Silver In The Stubble Lyrics And Guitar Chords
4/4 written by Sydney Carter and requested by Alan Conway, the chords are by Marc. Recorded by Paddy Reilly, The Dublin City Ramblers and the video is by Twa Corbies.
Silver On The Stubble Song Words With Guitar Chords In Em
(Em)Early (D)in the (Em)Morning,
I (Em)hear the (D)razor (Em)roar,
There's (G)silver (Em)in the (G)stubble
(D)And it (Em)wasn't (D)there be(Em)fore.
Chorus
For the (G)leaves are getting (Em)greener,
And (G)spring is (D)on the (G)wa(Em)-(G)y;
And (G)girls are (Em)getting (G)pretti(D)er
And (Em)younger (D)every (Em)day.
(Em)Silver (D)in the (Em)stubble;
(Em)Winter (D)in the (Em)wood.
(G)Fare you (Em)well, you (G)wicked (D)world,
I'm (Em)going to (D)be (Em)good.
Chorus
(Em)Time to (D)think of (Em)Heaven;
(Em)Time to (D)think of (Em)Hell.
(G)Time to (Em)go to (G)church on (D)Sunday,
(Em)Hark, I (D)hear the (Em)bell.
Chorus
But if (Em)any (D)girl is (Em)willing,
She (Em)only (D)has to (Em)say;
I'll (G)hang my (Em)halo (G)on a (D)shelf
Un(Em)til a(D)nother (Em)day.
Chorus
(Em)Early (D)in the (Em)Morning,
I (Em)hear the (D)razor (Em)roar,
There's (G)silver (Em)in the (G)stubble
(D)And it (Em)wasn't (D)there be(Em)fore.
Chorus
For the (G)leaves are getting (Em)greener,
And (G)spring is (D)on the (G)wa(Em)-(G)y;
And (G)girls are (Em)getting (G)pretti(D)er
And (Em)younger (D)every (Em)day.
(Em)Silver (D)in the (Em)stubble;
(Em)Winter (D)in the (Em)wood.
(G)Fare you (Em)well, you (G)wicked (D)world,
I'm (Em)going to (D)be (Em)good.
Chorus
(Em)Time to (D)think of (Em)Heaven;
(Em)Time to (D)think of (Em)Hell.
(G)Time to (Em)go to (G)church on (D)Sunday,
(Em)Hark, I (D)hear the (Em)bell.
Chorus
But if (Em)any (D)girl is (Em)willing,
She (Em)only (D)has to (Em)say;
I'll (G)hang my (Em)halo (G)on a (D)shelf
Un(Em)til a(D)nother (Em)day.
Chorus
🎵 Key: E minor
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: ~95–100 BPM (moderate folk swing)
Feel: Light, folksy, tongue-in-cheek humor — like a Clancy Brothers pub song.
🎸 Chords Used
Chord Shape Function
Em 022000 i
D xx0232 VII
G 320003 III
Simple and open — fits the folk tone perfectly.
🎶 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Folk Feel)
Pattern (Down–Down-Up–Up-Down-Up):
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
1 2& &4&
Tips:
Emphasize beat 1 slightly for that steady, marching feel.
On Em and G, you can alternate bass notes for motion:
Em: 6th → 5th string
G: 6th → 4th string
D: 4th → 5th string
Optional variation for verse: play softly fingerpicked; use the full strum for the chorus.
🎵 Lyrics + Chords (All Verses)
Verse 1
(Em)Early (D)in the (Em)Morning,
I (Em)hear the (D)razor (Em)roar,
There's (G)silver (Em)in the (G)stubble
(D)And it (Em)wasn't (D)there be(Em)fore.
Chorus
For the (G)leaves are getting (Em)greener,
And (G)spring is (D)on the (G)wa(Em)-(G)y;
And (G)girls are (Em)getting (G)pretti(D)er
And (Em)younger (D)every (Em)day.
Verse 2
(Em)Silver (D)in the (Em)stubble;
(Em)Winter (D)in the (Em)wood.
(G)Fare you (Em)well, you (G)wicked (D)world,
I'm (Em)going to (D)be (Em)good.
(Chorus)
For the (G)leaves are getting (Em)greener,
And (G)spring is (D)on the (G)wa(Em)-(G)y;
And (G)girls are (Em)getting (G)pretti(D)er
And (Em)younger (D)every (Em)day.
Verse 3
(Em)Time to (D)think of (Em)Heaven;
(Em)Time to (D)think of (Em)Hell.
(G)Time to (Em)go to (G)church on (D)Sunday,
(Em)Hark, I (D)hear the (Em)bell.
(Chorus)
Verse 4
But if (Em)any (D)girl is (Em)willing,
She (Em)only (D)has to (Em)say;
I'll (G)hang my (Em)halo (G)on a (D)shelf
Un(Em)til a(D)nother (Em)day.
(Chorus – final repeat)
🎸 Fingerpicking Tab – Verse 1
Here’s a gentle folk-style fingerpicking pattern (Travis-inspired, steady 4/4).
Use P–i–m–i (thumb, index, middle, index) pattern on each beat.
Em D
e|-------0-----------0-|-------2-----------2-|
B|-----0---0-------0---|-----3---3-------3---|
G|---0-------0---0-----|---2-------2---2-----|
D|-2-----------2-------|-0-----------0-------|
A|-2-----------2-------|---------------------|
E|-0-----------0-------|---------------------|
Em G
e|-------0-----------0-|-------3-----------3-|
B|-----0---0-------0---|-----0---0-------0---|
G|---0-------0---0-----|---0-------0---0-----|
D|-2-----------2-------|-0-----------0-------|
A|-2-----------2-------|-2-----------2-------|
E|-0-----------0-------|-3-----------3-------|
D Em
e|-------2-----------2-|-------0-----------0-|
B|-----3---3-------3---|-----0---0-------0---|
G|---2-------2---2-----|---0-------0---0-----|
D|-0-----------0-------|-2-----------2-------|
A|---------------------|-2-----------2-------|
E|---------------------|-0-----------0-------|
This pattern carries beautifully through all verses — mellow and nostalgic.
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: ~95–100 BPM (moderate folk swing)
Feel: Light, folksy, tongue-in-cheek humor — like a Clancy Brothers pub song.
🎸 Chords Used
Chord Shape Function
Em 022000 i
D xx0232 VII
G 320003 III
Simple and open — fits the folk tone perfectly.
🎶 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Folk Feel)
Pattern (Down–Down-Up–Up-Down-Up):
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
1 2& &4&
Tips:
Emphasize beat 1 slightly for that steady, marching feel.
On Em and G, you can alternate bass notes for motion:
Em: 6th → 5th string
G: 6th → 4th string
D: 4th → 5th string
Optional variation for verse: play softly fingerpicked; use the full strum for the chorus.
🎵 Lyrics + Chords (All Verses)
Verse 1
(Em)Early (D)in the (Em)Morning,
I (Em)hear the (D)razor (Em)roar,
There's (G)silver (Em)in the (G)stubble
(D)And it (Em)wasn't (D)there be(Em)fore.
Chorus
For the (G)leaves are getting (Em)greener,
And (G)spring is (D)on the (G)wa(Em)-(G)y;
And (G)girls are (Em)getting (G)pretti(D)er
And (Em)younger (D)every (Em)day.
Verse 2
(Em)Silver (D)in the (Em)stubble;
(Em)Winter (D)in the (Em)wood.
(G)Fare you (Em)well, you (G)wicked (D)world,
I'm (Em)going to (D)be (Em)good.
(Chorus)
For the (G)leaves are getting (Em)greener,
And (G)spring is (D)on the (G)wa(Em)-(G)y;
And (G)girls are (Em)getting (G)pretti(D)er
And (Em)younger (D)every (Em)day.
Verse 3
(Em)Time to (D)think of (Em)Heaven;
(Em)Time to (D)think of (Em)Hell.
(G)Time to (Em)go to (G)church on (D)Sunday,
(Em)Hark, I (D)hear the (Em)bell.
(Chorus)
Verse 4
But if (Em)any (D)girl is (Em)willing,
She (Em)only (D)has to (Em)say;
I'll (G)hang my (Em)halo (G)on a (D)shelf
Un(Em)til a(D)nother (Em)day.
(Chorus – final repeat)
🎸 Fingerpicking Tab – Verse 1
Here’s a gentle folk-style fingerpicking pattern (Travis-inspired, steady 4/4).
Use P–i–m–i (thumb, index, middle, index) pattern on each beat.
Em D
e|-------0-----------0-|-------2-----------2-|
B|-----0---0-------0---|-----3---3-------3---|
G|---0-------0---0-----|---2-------2---2-----|
D|-2-----------2-------|-0-----------0-------|
A|-2-----------2-------|---------------------|
E|-0-----------0-------|---------------------|
Em G
e|-------0-----------0-|-------3-----------3-|
B|-----0---0-------0---|-----0---0-------0---|
G|---0-------0---0-----|---0-------0---0-----|
D|-2-----------2-------|-0-----------0-------|
A|-2-----------2-------|-2-----------2-------|
E|-0-----------0-------|-3-----------3-------|
D Em
e|-------2-----------2-|-------0-----------0-|
B|-----3---3-------3---|-----0---0-------0---|
G|---2-------2---2-----|---0-------0---0-----|
D|-0-----------0-------|-2-----------2-------|
A|---------------------|-2-----------2-------|
E|---------------------|-0-----------0-------|
This pattern carries beautifully through all verses — mellow and nostalgic.
Here's the chords in the key of Am.
(Am)Early (G)in the (Am)Morning, I (Am)hear the (G)razor (Am)roar, There's (C)silver (Am)in the (C)stubble (G)And it (Am)wasn't (G)there be(Am)fore. Chorus For the (C)leaves are getting (Am)greener, And (C)spring is (G)on the (C)wa(Am)-(C)y; And (C)girls are (Am)getting (C)pretti(G)er And (Am)younger (G)every (Am)day.
(Am)Early (G)in the (Am)Morning, I (Am)hear the (G)razor (Am)roar, There's (C)silver (Am)in the (C)stubble (G)And it (Am)wasn't (G)there be(Am)fore. Chorus For the (C)leaves are getting (Am)greener, And (C)spring is (G)on the (C)wa(Am)-(C)y; And (C)girls are (Am)getting (C)pretti(G)er And (Am)younger (G)every (Am)day.
Silver On The Stubble Chords In Bm
(Bm)Early (A)in the (Bm)Morning,
I (Bm)hear the (A)razor (Bm)roar,
There's (D)silver (Bm)in the (D)stubble
(A)And it (Bm)wasn't (A)there be(Bm)fore.
Chorus
For the (D)leaves are getting (Bm)greener,
And (D)spring is (A)on the (D)wa(Bm)-(D)y;
And (D)girls are (Bm)getting (D)pretti(A)er
And (Bm)younger (A)every (Bm)day.
(Bm)Early (A)in the (Bm)Morning,
I (Bm)hear the (A)razor (Bm)roar,
There's (D)silver (Bm)in the (D)stubble
(A)And it (Bm)wasn't (A)there be(Bm)fore.
Chorus
For the (D)leaves are getting (Bm)greener,
And (D)spring is (A)on the (D)wa(Bm)-(D)y;
And (D)girls are (Bm)getting (D)pretti(A)er
And (Bm)younger (A)every (Bm)day.
Silver On The Stubble Sheet Music For Tin Whistle
