Spancil Hill lyrics and chords
Recorded by Christy Moore with Shane MacGowan, The Wolfe Tones, also by Johnny McEvoy. the sheet music, 5 string banjo chords and tin whistle notes are included. Written by Michael Considine Spancil Hill is between Ennis and Tulla County Clare This Irish folk song dates back to the 1870s. This ballad was recently recorded by the Irish ballad group ''The High Kings'' on their album Grace And Glory. The ukulele chords are now included.Now included is the tenor guitar / mandola tab in CGDA. Spancil hill fingerstyle guitar tab included. Nial Horan sang Spancil Hill in The White House in Washington for St. Patrick's Day in 2023. [ And I also sang it at The White House, but it was The White House at ''The Ward'' St. Margaret's Co. Dublin ]
Spancil Hill Words And Chords In Am Key
Last[Am] night as I lay[G] dreaming,of pleasant days gone[Am] by,
Me mind being bent on rambling,to[C] Ireland I did[G] fly,
I[Am] stepped on board a vision,and[C] followed with a[G] will,
Till the[Am] first I came to[G] anchor at the cross at Spancil[Am] Hill,
[2]
T'was on the twenty third of June,the day before the fair,
When Ireland's sons and daughters,and friends assembled there,
The young the old the brave the bold,thier duty to full fill,
At the parish Church near Clooney,a mile from Spancil Hill.
[3]
I went to see me neighbours to see what they might say,
The old one's were all dead and gone,the young one's turning grey,
I met with tailor Quigley,he's as bold as ever still,
Sure he used to make me britches when I lived in Spancil Hill.
[4]
I paid a flying visit to my first and only love,
She's as fair as any lilly as gently as a dove,
She threw her arms around me saying Johnny I love ye still,
She was Meg the farmer's daughter,the pride of Spaincil Hill.
Last[Am] night as I lay[G] dreaming,of pleasant days gone[Am] by,
Me mind being bent on rambling,to[C] Ireland I did[G] fly,
I[Am] stepped on board a vision,and[C] followed with a[G] will,
Till the[Am] first I came to[G] anchor at the cross at Spancil[Am] Hill,
[2]
T'was on the twenty third of June,the day before the fair,
When Ireland's sons and daughters,and friends assembled there,
The young the old the brave the bold,thier duty to full fill,
At the parish Church near Clooney,a mile from Spancil Hill.
[3]
I went to see me neighbours to see what they might say,
The old one's were all dead and gone,the young one's turning grey,
I met with tailor Quigley,he's as bold as ever still,
Sure he used to make me britches when I lived in Spancil Hill.
[4]
I paid a flying visit to my first and only love,
She's as fair as any lilly as gently as a dove,
She threw her arms around me saying Johnny I love ye still,
She was Meg the farmer's daughter,the pride of Spaincil Hill.
🎼 Key: A minor
Tempo: Slow ballad, about 70–80 BPM
Time Signature: 6/8 (like a slow waltz)
🎸 Strumming Pattern (6/8 Feel)
For this song’s lilting rhythm, play softly:
Down – down-up – down – down-up
(Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6)
Let the first “Down” be strong, and let the rhythm sway gently — not percussive, but flowing.
Think of a “ONE-two-three, FOUR-five-six” heartbeat.
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab for the First Verse (A minor)
Use this delicate rolling pattern:
Thumb (Bass) → Index → Middle → Thumb (alt. Bass) → Index → Middle
(Perfect for 6/8 time)
Here’s the tab for the first verse:
Am G Am
e|--------0-------------0-------------3-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1---------0---0---------1---1-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2-----0-------0-----2-------2---------|
D|--2-----------2-0-----------0-0-----------0-2-----------2-------|
A|0---------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------3-----------------------------------|
C G Am
e|--------0-------------3-------------0-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------0---0---------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|--2-----------2-0-----------0-2-----------2-2-----------2-------|
A|3---------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------3-----------------------------------|
Am G Am
e|--------0-------------3-------------0-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------0---0---------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----2-------2-----0-------0-----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|--2-----------2-0-----------0-2-----------2-2-----------2-------|
A|0---------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------3-----------------------------------|
🎤 Lyrics with Chords (All Verses)
Verse 1 (Fingerpicking or light strum)
Last [Am]night as I lay [G]dreaming of pleasant days gone [Am]by,
Me mind being bent on rambling, to [C]Ireland I did [G]fly,
I [Am]stepped on board a vision, and [C]followed with a [G]will,
Till the [Am]first I came to [G]anchor at the cross of Spancil [Am]Hill.
Verse 2
'Twas [Am]on the twenty [G]third of June, the day before the [Am]fair,
When [Am]Ireland's sons and [G]daughters, and friends assembled [Am]there,
The [Am]young, the old, the [G]brave, the bold, their [C]duty to ful[G]fill,
At the [Am]parish church near [G]Clooney, a mile from Spancil [Am]Hill.
Verse 3
I [Am]went to see me [G]neighbours, to see what they might [Am]say,
The [Am]old ones they were [G]dead and gone, the young ones turning [Am]grey,
I [Am]met with tailor [G]Quigley, he’s as [C]bold as ever [G]still,
Sure he [Am]used to make me [G]britches when I lived in Spancil [Am]Hill.
Verse 4
I [Am]paid a flying [G]visit to my first and only [Am]love,
She’s as [Am]fair as any [G]lily, and gentle as a [Am]dove,
She [Am]threw her arms a[G]round me saying, “[C]Johnny, I love ye [G]still,”
She was [Am]Meg, the farmer’s [G]daughter, the pride of Spancil [Am]Hill.
🎵 Performance tips:
For verses 1 & 4, use fingerpicking to evoke nostalgia.
For verses 2 & 3, switch to gentle 6/8 strumming for flow.
Let each verse end with a pause or soft arpeggio before moving to the next.
Tempo: Slow ballad, about 70–80 BPM
Time Signature: 6/8 (like a slow waltz)
🎸 Strumming Pattern (6/8 Feel)
For this song’s lilting rhythm, play softly:
Down – down-up – down – down-up
(Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6)
Let the first “Down” be strong, and let the rhythm sway gently — not percussive, but flowing.
Think of a “ONE-two-three, FOUR-five-six” heartbeat.
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab for the First Verse (A minor)
Use this delicate rolling pattern:
Thumb (Bass) → Index → Middle → Thumb (alt. Bass) → Index → Middle
(Perfect for 6/8 time)
Here’s the tab for the first verse:
Am G Am
e|--------0-------------0-------------3-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1---------0---0---------1---1-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2-----0-------0-----2-------2---------|
D|--2-----------2-0-----------0-0-----------0-2-----------2-------|
A|0---------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------3-----------------------------------|
C G Am
e|--------0-------------3-------------0-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------0---0---------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0-----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|--2-----------2-0-----------0-2-----------2-2-----------2-------|
A|3---------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------3-----------------------------------|
Am G Am
e|--------0-------------3-------------0-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------0---0---------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----2-------2-----0-------0-----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|--2-----------2-0-----------0-2-----------2-2-----------2-------|
A|0---------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------3-----------------------------------|
🎤 Lyrics with Chords (All Verses)
Verse 1 (Fingerpicking or light strum)
Last [Am]night as I lay [G]dreaming of pleasant days gone [Am]by,
Me mind being bent on rambling, to [C]Ireland I did [G]fly,
I [Am]stepped on board a vision, and [C]followed with a [G]will,
Till the [Am]first I came to [G]anchor at the cross of Spancil [Am]Hill.
Verse 2
'Twas [Am]on the twenty [G]third of June, the day before the [Am]fair,
When [Am]Ireland's sons and [G]daughters, and friends assembled [Am]there,
The [Am]young, the old, the [G]brave, the bold, their [C]duty to ful[G]fill,
At the [Am]parish church near [G]Clooney, a mile from Spancil [Am]Hill.
Verse 3
I [Am]went to see me [G]neighbours, to see what they might [Am]say,
The [Am]old ones they were [G]dead and gone, the young ones turning [Am]grey,
I [Am]met with tailor [G]Quigley, he’s as [C]bold as ever [G]still,
Sure he [Am]used to make me [G]britches when I lived in Spancil [Am]Hill.
Verse 4
I [Am]paid a flying [G]visit to my first and only [Am]love,
She’s as [Am]fair as any [G]lily, and gentle as a [Am]dove,
She [Am]threw her arms a[G]round me saying, “[C]Johnny, I love ye [G]still,”
She was [Am]Meg, the farmer’s [G]daughter, the pride of Spancil [Am]Hill.
🎵 Performance tips:
For verses 1 & 4, use fingerpicking to evoke nostalgia.
For verses 2 & 3, switch to gentle 6/8 strumming for flow.
Let each verse end with a pause or soft arpeggio before moving to the next.
🎼 Key: E minor
Tempo: Slow ballad (≈70–80 BPM)
Time Signature: 6/8 (gentle waltz feel)
🎸 Strumming Pattern (6/8 Feel)
Down – down-up – down – down-up
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
Emphasize beats 1 and 4 — let it flow like a heartbeat:
ONE-two-three, FOUR-five-six
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab (for First Verse, in E minor)
Last [Em]night as I lay dreaming of pleasant days gone by,
[Em] | [D] | [Em]
e|--------0-------------|--------2---------------|--------0-------------|
B|------0---0-----------|------3---3-------------|------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0---------|----2-------2-----------|----0-------0---------|
D|----------------------|-0-----------------------|----------------------|
A|----------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|
E|-0--------------------|-------------------------|-0--------------------|
Me mind being bent on rambling, to Ireland I did fly,
[C] | [D] | [Em]
e|--------0-------------|--------2---------------|--------0-------------|
B|------1---1-----------|------3---3-------------|------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0---------|----2-------2-----------|----0-------0---------|
D|-2--------------------|-0-----------------------|----------------------|
A|----------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|
E|----------------------|-------------------------|-0--------------------|
I stepped on board a vision, and followed with a will,
[Em] | [C] | [D]
e|--------0-------------|--------0---------------|--------2-------------|
B|------0---0-----------|------1---1-------------|------3---3-----------|
G|----0-------0---------|----0-------0-----------|----2-------2---------|
D|----------------------|-2-----------------------|-0--------------------|
A|----------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|
E|-0--------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|
Till the first I came to anchor at the cross of Spancil Hill.
[Em] | [D] | [Em]
e|--------0-------------|--------2---------------|--------0-------------|
B|------0---0-----------|------3---3-------------|------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0---------|----2-------2-----------|----0-------0---------|
D|----------------------|-0-----------------------|----------------------|
A|----------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|
E|-0--------------------|-------------------------|-0--------------------|
Last [Em]night as I lay [D]dreaming of pleasant days gone [Em]by,
Me mind being bent on rambling, to [C]Ireland I did [D]fly,
I [Em]stepped on board a vision, and [C]followed with a [D]will,
Till the [Em]first I came to [D]anchor at the cross of Spancil [Em]Hill.
Verse 2
'Twas [Em]on the twenty [D]third of June, the day before the [Em]fair,
When [Em]Ireland's sons and [D]daughters, and friends assembled [Em]there,
The [Em]young, the old, the [D]brave, the bold, their [C]duty to ful[D]fill,
At the [Em]parish church near [D]Clooney, a mile from Spancil [Em]Hill.
Verse 3
I [Em]went to see me [D]neighbours, to see what they might [Em]say,
The [Em]old ones they were [D]dead and gone, the young ones turning [Em]grey,
I [Em]met with tailor [D]Quigley, he’s as [C]bold as ever [D]still,
Sure he [Em]used to make me [D]britches when I lived in Spancil [Em]Hill.
Verse 4
I [Em]paid a flying [D]visit to my first and only [Em]love,
She’s as [Em]fair as any [D]lily, and gentle as a [Em]dove,
She [Em]threw her arms a[D]round me saying, “[C]Johnny, I love ye [D]still,”
She was [Em]Meg, the farmer’s [D]daughter, the pride of Spancil [Em]Hill.
Tempo: Slow ballad (≈70–80 BPM)
Time Signature: 6/8 (gentle waltz feel)
🎸 Strumming Pattern (6/8 Feel)
Down – down-up – down – down-up
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
Emphasize beats 1 and 4 — let it flow like a heartbeat:
ONE-two-three, FOUR-five-six
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab (for First Verse, in E minor)
Last [Em]night as I lay dreaming of pleasant days gone by,
[Em] | [D] | [Em]
e|--------0-------------|--------2---------------|--------0-------------|
B|------0---0-----------|------3---3-------------|------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0---------|----2-------2-----------|----0-------0---------|
D|----------------------|-0-----------------------|----------------------|
A|----------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|
E|-0--------------------|-------------------------|-0--------------------|
Me mind being bent on rambling, to Ireland I did fly,
[C] | [D] | [Em]
e|--------0-------------|--------2---------------|--------0-------------|
B|------1---1-----------|------3---3-------------|------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0---------|----2-------2-----------|----0-------0---------|
D|-2--------------------|-0-----------------------|----------------------|
A|----------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|
E|----------------------|-------------------------|-0--------------------|
I stepped on board a vision, and followed with a will,
[Em] | [C] | [D]
e|--------0-------------|--------0---------------|--------2-------------|
B|------0---0-----------|------1---1-------------|------3---3-----------|
G|----0-------0---------|----0-------0-----------|----2-------2---------|
D|----------------------|-2-----------------------|-0--------------------|
A|----------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|
E|-0--------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|
Till the first I came to anchor at the cross of Spancil Hill.
[Em] | [D] | [Em]
e|--------0-------------|--------2---------------|--------0-------------|
B|------0---0-----------|------3---3-------------|------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0---------|----2-------2-----------|----0-------0---------|
D|----------------------|-0-----------------------|----------------------|
A|----------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|
E|-0--------------------|-------------------------|-0--------------------|
Last [Em]night as I lay [D]dreaming of pleasant days gone [Em]by,
Me mind being bent on rambling, to [C]Ireland I did [D]fly,
I [Em]stepped on board a vision, and [C]followed with a [D]will,
Till the [Em]first I came to [D]anchor at the cross of Spancil [Em]Hill.
Verse 2
'Twas [Em]on the twenty [D]third of June, the day before the [Em]fair,
When [Em]Ireland's sons and [D]daughters, and friends assembled [Em]there,
The [Em]young, the old, the [D]brave, the bold, their [C]duty to ful[D]fill,
At the [Em]parish church near [D]Clooney, a mile from Spancil [Em]Hill.
Verse 3
I [Em]went to see me [D]neighbours, to see what they might [Em]say,
The [Em]old ones they were [D]dead and gone, the young ones turning [Em]grey,
I [Em]met with tailor [D]Quigley, he’s as [C]bold as ever [D]still,
Sure he [Em]used to make me [D]britches when I lived in Spancil [Em]Hill.
Verse 4
I [Em]paid a flying [D]visit to my first and only [Em]love,
She’s as [Em]fair as any [D]lily, and gentle as a [Em]dove,
She [Em]threw her arms a[D]round me saying, “[C]Johnny, I love ye [D]still,”
She was [Em]Meg, the farmer’s [D]daughter, the pride of Spancil [Em]Hill.
Below is the PDF Ebook of folk songs lyrics and chords. The songs are in 3 different keys, There's over 500 songs in the ebook. Most have only 3 easy chords.
Price €8.90 . I'll email the ebook after payment.
Price €8.90 . I'll email the ebook after payment.
| spancil_hill_guitar_tab_with_chords.pdf |
The above pdf tab is for standard tuning guitar.
Spancil hill tenor guitar / mandola tab in CGDA
The Dubliner's version with Jim McCann singing is in
the key of Dm and uses the chords below.
[Dm]Last night as I lay [C]dreaming, of pleasant days gone Dm]by,
Me mind being bent on rambling, to [C]Ireland I did [G]fly.
I [Dm]stepped on board a vision and I [C]followed with the [G]will,
'Til [Dm]next I came to [C]anchor at the Cross of Spancil[Dm]hill.
the key of Dm and uses the chords below.
[Dm]Last night as I lay [C]dreaming, of pleasant days gone Dm]by,
Me mind being bent on rambling, to [C]Ireland I did [G]fly.
I [Dm]stepped on board a vision and I [C]followed with the [G]will,
'Til [Dm]next I came to [C]anchor at the Cross of Spancil[Dm]hill.
Here's the chords as played by Christy Moore with Shane MacGowan. If you don't like playing Bm chords then put a capo on the 2nd fret and play the version above and you'll be in the key of Bm.
Last[Bm] night as I lay[A] dreaming,of pleasant days gone[Bm] by,
Me mind being bent on rambling,to[D] Ireland I did[A] fly,
I[Bm] stepped on board a vision,and[D] followed with a[A] will,
And I shortly[Bm] came to[A] anchor at the cross at Spancil[Bm] Hill,
Spancil Hill Sheet Music And Tin Whistle Notes
Last[Bm] night as I lay[A] dreaming,of pleasant days gone[Bm] by,
Me mind being bent on rambling,to[D] Ireland I did[A] fly,
I[Bm] stepped on board a vision,and[D] followed with a[A] will,
And I shortly[Bm] came to[A] anchor at the cross at Spancil[Bm] Hill,
Spancil Hill Sheet Music And Tin Whistle Notes
Spancil hill fingerstyle guitar tab
