Steal Away Lyrics And Chords By The Fureys And Davie Arthur
An Irish folk song which was a hit for The Furey Brothers And Davie Arthur [ song lyrics ] who are the group in the youtube video, and written by Phil Coulter. Brilliant song. Also sang by Celtic Thunder and Irish singer Tommy Flemming. This song is about a couple who decide they had enough of the troubles in Northern Ireland and decide to leave and make a new life for themselves. I never knew it would be one of The Fureys biggest hit songs on Youtube, as of May 2015 it has received over 469,000 views.
[Chorus]
Steal away lets steal away no reason left to stay
For me and you lets start a new and darling steal away
[1]
Lets steal away and chase our dreams and hope they never find us
The dreamy days the empty nights we'll leave them all behind us
[2]
We'll leave behind the city streets the gloom and desolation
The rain the cold just growing old God knows its a hard ould station
[3]
We'll leave behind our memories and make a new beginning
We have to choose to win or loose and it's time we started winning.
Steal away lets steal away no reason left to stay
For me and you lets start a new and darling steal away
[1]
Lets steal away and chase our dreams and hope they never find us
The dreamy days the empty nights we'll leave them all behind us
[2]
We'll leave behind the city streets the gloom and desolation
The rain the cold just growing old God knows its a hard ould station
[3]
We'll leave behind our memories and make a new beginning
We have to choose to win or loose and it's time we started winning.
A woman playing Steal Away on the guitar
Key of D
Steal[D] a[A]way lets steal a[D]way no[G] reason[Em] left to[A] stay
For[D] me and[A] you lets[E7] start a[D] new and[G] darling[A] steal a[D]way
Lets steal a[A]way and chase our [D]dreams and [G]hope they [Em]never [A]find us
The [D]dreamy [A]days the empty [D]nights we'll [G]leave them [A]all be[D]hind us
Repeat chorus
[D]We'll leave be[A]hind the city [D]streets the [G]gloom and [Em]deso[A]lation
The [D]rain the [A]cold just growing [D]old [G]God knows its a [A]hard ould [D]station
Instrumental break chords
[D]We'll leave with [A]just our memor[D]ies and [G]make a [Em]new be[A]ginning
We [D]have to [A]choose to win or [D]loose and it's [G]time we [A]started [D]w
Steal[D] a[A]way lets steal a[D]way no[G] reason[Em] left to[A] stay
For[D] me and[A] you lets[E7] start a[D] new and[G] darling[A] steal a[D]way
Lets steal a[A]way and chase our [D]dreams and [G]hope they [Em]never [A]find us
The [D]dreamy [A]days the empty [D]nights we'll [G]leave them [A]all be[D]hind us
Repeat chorus
[D]We'll leave be[A]hind the city [D]streets the [G]gloom and [Em]deso[A]lation
The [D]rain the [A]cold just growing [D]old [G]God knows its a [A]hard ould [D]station
Instrumental break chords
[D]We'll leave with [A]just our memor[D]ies and [G]make a [Em]new be[A]ginning
We [D]have to [A]choose to win or [D]loose and it's [G]time we [A]started [D]w
Here are the chords as played by The Fureys And Davie Arthur
Intro chord is G
Steal[G] a[D]way lets steal a[G]way no[C] reason[Am] left to[D] stay
For[G] me and[D] you lets[A7] start a[G] new and[C] darling[D] steal a[G]way
[1]
Lets steal a[D]way and chase our [G]dreams and [C]hope they [Am]never [D]find us
The [G]dreamy [D]days the empty [G]nights we'll [C]leave them [D]all be[G]hind us
[2]
Repeat chorus
[G]We'll leave be[D]hind the city [G]streets the [C]gloom and [Am]deso[D]lation
The [G]rain the [D]cold just growing [G]old [C]God knows its a [D]hard ould [G]station
Instrumental break chords
G D G C Am D G DD G C D G
[3]
[G]We'll leave with [D]just our memor[G]ies and [C]make a [Am]new be[D]ginning
We [G]have to [D]choose to win or [G]loose and it's [C]time we [D]started [G]w
Intro chord is G
Steal[G] a[D]way lets steal a[G]way no[C] reason[Am] left to[D] stay
For[G] me and[D] you lets[A7] start a[G] new and[C] darling[D] steal a[G]way
[1]
Lets steal a[D]way and chase our [G]dreams and [C]hope they [Am]never [D]find us
The [G]dreamy [D]days the empty [G]nights we'll [C]leave them [D]all be[G]hind us
[2]
Repeat chorus
[G]We'll leave be[D]hind the city [G]streets the [C]gloom and [Am]deso[D]lation
The [G]rain the [D]cold just growing [G]old [C]God knows its a [D]hard ould [G]station
Instrumental break chords
G D G C Am D G DD G C D G
[3]
[G]We'll leave with [D]just our memor[G]ies and [C]make a [Am]new be[D]ginning
We [G]have to [D]choose to win or [G]loose and it's [C]time we [D]started [G]w
Chorus
Steal [G] away let’s steal a [D] way no [G] reason [C] left to [Am] stay [D]
For [G] me and [D] you let’s [A7] start a [G] new and [C] darling [D] steal a [G] way
Verse 1
Let’s [G] steal a [D] way and chase our [G] dreams and [C] hope they [Am] never [D] find us
The [G] dreamy [D] days the empty [G] nights we’ll [C] leave them [D] all be [G] hind us
🎸 Suggested Strumming Pattern
A gentle folk/country rhythm that fits this song’s style:
Strumming Pattern (4/4 time):
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
(or verbally: Down, Down-Up, Up-Down-Up)
You can lightly accent the first downstroke of each bar for that rolling Irish-folk feel.
🪶 Fingerpicking Pattern (for Verse & Chorus)
Here’s a simple Travis-style picking pattern (great for 4/4 time).
Use this through the verse and chorus if you want a gentle fingerstyle feel.
Picking pattern (for each chord):
Bass (thumb) alternates root–fifth:
T i m i T i m i
|----------------------|
For example:
G chord
e|-----------3-----------3-|
B|-------0-----------0-----|
G|-----0-----------0-------|
D|--------------------------|
A|-----------2--------------|
E|-3---------------3--------|
D chord
e|-----------2-----------2-|
B|-------3-----------3-----|
G|-----2-----------2-------|
D|-0---------------0--------|
A|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|
C chord
e|-----------0-----------0-|
B|-------1-----------1-----|
G|-----0-----------0-------|
D|-2---------------2--------|
A|-----------3--------------|
E|--------------------------|
Am chord
e|-----------0-----------0-|
B|-------1-----------1-----|
G|-----2-----------2-------|
D|-2---------------2--------|
A|-----------0--------------|
E|--------------------------|
A7 chord
e|-----------0-----------0-|
B|-------2-----------2-----|
G|-----0-----------0-------|
D|-2---------------2--------|
A|-----------0--------------|
E|--------------------------|
Steal [G] away let’s steal a [D] way no [G] reason [C] left to [Am] stay [D]
For [G] me and [D] you let’s [A7] start a [G] new and [C] darling [D] steal a [G] way
Verse 1
Let’s [G] steal a [D] way and chase our [G] dreams and [C] hope they [Am] never [D] find us
The [G] dreamy [D] days the empty [G] nights we’ll [C] leave them [D] all be [G] hind us
🎸 Suggested Strumming Pattern
A gentle folk/country rhythm that fits this song’s style:
Strumming Pattern (4/4 time):
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
(or verbally: Down, Down-Up, Up-Down-Up)
You can lightly accent the first downstroke of each bar for that rolling Irish-folk feel.
🪶 Fingerpicking Pattern (for Verse & Chorus)
Here’s a simple Travis-style picking pattern (great for 4/4 time).
Use this through the verse and chorus if you want a gentle fingerstyle feel.
Picking pattern (for each chord):
Bass (thumb) alternates root–fifth:
T i m i T i m i
|----------------------|
For example:
G chord
e|-----------3-----------3-|
B|-------0-----------0-----|
G|-----0-----------0-------|
D|--------------------------|
A|-----------2--------------|
E|-3---------------3--------|
D chord
e|-----------2-----------2-|
B|-------3-----------3-----|
G|-----2-----------2-------|
D|-0---------------0--------|
A|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|
C chord
e|-----------0-----------0-|
B|-------1-----------1-----|
G|-----0-----------0-------|
D|-2---------------2--------|
A|-----------3--------------|
E|--------------------------|
Am chord
e|-----------0-----------0-|
B|-------1-----------1-----|
G|-----2-----------2-------|
D|-2---------------2--------|
A|-----------0--------------|
E|--------------------------|
A7 chord
e|-----------0-----------0-|
B|-------2-----------2-----|
G|-----0-----------0-------|
D|-2---------------2--------|
A|-----------0--------------|
E|--------------------------|
Below is the ebook list of Irish Folk Songs with guitar chords
in 3 keys. Price €8.90 and I'll email the ebook after purchase .
The chords are suited to ukulele, banjo or mandolin also.
Martin
in 3 keys. Price €8.90 and I'll email the ebook after purchase .
The chords are suited to ukulele, banjo or mandolin also.
Martin
“Steal Away” — An Irish Folk Song of Love, Loss & Leaving
Overview
“Steal Away” is a modern Irish folk ballad written by Phil Coulter, one of Ireland’s most respected songwriters and composers. Although it sounds like a traditional Irish song — gentle, lyrical, and steeped in emotion — it’s actually a contemporary composition from the late 20th century.
The song was first made famous by The Fureys & Davey Arthur, and later covered by many Irish artists including Celtic Thunder, The High Kings, and Phil Coulter himself.
It captures one of the most timeless Irish themes: emigration — the pain of leaving home and loved ones in search of a better life.
Historical & Cultural Context
While “Steal Away” is not an old traditional ballad (like “The Parting Glass” or “Spancil Hill”), it draws directly from Ireland’s centuries-old tradition of emigration songs.
From the Great Famine of the 1840s to the waves of 20th-century migration, Irish men and women have often had to leave their homeland to find work abroad — in Britain, America, Australia, or beyond.
The song gives voice to this deeply Irish experience: leaving the familiar fields and faces behind, often quietly and painfully, “stealing away” in the night.
It’s about goodbye without fanfare, the loneliness of parting, and the courage to go — all wrapped in Coulter’s delicate melody and poetic simplicity.
Musical Characteristics
Time signature: 3/4 (waltz-like rhythm)
Key: Usually in D major or G major for easy accompaniment
Tempo: Slow, reflective (around 70–80 bpm)
Mood: Gentle, melancholic, yet hopeful
Form: Verse–chorus ballad
Instrumentation: Commonly piano, guitar, fiddle, low whistle, or string arrangement
Coulter’s original arrangement, with its soft orchestration and soothing melody, adds a hymn-like quality. Folk performers often strip it back to simple guitar or piano accompaniment, making it feel even more personal.
💚 Themes
“Steal Away” touches on timeless Irish themes:
Emigration & Departure – Leaving home for better prospects, quietly and without drama.
Resilience & Renewal – The hope of beginning again somewhere new.
Love & Companionship – Facing change together, not alone.
Silence & Dignity – The understated way many Irish emigrants faced farewell — with quiet strength rather than loud lament.
It’s often sung at farewell gatherings, funerals, and reflective folk concerts, precisely because of its calm grace.
🎤 Notable Recordings
The Fureys & Davey Arthur – Perhaps the most famous version; soft guitars and emotive vocals made it a folk classic.
Phil Coulter – His own orchestral rendition is hauntingly beautiful and deeply personal.
Foster & Allen – Their version gave the song a country-tinged, romantic warmth.
Celtic Thunder – A powerful choral version with rich harmonies, popular among international audiences.
Nathan Carter – A modern interpretation that brings it to a younger audience while keeping its emotional depth.
🌍 Cultural Significance
Though it’s a modern composition, Steal Away has been fully absorbed into the Irish folk tradition, sung at sessions and by emigrant communities around the world.
Its universal message — leaving behind hardship in search of peace — resonates with people far beyond Ireland.
It’s a bridge between traditional Irish sentiment and contemporary songwriting, proving that modern songs can stand alongside centuries-old ballads in emotional power.
✍️ Fun Fact
Phil Coulter has said that Steal Away was inspired by the quiet strength of ordinary Irish people facing change — not with rebellion or drama, but with courage and quiet hope.
That emotional restraint, he said, “is what makes it more Irish than anything else — it’s the heartbreak we don’t shout about.”
💭 Final Thoughts
“Steal Away” is one of Ireland’s most touching modern folk songs — a song of quiet departure, hope, and emotional truth.
It embodies the gentle melancholy that defines much of Irish music: a sadness that’s not despairing, but tender and deeply human.
