lyrics + Chords (All Verses)
Verse 1 (Fingerpicking Tab below)
(D)Looking 'round the land, that (F#m)once belonged to him.
The (G)looking wasn't (D)easy, there was (G)nothing there but (D)sin.
He cried out to the heavens, (F#m)nearly broke his heart.
Oh (G)look at what they've (D)done, torn my (G)land a(D)part.
Chorus
Oh (G)Lord save the (D)land,
Oh (G)Lord save my (F#m)land,
Oh (G)Lord save the (D)land,
And (G)all your (A)children, (D)too.
Verse 2
(D)See them fighting, (F#m)dying in the streets,
See (G)all your (D)little babies, with (G)nothing more to (D)eat.
Oh Lord shine a light, (F#m)shine a light on me,
I (G)know it isn't (D)easy, that's the (G)way it's got to (D)be.
Chorus (repeat)
Verse 3
What (D)happened to the forest, (F#m)where the red deer run,
(G)Why is a family (D)crying, for their (G)one and only (D)son,
The cruel black smoke is rising, though (F#m)sun is shining through.
Now (G)cry beloved (D)country, what are we (G)going to (D)do?
Final Chorus
Oh (G)Lord save the (D)land,
Oh (G)Lord save my (F#m)land,
Oh (G)Lord save the (D)land,
And (G)all your (A)children, (D)too.
🎸 Fingerpicking TAB — Verse 1
D F#m
e|-------2-----------2-|-------2-----------2-|
B|-----3---3-------3---|-----2---2-------2---|
G|---2-------2---2-----|---2-------2---2-----|
D|-0-----------0-------|-4-----------4-------|
A|---------------------|-4-----------4-------|
E|---------------------|-2-----------2-------|
G D
e|-------3-----------3-|-------2-----------2-|
B|-----0---0-------0---|-----3---3-------3---|
G|---0-------0---0-----|---2-------2---2-----|
D|-0-----------0-------|-0-----------0-------|
A|-2-----------2-------|---------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------|---------------------|
G D
e|-------3-----------3-|-------2-----------2-|
B|-----0---0-------0---|-----3---3-------3---|
G|---0-------0---0-----|---2-------2---2-----|
D|-0-----------0-------|-0-----------0-------|
A|-2-----------2-------|---------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------|---------------------|
Keep the tempo steady and let the bass notes ring through each measure — that’s what gives the Clancy Brothers’ acoustic songs their depth and warmth.
“Save the Land” by The Clancy Brothers works beautifully as a solemn folk ballad in D major.
Below is a full performance guide: complete chords for all verses, a strumming pattern, and a fingerpicking tab for the first verse that matches the traditional Clancy style (steady, heartfelt, waltz-like).
🎵 Key: D Major
Tempo: ~85 BPM
Time Signature: 3/4 (slow waltz)
Mood: Lamenting, prayerful
🎸 Chords Used
Chord Fingering Function
D xx0232 I
F#m 244222 vi
G 320003 IV
A x02220 V
🎶 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Waltz)
Gentle and steady, like an old prayer tune:
↓ (bass) ↓↑ ↓↑
1 2 & 3 &
💡 Tips:
On beat 1, play only the bass note of the chord.
On beats 2 & 3, softly brush the rest of the strings.
Alternate bass for richness:
D: 4th → 5th string
G: 6th → 4th string
F#m: 6th → 4th string
A: 5th → 4th string
This gives a flowing folk-waltz rhythm — perfect for The Clancy Brothers’ storytelling tone.
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern (for First Verse)
Gentle arpeggio using:
P – i – m – a – m – i (thumb, index, middle, ring, middle, index)
Count (3/4):
Beat 1 → thumb (bass)
Beat 2 → upward pluck (i + m)
Beat 3 → upward pluck (a + m)
🎵 Lyrics + Chords (All Verses)
Verse 1 (Fingerpicking Tab below)
(D)Looking 'round the land, that (F#m)once belonged to him.
The (G)looking wasn't (D)easy, there was (G)nothing there but (D)sin.
He cried out to the heavens, (F#m)nearly broke his heart.
Oh (G)look at what they've (D)done, torn my (G)land a(D)part.
Chorus
Oh (G)Lord save the (D)land,
Oh (G)Lord save my (F#m)land,
Oh (G)Lord save the (D)land,
And (G)all your (A)children, (D)too.
Verse 2
(D)See them fighting, (F#m)dying in the streets,
See (G)all your (D)little babies, with (G)nothing more to (D)eat.
Oh Lord shine a light, (F#m)shine a light on me,
I (G)know it isn't (D)easy, that's the (G)way it's got to (D)be.
Chorus (repeat)
Verse 3
What (D)happened to the forest, (F#m)where the red deer run,
(G)Why is a family (D)crying, for their (G)one and only (D)son,
The cruel black smoke is rising, though (F#m)sun is shining through.
Now (G)cry beloved (D)country, what are we (G)going to (D)do?
Final Chorus
Oh (G)Lord save the (D)land,
Oh (G)Lord save my (F#m)land,
Oh (G)Lord save the (D)land,
And (G)all your (A)children, (D)too.
🎸 Fingerpicking TAB — Verse 1
D F#m
e|-------2-----------2-|-------2-----------2-|
B|-----3---3-------3---|-----2---2-------2---|
G|---2-------2---2-----|---2-------2---2-----|
D|-0-----------0-------|-4-----------4-------|
A|---------------------|-4-----------4-------|
E|---------------------|-2-----------2-------|
G D
e|-------3-----------3-|-------2-----------2-|
B|-----0---0-------0---|-----3---3-------3---|
G|---0-------0---0-----|---2-------2---2-----|
D|-0-----------0-------|-0-----------0-------|
A|-2-----------2-------|---------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------|---------------------|
G D
e|-------3-----------3-|-------2-----------2-|
B|-----0---0-------0---|-----3---3-------3---|
G|---0-------0---0-----|---2-------2---2-----|
D|-0-----------0-------|-0-----------0-------|
A|-2-----------2-------|---------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------|---------------------|
Keep the tempo steady and let the bass notes ring through each measure — that’s what gives the Clancy Brothers’ acoustic songs their depth and warmth.
Save The Land Lyrics And Chords In G Major
(G)Looking 'round the land, that (Bm)once belonged to him.
The (C)looking wasn't (G)easy, there was (C)nothing there but (G)sin
He cried out to the heavens, (Bm)nearly broke his heart.
Oh (C)look at what they've (G)done, torn my (C)land a(G)part.
Chorus
Oh (C)Lord save the (G)land, Oh (C)Lord save my (Bm)land,
Oh (C)Lord save the (G)land, and (C)all your (D)children, (G)too.
(G)Looking 'round the land, that (Bm)once belonged to him.
The (C)looking wasn't (G)easy, there was (C)nothing there but (G)sin
He cried out to the heavens, (Bm)nearly broke his heart.
Oh (C)look at what they've (G)done, torn my (C)land a(G)part.
Chorus
Oh (C)Lord save the (G)land, Oh (C)Lord save my (Bm)land,
Oh (C)Lord save the (G)land, and (C)all your (D)children, (G)too.
