St. Patrick Was A Gentleman Irish Song Lyrics And Chords
Saint Patrick was a gentleman sheet music score included plus the tin whistle notes. Written By Henry Bennett. This dates back to the 1820s and has been covered by most Irish ballad groups. Made famous in Ireland by The Wolfe Tones with Derek Warfield on vocals. and Christy Moore. The sheet music is included. Other well known song about Saint Patrick is the one recorded by The Wolfe Tones.Saint Patrick was a gentleman tenor guitar / mandola tab tuned CGDA.
[Am]Saint Patrick was a[F] gentleman, he[C] came from decent[G] people
He[Am] built a church in[F] Dublin town and[C] on it[G] put a[C] steeple
His[C] father was a[F] Gallagher, his[C] mother was a [G]Grady
His[C] aunt was an O'[F]Shaughnessy and his[C] uncle [G7]was a[C] Brady
(C) Success to bold Saint (F) Paddy's fist
(C) he was a saint so (G) clever
(C) he gave the snakes and (F) toads a twist
(C) and banished (G) them (C) forever.
The Wicklow hills are very high and so's the hill of Howth, sir
But there's a hill much higher still, much higher than them both, sir
From the top of this high hill Saint Patrick preached a sermon
Drove the frogs into the bogs and banished all the vermin
There's not a mile in Eireann's isle where dirty vermin muster
But there he put his dear forefoot and murdered them in clusters
The frogs went plop, the toads went flop, slapdash into the water
The snakes committed suicide to save themselves from slaughter
Nine hundred thousand reptiles blue he charmed with sweet discourses
And dined on them at Killaloe in soups and second courses
Blind worms crawling on the grass disgusted all the nation
Down to hell with a holy spell he changed the situation
No wonder that them Irish lads should be so gay and frisky
Sure Saint Patrick taught them that as well as making whisky
No wonder that the saint himself should understand distilling
His mother had a shebeen shop in the town of Enniskillen
O was I but so fortunate as to be back in Munster
I'd rebound unto that ground and nevermore should want, sir
There Saint Patrick planted corn, cabbages and praties
He had pigs galore, a gra a stor, altar boys and ladies
He[Am] built a church in[F] Dublin town and[C] on it[G] put a[C] steeple
His[C] father was a[F] Gallagher, his[C] mother was a [G]Grady
His[C] aunt was an O'[F]Shaughnessy and his[C] uncle [G7]was a[C] Brady
(C) Success to bold Saint (F) Paddy's fist
(C) he was a saint so (G) clever
(C) he gave the snakes and (F) toads a twist
(C) and banished (G) them (C) forever.
The Wicklow hills are very high and so's the hill of Howth, sir
But there's a hill much higher still, much higher than them both, sir
From the top of this high hill Saint Patrick preached a sermon
Drove the frogs into the bogs and banished all the vermin
There's not a mile in Eireann's isle where dirty vermin muster
But there he put his dear forefoot and murdered them in clusters
The frogs went plop, the toads went flop, slapdash into the water
The snakes committed suicide to save themselves from slaughter
Nine hundred thousand reptiles blue he charmed with sweet discourses
And dined on them at Killaloe in soups and second courses
Blind worms crawling on the grass disgusted all the nation
Down to hell with a holy spell he changed the situation
No wonder that them Irish lads should be so gay and frisky
Sure Saint Patrick taught them that as well as making whisky
No wonder that the saint himself should understand distilling
His mother had a shebeen shop in the town of Enniskillen
O was I but so fortunate as to be back in Munster
I'd rebound unto that ground and nevermore should want, sir
There Saint Patrick planted corn, cabbages and praties
He had pigs galore, a gra a stor, altar boys and ladies
🎶 Full Song with Chords
Verse 1
[Am]Saint Patrick was a [F]gentleman, he [C]came from decent [G]people
He [Am]built a church in [F]Dublin town and [C]on it [G]put a [C]steeple
His [C]father was a [F]Gallagher, his [C]mother was a [G]Grady
His [C]aunt was an O'[F]Shaughnessy and his [C]uncle [G7]was a [C]Brady
Chorus
(C) Success to bold Saint (F) Paddy’s fist
(C) he was a saint so (G) clever
(C) he gave the snakes and (F) toads a twist
(C) and banished (G) them (C) forever
Verse 2
[Am]The Wicklow hills are [F]very high and [C]so’s the hill of [G]Howth, sir
But [Am]there’s a hill much [F]higher still, much [C]higher [G]than them [C]both, sir
From [C]the top of this high [F]hill Saint Patrick [C]preached a holy [G]sermon
And [C]drove the frogs into the [F]bogs and [C]banished [G7]all the [C]vermin
(Chorus)
Verse 3
[Am]There’s not a mile in [F]Eireann’s isle where [C]dirty vermin [G]muster
But [Am]there he put his [F]dear forefoot and [C]murdered [G]them in [C]clusters
The [C]frogs went plop, the [F]toads went flop, [C]slapdash in the [G]water
The [C]snakes committed [F]suicide to [C]save them[G7]selves from [C]slaughter
(Chorus)
Verse 4
[Am]Nine hundred thousand [F]reptiles blue he [C]charmed with sweet dis[G]courses
And [Am]dined on them at [F]Killaloe in [C]soups and [G]second [C]courses
Blind [C]worms crawling [F]on the grass dis[C]gusted all the [G]nation
Down [C]to hell with a [F]holy spell he [C]changed the [G7]situation
(Chorus)
Verse 5
[Am]No wonder that them [F]Irish lads should [C]be so gay and [G]frisky
Sure [Am]Saint Patrick [F]taught them that as [C]well as [G]making [C]whisky
No [C]wonder that the [F]saint himself should [C]understand dis[G]tilling
His [C]mother had a [F]shebeen shop in [C]the town of [G7]Enniskillen
(Chorus)
Verse 6
[Am]O was I but so [F]fortunate as [C]to be back in [G]Munster
I’d [Am]rebound unto [F]that ground and [C]never[G]more should [C]want, sir
There [C]Saint Patrick [F]planted corn, [C]cabbages and [G]praties
He [C]had pigs galore, a [F]gra a stor, [C]altar boys [G7]and [C]ladies
(Chorus)
🎸 Strumming Pattern
Time Signature: 4/4
Suggested Tempo: ~100 BPM (lilting Irish ballad feel)
Pattern (Down = ↓, Up = ↑):
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
This is a classic folk strum — steady but lilting.
Keep the bass note (lowest string of the chord) slightly accented on beat 1.
Works well with a light bounce between verses and chorus.
🪕 Fingerpicking Tab (First Verse Example)
Key: C major / A minor
Use Travis picking style (Thumb alternates bass, fingers pluck melody).
Saint Patrick was a gentleman, he came from decent people
Am F C G
e|--------0---------0-|--------1---------1-|--------0---------0-|--------3---------3-|
B|------1---1-----1---|------1---1-----1---|------1---1-----1---|------0---0-----0---|
G|----2-------2-2-----|----2-------2-2-----|----0-------0-0-----|----0-------0-0-----|
D|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
A|--0-----------------|--3-----------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|
E|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|
He built a church in Dublin town and on it put a steeple
Am F C G C
e|--------0---------0-|--------1---------1-|--------0---------0-|--------3---------3-|--------0----|
B|------1---1-----1---|------1---1-----1---|------1---1-----1---|------0---0-----0---|------1---1--|
G|----2-------2-2-----|----2-------2-2-----|----0-------0-0-----|----0-------0-0-----|----0-------0|
A|--0-----------------|--3-----------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|--3----------|
E|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|-------------|
💡 Play lightly and let the bass alternate between root and fifth for that Irish lilt.
Verse 1
[Am]Saint Patrick was a [F]gentleman, he [C]came from decent [G]people
He [Am]built a church in [F]Dublin town and [C]on it [G]put a [C]steeple
His [C]father was a [F]Gallagher, his [C]mother was a [G]Grady
His [C]aunt was an O'[F]Shaughnessy and his [C]uncle [G7]was a [C]Brady
Chorus
(C) Success to bold Saint (F) Paddy’s fist
(C) he was a saint so (G) clever
(C) he gave the snakes and (F) toads a twist
(C) and banished (G) them (C) forever
Verse 2
[Am]The Wicklow hills are [F]very high and [C]so’s the hill of [G]Howth, sir
But [Am]there’s a hill much [F]higher still, much [C]higher [G]than them [C]both, sir
From [C]the top of this high [F]hill Saint Patrick [C]preached a holy [G]sermon
And [C]drove the frogs into the [F]bogs and [C]banished [G7]all the [C]vermin
(Chorus)
Verse 3
[Am]There’s not a mile in [F]Eireann’s isle where [C]dirty vermin [G]muster
But [Am]there he put his [F]dear forefoot and [C]murdered [G]them in [C]clusters
The [C]frogs went plop, the [F]toads went flop, [C]slapdash in the [G]water
The [C]snakes committed [F]suicide to [C]save them[G7]selves from [C]slaughter
(Chorus)
Verse 4
[Am]Nine hundred thousand [F]reptiles blue he [C]charmed with sweet dis[G]courses
And [Am]dined on them at [F]Killaloe in [C]soups and [G]second [C]courses
Blind [C]worms crawling [F]on the grass dis[C]gusted all the [G]nation
Down [C]to hell with a [F]holy spell he [C]changed the [G7]situation
(Chorus)
Verse 5
[Am]No wonder that them [F]Irish lads should [C]be so gay and [G]frisky
Sure [Am]Saint Patrick [F]taught them that as [C]well as [G]making [C]whisky
No [C]wonder that the [F]saint himself should [C]understand dis[G]tilling
His [C]mother had a [F]shebeen shop in [C]the town of [G7]Enniskillen
(Chorus)
Verse 6
[Am]O was I but so [F]fortunate as [C]to be back in [G]Munster
I’d [Am]rebound unto [F]that ground and [C]never[G]more should [C]want, sir
There [C]Saint Patrick [F]planted corn, [C]cabbages and [G]praties
He [C]had pigs galore, a [F]gra a stor, [C]altar boys [G7]and [C]ladies
(Chorus)
🎸 Strumming Pattern
Time Signature: 4/4
Suggested Tempo: ~100 BPM (lilting Irish ballad feel)
Pattern (Down = ↓, Up = ↑):
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
This is a classic folk strum — steady but lilting.
Keep the bass note (lowest string of the chord) slightly accented on beat 1.
Works well with a light bounce between verses and chorus.
🪕 Fingerpicking Tab (First Verse Example)
Key: C major / A minor
Use Travis picking style (Thumb alternates bass, fingers pluck melody).
Saint Patrick was a gentleman, he came from decent people
Am F C G
e|--------0---------0-|--------1---------1-|--------0---------0-|--------3---------3-|
B|------1---1-----1---|------1---1-----1---|------1---1-----1---|------0---0-----0---|
G|----2-------2-2-----|----2-------2-2-----|----0-------0-0-----|----0-------0-0-----|
D|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
A|--0-----------------|--3-----------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|
E|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|
He built a church in Dublin town and on it put a steeple
Am F C G C
e|--------0---------0-|--------1---------1-|--------0---------0-|--------3---------3-|--------0----|
B|------1---1-----1---|------1---1-----1---|------1---1-----1---|------0---0-----0---|------1---1--|
G|----2-------2-2-----|----2-------2-2-----|----0-------0-0-----|----0-------0-0-----|----0-------0|
A|--0-----------------|--3-----------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|--3----------|
E|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|-------------|
💡 Play lightly and let the bass alternate between root and fifth for that Irish lilt.
Full Song with Chords (Key: E Minor)
Verse 1
[Em]Saint Patrick was a [C]gentleman, he [G]came from decent [D]people
He [Em]built a church in [C]Dublin town and [G]on it [D]put a [G]steeple
His [G]father was a [C]Gallagher, his [G]mother was a [D]Grady
His [G]aunt was an O'[C]Shaughnessy and his [G]uncle [D7]was a [G]Brady
Chorus
(G) Success to bold Saint (C) Paddy’s fist
(G) he was a saint so (D) clever
(G) he gave the snakes and (C) toads a twist
(G) and banished (D) them (G) forever
Verse 2
[Em]The Wicklow hills are [C]very high and [G]so’s the hill of [D]Howth, sir
But [Em]there’s a hill much [C]higher still, much [G]higher [D]than them [G]both, sir
From [G]the top of this high [C]hill Saint Patrick [G]preached a holy [D]sermon
And [G]drove the frogs into the [C]bogs and [G]banished [D7]all the [G]vermin
(Chorus)
Verse 3
[Em]There’s not a mile in [C]Eireann’s isle where [G]dirty vermin [D]muster
But [Em]there he put his [C]dear forefoot and [G]murdered [D]them in [G]clusters
The [G]frogs went plop, the [C]toads went flop, [G]slapdash in the [D]water
The [G]snakes committed [C]suicide to [G]save them[D7]selves from [G]slaughter
(Chorus)
Verse 4
[Em]Nine hundred thousand [C]reptiles blue he [G]charmed with sweet dis[D]courses
And [Em]dined on them at [C]Killaloe in [G]soups and [D]second [G]courses
Blind [G]worms crawling [C]on the grass dis[G]gusted all the [D]nation
Down [G]to hell with a [C]holy spell he [G]changed the [D7]situation
(Chorus)
Verse 5
[Em]No wonder that them [C]Irish lads should [G]be so gay and [D]frisky
Sure [Em]Saint Patrick [C]taught them that as [G]well as [D]making [G]whisky
No [G]wonder that the [C]saint himself should [G]understand dis[D]tilling
His [G]mother had a [C]shebeen shop in [G]the town of [D7]Enniskillen
(Chorus)
Verse 6
[Em]O was I but so [C]fortunate as [G]to be back in [D]Munster
I’d [Em]rebound unto [C]that ground and [G]never[D]more should [G]want, sir
There [G]Saint Patrick [C]planted corn, [G]cabbages and [D]praties
He [G]had pigs galore, a [C]gra a stor, [G]altar boys [D7]and [G]ladies
(Chorus)
🎸 Strumming Pattern
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: ~100 BPM
Pattern:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
On beats 1 and 3, lightly emphasize the bass note (E, G, or D strings).
Keep a bouncy folk feel with palm-muting on downstrokes if desired.
🎵 Fingerpicking Tab (1st Verse – E Minor Version)
Travis-style alternating bass pattern.
Saint Patrick was a gentleman, he came from decent people
Em C G D
e|--------0---------0-|--------0---------0-|--------3---------3-|--------2---------2-|
B|------0---0-----0---|------1---1-----1---|------0---0-----0---|------3---3-----3---|
G|----0-------0-0-----|----0-------0-0-----|----0-------0-0-----|----2-------2-2-----|
D|--2-----------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|--0-----------------|
A|--------------------|--3-----------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|
E|--0-----------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|
He built a church in Dublin town and on it put a steeple
Em C G D G
e|--------0---------0-|--------0---------0-|--------3---------3-|--------2---------2-|--------3----|
B|------0---0-----0---|------1---1-----1---|------0---0-----0---|------3---3-----3---|------0---0--|
G|----0-------0-0-----|----0-------0-0-----|----0-------0-0-----|----2-------2-2-----|----0-------0|
D|--2-----------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|--0-----------------|--0----------|
A|--------------------|--3-----------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|-------------|
E|--0-----------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|-------------|
💡 Let your thumb alternate between the root and fifth (e.g., E–B, C–G, G–D) for a rhythmic “Irish lilt.”
Verse 1
[Em]Saint Patrick was a [C]gentleman, he [G]came from decent [D]people
He [Em]built a church in [C]Dublin town and [G]on it [D]put a [G]steeple
His [G]father was a [C]Gallagher, his [G]mother was a [D]Grady
His [G]aunt was an O'[C]Shaughnessy and his [G]uncle [D7]was a [G]Brady
Chorus
(G) Success to bold Saint (C) Paddy’s fist
(G) he was a saint so (D) clever
(G) he gave the snakes and (C) toads a twist
(G) and banished (D) them (G) forever
Verse 2
[Em]The Wicklow hills are [C]very high and [G]so’s the hill of [D]Howth, sir
But [Em]there’s a hill much [C]higher still, much [G]higher [D]than them [G]both, sir
From [G]the top of this high [C]hill Saint Patrick [G]preached a holy [D]sermon
And [G]drove the frogs into the [C]bogs and [G]banished [D7]all the [G]vermin
(Chorus)
Verse 3
[Em]There’s not a mile in [C]Eireann’s isle where [G]dirty vermin [D]muster
But [Em]there he put his [C]dear forefoot and [G]murdered [D]them in [G]clusters
The [G]frogs went plop, the [C]toads went flop, [G]slapdash in the [D]water
The [G]snakes committed [C]suicide to [G]save them[D7]selves from [G]slaughter
(Chorus)
Verse 4
[Em]Nine hundred thousand [C]reptiles blue he [G]charmed with sweet dis[D]courses
And [Em]dined on them at [C]Killaloe in [G]soups and [D]second [G]courses
Blind [G]worms crawling [C]on the grass dis[G]gusted all the [D]nation
Down [G]to hell with a [C]holy spell he [G]changed the [D7]situation
(Chorus)
Verse 5
[Em]No wonder that them [C]Irish lads should [G]be so gay and [D]frisky
Sure [Em]Saint Patrick [C]taught them that as [G]well as [D]making [G]whisky
No [G]wonder that the [C]saint himself should [G]understand dis[D]tilling
His [G]mother had a [C]shebeen shop in [G]the town of [D7]Enniskillen
(Chorus)
Verse 6
[Em]O was I but so [C]fortunate as [G]to be back in [D]Munster
I’d [Em]rebound unto [C]that ground and [G]never[D]more should [G]want, sir
There [G]Saint Patrick [C]planted corn, [G]cabbages and [D]praties
He [G]had pigs galore, a [C]gra a stor, [G]altar boys [D7]and [G]ladies
(Chorus)
🎸 Strumming Pattern
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: ~100 BPM
Pattern:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
On beats 1 and 3, lightly emphasize the bass note (E, G, or D strings).
Keep a bouncy folk feel with palm-muting on downstrokes if desired.
🎵 Fingerpicking Tab (1st Verse – E Minor Version)
Travis-style alternating bass pattern.
Saint Patrick was a gentleman, he came from decent people
Em C G D
e|--------0---------0-|--------0---------0-|--------3---------3-|--------2---------2-|
B|------0---0-----0---|------1---1-----1---|------0---0-----0---|------3---3-----3---|
G|----0-------0-0-----|----0-------0-0-----|----0-------0-0-----|----2-------2-2-----|
D|--2-----------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|--0-----------------|
A|--------------------|--3-----------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|
E|--0-----------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|
He built a church in Dublin town and on it put a steeple
Em C G D G
e|--------0---------0-|--------0---------0-|--------3---------3-|--------2---------2-|--------3----|
B|------0---0-----0---|------1---1-----1---|------0---0-----0---|------3---3-----3---|------0---0--|
G|----0-------0-0-----|----0-------0-0-----|----0-------0-0-----|----2-------2-2-----|----0-------0|
D|--2-----------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|--0-----------------|--0----------|
A|--------------------|--3-----------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|-------------|
E|--0-----------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|-------------|
💡 Let your thumb alternate between the root and fifth (e.g., E–B, C–G, G–D) for a rhythmic “Irish lilt.”
Saint Patrick was a gentleman tenor guitar / mandola tab, tuned CGDA
Saint Patrick was a gentleman sheet music score
One of the most merciful gifts God can give us is a deep, keen awareness of our dependence on him for everything.
Living the Christian life relies on our full dependence upon the grace of God we receive through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said it this way:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
Every professing Christian agrees we must abide in Christ. But our agreement is only important to the degree we feel it to be true. The less we feel our need for Christ, the less we will abide in him.
John Bloom
http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/lord-help-me-feel-my-need-for-you.
Return to The Wolfe Tones song lyrics
Living the Christian life relies on our full dependence upon the grace of God we receive through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said it this way:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
Every professing Christian agrees we must abide in Christ. But our agreement is only important to the degree we feel it to be true. The less we feel our need for Christ, the less we will abide in him.
John Bloom
http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/lord-help-me-feel-my-need-for-you.
Return to The Wolfe Tones song lyrics
Saint Patrick was a gentleman tin whistle notes
Saint Patrick was a gentleman song
