Shall My Soul Pass Through Old Ireland Lyrics And Chords
Unknown author . The sheet music is included. This song tells of the death of Terence McSweeney , a former Lord mayor of Cork who died on hunger strike after 74 days .He wrote a series of articles which were later published as ''The Principles Of Freedom''. The song was recorded by The Dublin City Ramblers, Frank Caffery, Hugo Duncan and Wolfhound. The tune of the song is very much like that of Kevin Barry, lyrics of which can be found at the link.Shall my Soul pass through old Ireland piano sheet music. Bass chords in arpeggios style
The banjo / mandolin tab is in this ebook here .
The banjo / mandolin tab is in this ebook here .
Shall My Soul Pass Through Old Ireland Song Words And Guitar Chords
In[G] a dreary British prison where an Irish rebel[D] lay
By his side a priest was standing where his[D7] soul should pass a[G]way
As he gently murmurs father the priest takes him by the[D] hand
Tell me this before I die shall my[D7] soul pass through [G]Ireland
[Chorus]
Shall my soul pass through old Ireland pass through Cork's so city grand
Shall I see that old cathedral where Saint Patrick took his stand
Shall I see that little chapel where I placed my heart in hand
Tell me this before I die shall my soul pass through Ireland
Was for loving dear old Ireland in this prison cell I lie
Was for loving dear old Ireland in this foreign land I die
When you see my little daughter won't you make her understand
Tell me this before I die shall my soul pass through Ireland
With his soul pure as a lilly and his body sanctified
In that dreary Brixton prison our brave Irish rebel died
Prayed the priest his wish was granted as his blessing he did give
Father grant this brave man's wish may his soul pass through Ireland
In[G] a dreary British prison where an Irish rebel[D] lay
By his side a priest was standing where his[D7] soul should pass a[G]way
As he gently murmurs father the priest takes him by the[D] hand
Tell me this before I die shall my[D7] soul pass through [G]Ireland
[Chorus]
Shall my soul pass through old Ireland pass through Cork's so city grand
Shall I see that old cathedral where Saint Patrick took his stand
Shall I see that little chapel where I placed my heart in hand
Tell me this before I die shall my soul pass through Ireland
Was for loving dear old Ireland in this prison cell I lie
Was for loving dear old Ireland in this foreign land I die
When you see my little daughter won't you make her understand
Tell me this before I die shall my soul pass through Ireland
With his soul pure as a lilly and his body sanctified
In that dreary Brixton prison our brave Irish rebel died
Prayed the priest his wish was granted as his blessing he did give
Father grant this brave man's wish may his soul pass through Ireland
Here's the version of the chords as played by The Dublin City Ramblers
In[E] a dreary [A]British prison where an Irish [Bm]rebel lay
[E]By his side a priest was standing where his soul should pass a[A]way
As he gently murmurs father the priest takes him by the[Bm] hand
Tell me [E]this before I die shall my[Bm] soul pass through Ire[A]land
[Chorus]
Shall my [E]soul pass through old [A]Ireland pass through Cork's so city [Bm]grand
Shall I [E]see that old catherdral where Saint Patrick took his [A]stand
Shall I see that little chapel where I placed my heart in [Bm]hand
Tell me [E]this before I die shall my soul pass through Ire[A]land
In[E] a dreary [A]British prison where an Irish [Bm]rebel lay
[E]By his side a priest was standing where his soul should pass a[A]way
As he gently murmurs father the priest takes him by the[Bm] hand
Tell me [E]this before I die shall my[Bm] soul pass through Ire[A]land
[Chorus]
Shall my [E]soul pass through old [A]Ireland pass through Cork's so city [Bm]grand
Shall I [E]see that old catherdral where Saint Patrick took his [A]stand
Shall I see that little chapel where I placed my heart in [Bm]hand
Tell me [E]this before I die shall my soul pass through Ire[A]land
🎶 Shall My Soul Pass Through Ireland
Key: G major | Time: 3/4 | Tempo: ~85 bpm
Verse 1
In[G] a dreary British prison where an Irish rebel[D] lay,
By his side a priest was standing where his[D7] soul should pass a[G]way,
As he gently murmured father, the priest takes him by the[D] hand,
“Tell me this before I die, shall my[D7] soul pass through [G]Ireland?”
Chorus
Shall my[C] soul pass through old [G]Ireland,
Pass through [D7]Cork’s so city [G]grand?
Shall I [C]see that old ca[G]thedral
Where Saint [D7]Patrick took his [G]stand?
Shall I [G]see that little [D]chapel
Where I [Em]placed my heart in [A7]hand?
Tell me [G]this before I [D]die,
Shall my [D7]soul pass through [G]Ireland?
Verse 2
’Twas for[G] loving dear old Ireland in this prison cell I [D]lie,
’Twas for loving dear old Ireland in this[D7] foreign land I [G]die,
When you see my little daughter, won’t you make her under[D]stand,
Tell me this before I die, shall my[D7] soul pass through [G]Ireland?
Verse 3
With his[G] soul pure as a lily and his body sancti[D]fied,
In that dreary Brixton prison our brave Irish rebel[D7] died,
Prayed the priest his wish was granted as his blessing he did [D]give,
“Father, grant this brave man’s wish—may his[D7] soul pass through [G]Ireland.”
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Time)
Pattern: Bass – Down – Up (count: 1 2 3)
Example:
G → pick 6th string (G), then Down–Up
D → pick 4th string (D), then Down–Up
D7 → pick 4th string (D), then Down–Up
Keeps a gentle waltz rhythm—soft and flowing.
🎵 Fingerpicking Tab (for Verse 1 / Intro)
A calm arpeggiated pattern that fits the reflective tone.
G D7 G
e|---------3-------------3-|---------2-------------2-|---------3-------------3-|
B|-----0-------0-----0-----|-----1-------1-----1-----|-----0-------0-----0-----|
G|---0---0---0---0---0---0-|---2---2---2---2---2---2-|---0---0---0---0---0---0-|
D|--------------------------|-0-----------0-----------|-------------------------|
A|-2-----------2-----------|--------------------------|-2-----------2-----------|
E|-3-----------3-----------|--------------------------|-3-----------3-----------|
D D7 G
e|---------2-------------2-|---------2-------------2-|---------3-------------3-|
B|-----3-------3-----3-----|-----1-------1-----1-----|-----0-------0-----0-----|
G|---2---2---2---2---2---2-|---2---2---2---2---2---2-|---0---0---0---0---0---0-|
D|-0-----------0-----------|-0-----------0-----------|-------------------------|
A|--------------------------|--------------------------|-2-----------2-----------|
E|--------------------------|--------------------------|-3-----------3-----------|
Key: G major | Time: 3/4 | Tempo: ~85 bpm
Verse 1
In[G] a dreary British prison where an Irish rebel[D] lay,
By his side a priest was standing where his[D7] soul should pass a[G]way,
As he gently murmured father, the priest takes him by the[D] hand,
“Tell me this before I die, shall my[D7] soul pass through [G]Ireland?”
Chorus
Shall my[C] soul pass through old [G]Ireland,
Pass through [D7]Cork’s so city [G]grand?
Shall I [C]see that old ca[G]thedral
Where Saint [D7]Patrick took his [G]stand?
Shall I [G]see that little [D]chapel
Where I [Em]placed my heart in [A7]hand?
Tell me [G]this before I [D]die,
Shall my [D7]soul pass through [G]Ireland?
Verse 2
’Twas for[G] loving dear old Ireland in this prison cell I [D]lie,
’Twas for loving dear old Ireland in this[D7] foreign land I [G]die,
When you see my little daughter, won’t you make her under[D]stand,
Tell me this before I die, shall my[D7] soul pass through [G]Ireland?
Verse 3
With his[G] soul pure as a lily and his body sancti[D]fied,
In that dreary Brixton prison our brave Irish rebel[D7] died,
Prayed the priest his wish was granted as his blessing he did [D]give,
“Father, grant this brave man’s wish—may his[D7] soul pass through [G]Ireland.”
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Time)
Pattern: Bass – Down – Up (count: 1 2 3)
Example:
G → pick 6th string (G), then Down–Up
D → pick 4th string (D), then Down–Up
D7 → pick 4th string (D), then Down–Up
Keeps a gentle waltz rhythm—soft and flowing.
🎵 Fingerpicking Tab (for Verse 1 / Intro)
A calm arpeggiated pattern that fits the reflective tone.
G D7 G
e|---------3-------------3-|---------2-------------2-|---------3-------------3-|
B|-----0-------0-----0-----|-----1-------1-----1-----|-----0-------0-----0-----|
G|---0---0---0---0---0---0-|---2---2---2---2---2---2-|---0---0---0---0---0---0-|
D|--------------------------|-0-----------0-----------|-------------------------|
A|-2-----------2-----------|--------------------------|-2-----------2-----------|
E|-3-----------3-----------|--------------------------|-3-----------3-----------|
D D7 G
e|---------2-------------2-|---------2-------------2-|---------3-------------3-|
B|-----3-------3-----3-----|-----1-------1-----1-----|-----0-------0-----0-----|
G|---2---2---2---2---2---2-|---2---2---2---2---2---2-|---0---0---0---0---0---0-|
D|-0-----------0-----------|-0-----------0-----------|-------------------------|
A|--------------------------|--------------------------|-2-----------2-----------|
E|--------------------------|--------------------------|-3-----------3-----------|
Shall my Soul pass through old Ireland piano sheet music. Bass chords in arpeggios
