The Bold Fenian Men lyrics and guitar chords
Written by Michael Scanlon. This is the real ''Bold Fenian Men'' song, the other song ''Down By The Glenside'' by Peadar Kearney is often mistitled. Recorded by The Wolfe Tones, The Go Lucky Four on the album ''Irish Capers'' in 1967. Paddy Reilly and by The Merry Ploughboys. The video is by The Dublin City Ramblers [ lyrics ]. The guitar chords can be used to play the song on the mandolin. The ukulele chord shapes are included plus the tenor guitar / mandola tab. The bold Fenian men guitar tab now added.
[G] See who comes over the [D] red blossomed heather,
Their [G] green banners [D] kissing the [G] pure mountain [D] air,
Heads [G] erect, eyes front, stepping [D] proudly together,
Sure [G] freedom sits [D] throned on each [D] proud [D] spirit [G] there,
Down the hill twining, their [Em] blessed steel [G] shining,
Like [Bm] rivers of [G] beauty that [A7] flow from each [D] glen,
From [G] mountain and [Em] valley 'tis [Am] Liberty's [D7] rally -
[G] Out and make [Bm] way for the [C] Bold [D] Fenian [G] Men!
Our prayers and our tears they have scoffed and derided,
They've shut out God's sunlight from spirit and mind
Our foes were united and we were divided,
We met and they scattered our ranks to the wind
But once more returning, within our veins burning
The fires that illuminated dark Aherlow glen
We raise the old cry anew, slogan of Conn and Hugh,
Out and make way for the bold Fenian Men.
We've men from the Nore, from the Suir and Shannon,
Let the tyrant come forth, we'll bring force against force
Our pen is the sword and our voice is the cannon,
Rifle for rifle and horse against horse
We've made the false Saxon yield many a red battlefield
God on our side, we will triumph again -
Pay them back woe for woe, give them back blow for blow
Out and make way for the bold Fenian Men!
Side by side for the cause have our forefathers battled,
When our hills never echoed the tread of a slave,
In many a field where the leaden hail rattled,
Through the red gap of glory they marched to their grave,
And those who inherit their name and their spirit,
Will march 'neath the banners of liberty then:
All who love foreign law - native or Sassanach -
Must out and make way for the bold Fenian Men.
Their [G] green banners [D] kissing the [G] pure mountain [D] air,
Heads [G] erect, eyes front, stepping [D] proudly together,
Sure [G] freedom sits [D] throned on each [D] proud [D] spirit [G] there,
Down the hill twining, their [Em] blessed steel [G] shining,
Like [Bm] rivers of [G] beauty that [A7] flow from each [D] glen,
From [G] mountain and [Em] valley 'tis [Am] Liberty's [D7] rally -
[G] Out and make [Bm] way for the [C] Bold [D] Fenian [G] Men!
Our prayers and our tears they have scoffed and derided,
They've shut out God's sunlight from spirit and mind
Our foes were united and we were divided,
We met and they scattered our ranks to the wind
But once more returning, within our veins burning
The fires that illuminated dark Aherlow glen
We raise the old cry anew, slogan of Conn and Hugh,
Out and make way for the bold Fenian Men.
We've men from the Nore, from the Suir and Shannon,
Let the tyrant come forth, we'll bring force against force
Our pen is the sword and our voice is the cannon,
Rifle for rifle and horse against horse
We've made the false Saxon yield many a red battlefield
God on our side, we will triumph again -
Pay them back woe for woe, give them back blow for blow
Out and make way for the bold Fenian Men!
Side by side for the cause have our forefathers battled,
When our hills never echoed the tread of a slave,
In many a field where the leaden hail rattled,
Through the red gap of glory they marched to their grave,
And those who inherit their name and their spirit,
Will march 'neath the banners of liberty then:
All who love foreign law - native or Sassanach -
Must out and make way for the bold Fenian Men.
Guitar chords to all the verses.
[Verse 1]
[G]See who comes over the [D]red-blossomed heather,
Their [G]green banners [D]kissing the [G]pure mountain [D]air,
Heads [G]erect, eyes front, stepping [D]proudly together,
Sure [G]freedom sits [D]throned on each [D]proud spirit [G]there.
Down the hill twining, their [Em]blessed steel [G]shining,
Like [Bm]rivers of [G]beauty that [A7]flow from each [D]glen,
From [G]mountain and [Em]valley, ’tis [Am]Liberty’s [D7]rally --
[G]Out and make [Bm]way for the [C]Bold [D]Fenian [G]Men!
[Verse 2]
[G]Our prayers and our tears they have [D]scoffed and derided,
They've [G]shut out God's [D]sunlight from [G]spirit and [D]mind;
Our [G]foes were united and [D]we were divided,
We [G]met and they [D]scattered our [D]ranks to the [G]wind.
But once more returning, within [Em]our veins [G]burning,
The [Bm]fires that [G]illuminate [A7]dark Aherlow [D]glen,
We [G]raise the old [Em]cry anew, [Am]slogan of [D7]Conn and Hugh --
[G]Out and make [Bm]way for the [C]Bold [D]Fenian [G]Men!
[Verse 3]
[G]We’ve men from the Nore, from the [D]Suir and the Shannon,
Let the [G]tyrant come [D]forth, we’ll bring [G]force against [D]force;
Our [G]pen is the sword and our [D]voice is the cannon,
[Rifle for [G]rifle and [D]horse against [D]horse.]
We’ve [G]made the false Saxon yield [Em]many a red [G]battlefield,
With [Bm]God on our [G]side we will [A7]triumph a[D]gain --
Pay [G]them back woe for woe, [Em]give them [Am]back blow for [D7]blow,
[G]Out and make [Bm]way for the [C]Bold [D]Fenian [G]Men!
[Verse 4]
[G]Side by side for the [D]cause have they battled,
When our [G]hills never [D]echoed the [G]tread of a [D]slave;
In [G]many a field where the [D]leaden hail rattled,
Through the [G]red gap of [D]glory they [D]marched to the [G]grave.
And those who inherit their [Em]name and their [G]spirit,
Will [Bm]march ’neath the [G]banners of [A7]liberty [D]then;
All [G]who love foreign law — [Em]native or [Am]Sassanach --
[G]Out and make [Bm]way for the [C]Bold [D]Fenian [G]Men!
[Verse 1]
[G]See who comes over the [D]red-blossomed heather,
Their [G]green banners [D]kissing the [G]pure mountain [D]air,
Heads [G]erect, eyes front, stepping [D]proudly together,
Sure [G]freedom sits [D]throned on each [D]proud spirit [G]there.
Down the hill twining, their [Em]blessed steel [G]shining,
Like [Bm]rivers of [G]beauty that [A7]flow from each [D]glen,
From [G]mountain and [Em]valley, ’tis [Am]Liberty’s [D7]rally --
[G]Out and make [Bm]way for the [C]Bold [D]Fenian [G]Men!
[Verse 2]
[G]Our prayers and our tears they have [D]scoffed and derided,
They've [G]shut out God's [D]sunlight from [G]spirit and [D]mind;
Our [G]foes were united and [D]we were divided,
We [G]met and they [D]scattered our [D]ranks to the [G]wind.
But once more returning, within [Em]our veins [G]burning,
The [Bm]fires that [G]illuminate [A7]dark Aherlow [D]glen,
We [G]raise the old [Em]cry anew, [Am]slogan of [D7]Conn and Hugh --
[G]Out and make [Bm]way for the [C]Bold [D]Fenian [G]Men!
[Verse 3]
[G]We’ve men from the Nore, from the [D]Suir and the Shannon,
Let the [G]tyrant come [D]forth, we’ll bring [G]force against [D]force;
Our [G]pen is the sword and our [D]voice is the cannon,
[Rifle for [G]rifle and [D]horse against [D]horse.]
We’ve [G]made the false Saxon yield [Em]many a red [G]battlefield,
With [Bm]God on our [G]side we will [A7]triumph a[D]gain --
Pay [G]them back woe for woe, [Em]give them [Am]back blow for [D7]blow,
[G]Out and make [Bm]way for the [C]Bold [D]Fenian [G]Men!
[Verse 4]
[G]Side by side for the [D]cause have they battled,
When our [G]hills never [D]echoed the [G]tread of a [D]slave;
In [G]many a field where the [D]leaden hail rattled,
Through the [G]red gap of [D]glory they [D]marched to the [G]grave.
And those who inherit their [Em]name and their [G]spirit,
Will [Bm]march ’neath the [G]banners of [A7]liberty [D]then;
All [G]who love foreign law — [Em]native or [Am]Sassanach --
[G]Out and make [Bm]way for the [C]Bold [D]Fenian [G]Men!
✅ A natural strumming pattern (fits the march-like 4/4 rhythm),
🎶 A fingerpicking tab for the first verse and chorus, keeping that noble, rolling feel of the melody.
🎵 The Bold Fenian Men
Key: G Major
Time: 4/4
Tempo: ♩ = 90–95 bpm (steady march tempo)
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Irish March Feel)
Pattern:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Count:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Feel:
Downstrokes (↓) on beats 1 and 3 give it a proud, marching drive.
Keep the rhythm tight but ringing — like a slow rebel march.
Optionally, palm mute slightly on verses, open up on the chorus for power.
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab – First Verse & Chorus
Gentle Travis-style pattern alternating bass and melody notes.
Let chords ring out — this song carries pride and dignity, so play it with weight.
Verse 1
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
See who comes over the red-blossomed heather,
D
e|---------2-----------2-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----3-----------3-----|-----3-----------3-----|
G|---2---2-------2---2---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-0-----------0---------|-0-----------0---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
Their green banners kissing the pure mountain air,
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
Heads erect, eyes front, stepping proudly together,
D
e|---------2-----------2-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----3-----------3-----|-----3-----------3-----|
G|---2---2-------2---2---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-0-----------0---------|-0-----------0---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
Sure freedom sits throned on each proud spirit there.
Chorus
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
Down the hill twining, their blessed steel shining,
Em
e|---------0-----------0-|---------0-----------0-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-2-----------2---------|-2-----------2---------|
A|2-----------2-----------|----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
Like rivers of beauty that flow from each glen,
Bm
e|---------2-----------2-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----3-----------3-----|-----3-----------3-----|
G|---4---4-------4---4---|---4---4-------4---4---|
D|-4-----------4---------|-4-----------4---------|
A|2-----------2-----------|----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
From mountain and valley, 'tis Liberty’s rally--
G D7
e|---------3-----------3-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-----------------------|-0-----------0---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-----------------------|
Out and make way for the Bold Fenian Men!
💡 Performance Tips
Use fingerpicking for the first verse and chorus to tell the story quietly.
Switch to strumming for later verses to give power and march-like drive.
Try a bass walk (G–F#–E–D) between phrases — sounds beautifully Irish.
If singing solo, let each G chord ring slightly longer to give breath between lines.
🎶 A fingerpicking tab for the first verse and chorus, keeping that noble, rolling feel of the melody.
🎵 The Bold Fenian Men
Key: G Major
Time: 4/4
Tempo: ♩ = 90–95 bpm (steady march tempo)
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Irish March Feel)
Pattern:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Count:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Feel:
Downstrokes (↓) on beats 1 and 3 give it a proud, marching drive.
Keep the rhythm tight but ringing — like a slow rebel march.
Optionally, palm mute slightly on verses, open up on the chorus for power.
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab – First Verse & Chorus
Gentle Travis-style pattern alternating bass and melody notes.
Let chords ring out — this song carries pride and dignity, so play it with weight.
Verse 1
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
See who comes over the red-blossomed heather,
D
e|---------2-----------2-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----3-----------3-----|-----3-----------3-----|
G|---2---2-------2---2---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-0-----------0---------|-0-----------0---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
Their green banners kissing the pure mountain air,
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
Heads erect, eyes front, stepping proudly together,
D
e|---------2-----------2-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----3-----------3-----|-----3-----------3-----|
G|---2---2-------2---2---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-0-----------0---------|-0-----------0---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
Sure freedom sits throned on each proud spirit there.
Chorus
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
Down the hill twining, their blessed steel shining,
Em
e|---------0-----------0-|---------0-----------0-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-2-----------2---------|-2-----------2---------|
A|2-----------2-----------|----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
Like rivers of beauty that flow from each glen,
Bm
e|---------2-----------2-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----3-----------3-----|-----3-----------3-----|
G|---4---4-------4---4---|---4---4-------4---4---|
D|-4-----------4---------|-4-----------4---------|
A|2-----------2-----------|----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
From mountain and valley, 'tis Liberty’s rally--
G D7
e|---------3-----------3-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-----------------------|-0-----------0---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-----------------------|
Out and make way for the Bold Fenian Men!
💡 Performance Tips
Use fingerpicking for the first verse and chorus to tell the story quietly.
Switch to strumming for later verses to give power and march-like drive.
Try a bass walk (G–F#–E–D) between phrases — sounds beautifully Irish.
If singing solo, let each G chord ring slightly longer to give breath between lines.
Guitar chords in the key of D.
[D] See who comes over the [A] red blossomed heather,
Their [D] green banners [A] kissing the [D] pure mountain [A] air,
Heads [D] erect, eyes front, stepping [A] proudly together,
Sure [D] freedom sits [A] throned on each [A] proud [A] spirit [D] there,
Down the hill twining, their [Bm] blessed steel [D] shining,
Like [F#m] rivers of [D] beauty that [E7] flow from each [A] glen,
From [D] mountain and [Bm] valley 'tis [Em] Liberty's [A7] rally -
[D] Out and make [F#m] way for the [G] Bold [A] Fenian [D] Men!
[D] See who comes over the [A] red blossomed heather,
Their [D] green banners [A] kissing the [D] pure mountain [A] air,
Heads [D] erect, eyes front, stepping [A] proudly together,
Sure [D] freedom sits [A] throned on each [A] proud [A] spirit [D] there,
Down the hill twining, their [Bm] blessed steel [D] shining,
Like [F#m] rivers of [D] beauty that [E7] flow from each [A] glen,
From [D] mountain and [Bm] valley 'tis [Em] Liberty's [A7] rally -
[D] Out and make [F#m] way for the [G] Bold [A] Fenian [D] Men!
The bold Fenian men guitar tab
The bold Fenian men lyrics
The bold Fenian men tenor guitar / mandola tab-CGDA Tuning.
