Irish folk songs
  • Home
  • Lyrics And Chords
  • Tin Whistle Song Book
  • Tin Whistle

Smugglers Lyrics And Chords The Men They Couldn't Hang

Guitar chords by Marc Fahrbach in C , G and D Major. 4/4. The sheet music and tin whistle notes are included.
To play along with The Men They Couldn’t Hang on Waiting for Bonaparte use capo on 2nd fret to change key to D major. A traditional song for the most part. The last verse was written by Ian McCalman who also wrote the music to the song as it was a poem to begin with. I have included the sheet music notes. The Colours [ lyrics ] was another hit song for The Men They Couldn't Hang.
​"Smugglers" is a song by Ian McCalman, a Scottish folk musician and a member of The McCalmans. McCalman has stated that he found some of the original lyrics in an old book and then added a new tune, a chorus, and the last verse himself. As a result, the song is often credited as "Traditional / Ian McCalman."
The song's lyrics tell the story of smugglers operating off the coast of Scotland near Ailsa Craig and Lendalfoot. It describes the dangerous but profitable life of running contraband, including "Frenchman's wine" and other "foreign gear." The song humorously concludes with the smugglers going to church after a successful night, where they use champagne for communion wine and the parson winks and prays, "Forgive these men, for they know not what they do."
Smugglers folk song lyrics
Folk songs guitar chords
Smugglers Song Words And Guitar Chords In C Major

The (C)boat rides south of (G)Ailsa (C)Craig in the (F)waning (C)of the (G)light 
There's (F)thirty (G)men in (C)Lendal(Am)fit to (F)make our (C)burden (G)light -G
And there's (C)thirty horse in (G)Hazle(C)holm with the (F)halters (C)on their (G)heads 
All (F)set this (G)night up (C)on your (Am)life if (Dm)wind and water (C)speed 

Chorus
(Am)Smugglers drink of the (Em)frenchmens wine
And the (Am)darkest night is the (C)smugglers (G)time 
A(F)way we ran from the (C)excise (Am)man 
It's a (C)smugglers life for (F)me 
It's a (C)smugglers (G7)life for (C)me 

"Oh (C)lass you have a (G)cozy (C)bed, and (F)cattle (C)you have (G)ten 
Can (F)you not (G)live a (C)lawful (Am)life and (F)live with (C)lawful (G)men?"  -G 
But (C)must I use old (G)homely (C)goods while there's (F)foreign (C)gear so (G)fine? 
Must (F)I drink (G)at the (C)water(Am)side and (Dm)France so full of (C)wine 

Chorus 

Though (C)well I like to (G)see you (C)Kate, with a (F)baby (C)on your (G)knee 
My(F)heart is (G)now with the (C)gallant (Am)crew that (F)plough through the (C)angry (G)sea - G 
The (C)bitter gale, the (G)tightest (C)sail, and the (F)sheltered (C)bay or (G)goal 
It's the (F)wayward (G)life, it's the (C)smugglers (Am)strife, it's the (Dm)joy of the smugglers (C)soul 

Chorus 

And (C)when at last the (G)dawn comes (C)up and the (F)cargo’s (C)safely (G)stored 
Like (F)sinless (G)saints to (C)church we'll (Am)go, God's (F)mercy (C)to a(G)fford -G 
And It's (C)champagne fine for (G)communion (C)wine and the (F)parson (C)drinks it, (G)too 
With a (F)sly wink (G)prays "For(C)give these (Am)men, for they (Dm)know not what they (C)do" 

Picture
Smugglers Lyrics & Chords In D

The (D)boat rides south of (A)Ailsa (D)Craig in the (G)waning (D)of the (A)light 
There's (G)thirty (A)men in (D)Lendal(Bm)fit to (G)make our (D)burden (A)light -G
And there's (D)thirty horse in (A)Hazle(D)holm with the (G)halters (D)on their (A)heads 
All (G)set this (A)night up (D)on your (Bm)life if (Em)wind and water (D)speed 

Chorus
(Bm)Smugglers drink of the (F#m)frenchmens wine
And the (Bm)darkest night is the (D)smugglers (A)time 
A(G)way we ran from the (D)excise (Bm)man 
It's a (D)smugglers life for (G)me 
It's a (D)smugglers (A7)life for (D)me 

"Oh (D)lass you have a (A)cozy (D)bed, and (G)cattle (D)you have (A)ten 
Can (G)you not (A)live a (D)lawful (Bm)life and (G)live with (D)lawful (A)men?"  -G 
But (D)must I use old (A)homely (D)goods while there's (G)foreign (D)gear so (A)fine? 
Must (G)I drink (A)at the (D)water(Bm)side and (Em)France so full of (D)wine 

Chorus 

Though (D)well I like to (A)see you (D)Kate, with a (G)baby (D)on your (A)knee 
My(G)heart is (A)now with the (D)gallant (Bm)crew that (G)plough through the (D)angry (A)sea - G 
The (D)bitter gale, the (A)tightest (D)sail, and the (G)sheltered (D)bay or (A)goal 
It's the (G)wayward (A)life, it's the (D)smugglers (Bm)strife, it's the (Em)joy of the smugglers (D)soul 

Chorus 

And (D)when at last the (A)dawn comes (D)up and the (G)cargo’s (D)safely (A)stored 
Like (G)sinless (A)saints to (D)church we'll (Bm)go, God's (G)mercy (D)to a(A)fford -G 
And It's (D)champagne fine for (A)communion (D)wine and the (G)parson (D)drinks it, (A)too 
With a (G)sly wink (A)prays "For(D)give these (Bm)men, for they (Em)know not what they (D)do" 
Lyrics And Guitar Chords In G Major

The (G)boat rides south of (D)Ailsa (G)Craig in the (C)waning (G)of the (D)light 
There's (C)thirty (D)men in (G)Lendal(Em)fit to (C)make our (G)burden (D)light -G
And there's (G)thirty horse in (D)Hazle(G)holm with the (C)halters (G)on their (D)heads 
All (C)set this (D)night up (G)on your (Em)life if (Am)wind and water (G)speed 

Chorus
(Em)Smugglers drink of the (Bm)frenchmens wine
And the (Em)darkest night is the (G)smugglers (D)time 
A(C)way we ran from the (G)excise (Em)man 
It's a (G)smugglers life for (C)me 
It's a (G)smugglers (D7)life for (G)me 

"Oh (G)lass you have a (D)cozy (G)bed, and (C)cattle (G)you have (D)ten 
Can (C)you not (D)live a (G)lawful (Em)life and (C)live with (G)lawful (D)men?"  -G 
But (G)must I use old (D)homely (G)goods while there's (C)foreign (G)gear so (D)fine? 
Must (C)I drink (D)at the (G)water(Em)side and (Am)France so full of (G)wine 

Chorus 

Though (G)well I like to (D)see you (G)Kate, with a (C)baby (G)on your (D)knee 
My(C)heart is (D)now with the (G)gallant (Em)crew that (C)plough through the (G)angry (D)sea - G 
The (G)bitter gale, the (D)tightest (G)sail, and the (C)sheltered (G)bay or (D)goal 
It's the (C)wayward (D)life, it's the (G)smugglers (Em)strife, it's the (Am)joy of the smugglers (G)soul 

Chorus 

And (G)when at last the (D)dawn comes (G)up and the (C)cargo’s (G)safely (D)stored 
Like (C)sinless (D)saints to (G)church we'll (Em)go, God's (C)mercy (G)to a(D)fford -G 
And It's (G)champagne fine for (D)communion (G)wine and the (C)parson (G)drinks it, (D)too 
With a (C)sly wink (D)prays "For(G)give these (Em)men, for they (Am)know not what they (G)do" 
​Here is the full song with chords for all verses, a strumming pattern, and a fingerpicking tab for the first verse.

This song is a waltz, which means it's in 3/4 time (three beats per measure).

🎵 The Smuggler's Song (Chords)
The (G)boat rides south of (D)Ailsa (G)Craig in the (C)waning (G)of the (D)light There's (C)thirty (D)men in (G)Lendal(Em)fit to (C)make our (G)burden (D)light (G) And there's (G)thirty horse in (D)Hazle(G)holm with the (C)halters (G)on their (D)heads All (C)set this (D)night up (G)on your (Em)life if (Am)wind and water (G)speed

Chorus (Em)Smugglers drink of the (Bm)frenchmens wine And the (Em)darkest night is the (G)smugglers (D)time A(C)way we ran from the (G)excise (Em)man It's a (G)smugglers life for (C)me It's a (G)smugglers (D7)life for (G)me

"Oh (G)lass you have a (D)cozy (G)bed, and (C)cattle (G)you have (D)ten Can (C)you not (D)live a (G)lawful (Em)life and (C)live with (G)lawful (D)men?" (G) But (G)must I use old (D)homely (G)goods while there's (C)foreign (G)gear so (D)fine? Must (C)I drink (D)at the (G)water(Em)side and (Am)France so full of (G)wine

Chorus (Em)Smugglers drink of the (Bm)frenchmens wine And the (Em)darkest night is the (G)smugglers (D)time A(C)way we ran from the (G)excise (Em)man It's a (G)smugglers life for (C)me It's a (G)smugglers (D7)life for (G)me

Though (G)well I like to (D)see you (G)Kate, with a (C)baby (G)on your (D)knee My (C)heart is (D)now with the (G)gallant (Em)crew that (C)plough through the (G)angry (D)sea (G) The (G)bitter gale, the (D)tightest (G)sail, and the (C)sheltered (G)bay or (D)goal It's the (C)wayward (D)life, it's the (G)smugglers (Em)strife, it's the (Am)joy of the smugglers (G)soul

Chorus (Em)Smugglers drink of the (Bm)frenchmens wine And the (Em)darkest night is the (G)smugglers (D)time A(C)way we ran from the (G)excise (Em)man It's a (G)smugglers life for (C)me It's a (G)smugglers (D7)life for (G)me

And (G)when at last the (D)dawn comes (G)up and the (C)cargo’s (G)safely (D)stored Like (C)sinless (D)saints to (G)church we'll (Em)go, God's (C)mercy (G)to a(D)fford (G) And It's (G)champagne fine for (D)communion (G)wine and the (C)parson (G)drinks it, (D)too With a (C)sly wink (D)prays "For(G)give these (Em)men, for they (Am)know not what they (G)do"

🎸 Strumming Pattern (Waltz Strum)
This song is in 3/4 time, so you'll use a waltz strum. The pattern is Bass - Strum - Strum.

Count: 1 - 2 - 3

Pattern: Down - Down - Up (Emphasize the first beat)

A more advanced way to play this is to alternate the bass note on the first beat.

Count: 1 - 2 - 3

Pattern: Bass - Strum - Strum

How to apply it:

G Chord: Hit the 6th string (Bass) on beat 1, then strum the higher strings for beats 2 and 3.

C Chord: Hit the 5th string (Bass) on beat 1, then strum.

D Chord: Hit the 4th string (Bass) on beat 1, then strum.

Em Chord: Hit the 6th string (Bass) on beat 1, then strum.

Am Chord: Hit the 5th string (Bass) on beat 1, then strum.

Bm Chord: Hit the 5th string (Bass) on beat 1, then strum.

🎼 Fingerpicking Tab (Verse 1)
Here is a 3/4 time fingerpicking pattern (waltz pattern) for the first verse. The thumb (P) plays the bass note on beat 1, and your index (I) and middle (M) fingers play the higher strings on beats 2 and 3.

(G)The boat rides south of (D)Ailsa (G)Craig...
   G                 G                 D                 G
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------2-----|-----------------|
B|-----------0-----|-----------0-----|-------3---------|-----------0-----|
G|-------0---------|-------0---------|-----2-----------|-------0---------|
D|-----0-----------|-----0-----------|-0---------------|-----0-----------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-3---------------|-3---------------|-----------------|-3---------------|

...in the (C)waning (G)of the (D)light
   C                 G                 D                 D
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------2-----|-----------2-----|
B|-----------1-----|-----------0-----|-------3---------|-------3---------|
G|-------0---------|-------0---------|-----2-----------|-----2-----------|
D|-----2-----------|-----0-----------|-0---------------|-0---------------|
A|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------|

There's (C)thirty (D)men in (G)Lendal(Em)fit...
   C                 D                 G                 Em
e|-----------------|-----------2-----|-----------------|-----------0-----|
B|-----------1-----|-------3---------|-----------0-----|-------0---------|
G|-------0---------|-----2-----------|-------0---------|-----0-----------|
D|-----2-----------|-0---------------|-----0-----------|-----------------|
A|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-2---------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-3---------------|-----------------|

...to (C)make our (G)burden (D)light (G)
   C                 G                 D                 G
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------2-----|-----------------|
B|-----------1-----|-----------0-----|-------3---------|-----------0-----|
G|-------0---------|-------0---------|-----2-----------|-------0---------|
D|-----2-----------|-----0-----------|-0---------------|-----0-----------|
A|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-3---------------|-----------------|-3---------------|

And there's (G)thirty horse in (D)Hazle(G)holm...
   G                 G                 D                 G
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------2-----|-----------------|
B|-----------0-----|-----------0-----|-------3---------|-----------0-----|
G|-------0---------|-------0---------|-----2-----------|-------0---------|
D|-----0-----------|-----0-----------|-0---------------|-----0-----------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-3---------------|-3---------------|-----------------|-3---------------|

...with the (C)halters (G)on their (D)heads
   C                 G                 D                 D
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------2-----|-----------2-----|
B|-----------1-----|-----------0-----|-------3---------|-------3---------|
G|-------0---------|-------0---------|-----2-----------|-----2-----------|
D|-----2-----------|-----0-----------|-0---------------|-0---------------|
A|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------|

All (C)set this (D)night up (G)on your (Em)life...
   C                 D                 G                 Em
e|-----------------|-----------2-----|-----------------|-----------0-----|
B|-----------1-----|-------3---------|-----------0-----|-------0---------|
G|-------0---------|-----2-----------|-------0---------|-----0-----------|
D|-----2-----------|-0---------------|-----0-----------|-----------------|
A|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-2---------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-3---------------|-----------------|

...if (Am)wind and water (G)speed
   Am                Am                G                 G
e|-----------0-----|-----------0-----|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-------1---------|-------1---------|-----------0-----|-----------0-----|
G|-----2-----------|-----2-----------|-------0---------|-------0---------|
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----0-----------|-----0-----------|
A|-0---------------|-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-3---------------|-3---------------|
The Smuggler sheet music and tin whistle notes
The Smuggler sheet music and tin whistle notes
Smugglers Sheet Music And Tin Whistle Notes
Smugglers sheet music
Smugglers sheet music notes in the key of G Major.
Irish Sheet Music Ebook
PayPal Acceptance Mark
Picture
Blog
Privacy Policy
Cookie Consent
Copyright 2002 - 2025
Contact
  • Home
  • Lyrics And Chords
  • Tin Whistle Song Book
  • Tin Whistle