The Broad Black Brimmer Lyrics And Chords
The Broad Black Brimmer is an Irish rebel song that tells the story of a young man whose father died fighting for Irish independence. His mother recounts the memories of his father, focusing on the symbolic black brimmer (a type of hat) that he wore as a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
The broad black brimmer represents the father's dedication to the struggle for Irish freedom, as well as his sacrifice. Through the mother's retelling, the song conveys themes of loss, pride, and the continuation of the fight for independence.
It is often seen as a tribute to Irish rebels and the sacrifices they made during the Irish War of Independence and subsequent conflicts. The song captures both the personal grief of losing loved ones and the enduring legacy of their cause. Like many Irish rebel songs, The Broad Black Brimmer reflects the history and emotions tied to Ireland’s struggle for self-determination.
The broad black brimmer represents the father's dedication to the struggle for Irish freedom, as well as his sacrifice. Through the mother's retelling, the song conveys themes of loss, pride, and the continuation of the fight for independence.
It is often seen as a tribute to Irish rebels and the sacrifices they made during the Irish War of Independence and subsequent conflicts. The song captures both the personal grief of losing loved ones and the enduring legacy of their cause. Like many Irish rebel songs, The Broad Black Brimmer reflects the history and emotions tied to Ireland’s struggle for self-determination.
An Irish rebel song [ I.R.A. ] that was recorded by The Wolfe Tones. Written by Art McMillan. It was collected by Noel Nagle from The Wolfe Tones around the Inchicore area of Dublin. The youtube video is The Dublin City Ramblers. Also recorded by Gary Og, Poitin, The Irish Brigade, The Irish Ramblers, The Barleycorn and Charlie And The Bhoys.
There's[C] a uniform still hanging in what's[F] known as fathers[C] room
A uniform so simple in it's[G] style
I[C]t has no fancy braid of gold, no[F] hat with feathered [C]plume
Yet[C] me mother has[F] preserved it all the[C] while
One[F] day she made me try it on, a[C] wish of mine for years
In memory of your father Sean she[Am] said
And[C] when i put the sam brown on, she was[F] smiling through her[C] tears
As she placed the broad black[F] brimmer[G] on my [C]head
Chorus:
It's[G] just a broad[C] black brimmer with[F] ribbons frayed and[C] torn
From the[C] careless whisk of many a mountain breeze
An[F] old trench[C] coat that's so[F] battle-stained and [C]worn
And breeches almost[F] threadbare[G] at the[C] knees
A [F]sam brown belt with a[C] buckle big and strong
And a holster that's been empty manys a[Am] day
But[C] when men claim Ireland's[F] Freedom
The one should [C]choose to lead them,
Will wear the broad black brimmer of the[G7] IR[C]A
It was the uniform worn by my father years ago
When he reached me mother's homestead on the run
It was the uniform he wore in that little church below
When 'oul father mac, he blessed the pair as one
And after the truce and treaty and the parting of the ways
He wore it when he marched out with the rest
And when they bore his body down on that rugged heather braes
They placed the broad black brimmer on his chest
A uniform so simple in it's[G] style
I[C]t has no fancy braid of gold, no[F] hat with feathered [C]plume
Yet[C] me mother has[F] preserved it all the[C] while
One[F] day she made me try it on, a[C] wish of mine for years
In memory of your father Sean she[Am] said
And[C] when i put the sam brown on, she was[F] smiling through her[C] tears
As she placed the broad black[F] brimmer[G] on my [C]head
Chorus:
It's[G] just a broad[C] black brimmer with[F] ribbons frayed and[C] torn
From the[C] careless whisk of many a mountain breeze
An[F] old trench[C] coat that's so[F] battle-stained and [C]worn
And breeches almost[F] threadbare[G] at the[C] knees
A [F]sam brown belt with a[C] buckle big and strong
And a holster that's been empty manys a[Am] day
But[C] when men claim Ireland's[F] Freedom
The one should [C]choose to lead them,
Will wear the broad black brimmer of the[G7] IR[C]A
It was the uniform worn by my father years ago
When he reached me mother's homestead on the run
It was the uniform he wore in that little church below
When 'oul father mac, he blessed the pair as one
And after the truce and treaty and the parting of the ways
He wore it when he marched out with the rest
And when they bore his body down on that rugged heather braes
They placed the broad black brimmer on his chest
Here are a set of guitar chords in the key of G
There's[G] a uniform still hanging in what's[C] known as fathers[G] room
A uniform so simple in it's[D] style
I[G]t has no fancy braid of gold, no[C] hat with feathered [G]plume
Yet[G] me mother has[C] preserved it all the[G] while
One[C] day she made me try it on, a[G] wish of mine for years
In memory of your father Sean she[Em] said
And[G] when i put the sam brown on, she was[C] smiling through her[G] tears
As she placed the broad black[C] brimmer[D] on my [G]head
Chorus:
It's[D] just a broad[G] black brimmer with[C] ribbons frayed and[G] torn
From the[G] careless whisk of many a mountain breeze
An[C] old trench[G] coat that's so[C] battle-stained and [G]worn
And breeches almost[C] threadbare[D] at the[G] knees
A [C]sam brown belt with a[G] buckle big and strong
And a holster that's been empty manys a[Em] day
But[G] when men claim Ireland's[C] Freedom
The one should [G]choose to lead them,
Will wear the broad black brimmer of the[D7] IR[G]A
There's[G] a uniform still hanging in what's[C] known as fathers[G] room
A uniform so simple in it's[D] style
I[G]t has no fancy braid of gold, no[C] hat with feathered [G]plume
Yet[G] me mother has[C] preserved it all the[G] while
One[C] day she made me try it on, a[G] wish of mine for years
In memory of your father Sean she[Em] said
And[G] when i put the sam brown on, she was[C] smiling through her[G] tears
As she placed the broad black[C] brimmer[D] on my [G]head
Chorus:
It's[D] just a broad[G] black brimmer with[C] ribbons frayed and[G] torn
From the[G] careless whisk of many a mountain breeze
An[C] old trench[G] coat that's so[C] battle-stained and [G]worn
And breeches almost[C] threadbare[D] at the[G] knees
A [C]sam brown belt with a[G] buckle big and strong
And a holster that's been empty manys a[Em] day
But[G] when men claim Ireland's[C] Freedom
The one should [G]choose to lead them,
Will wear the broad black brimmer of the[D7] IR[G]A
The Broad Black Brimmer” is one of the most iconic rebel ballads. It’s typically sung in march time (4/4) with a proud but steady rhythm. Below you’ll find:
1️⃣ A strumming pattern (for rhythm guitar)
2️⃣ A fingerpicking tab for the first verse and chorus
🎸 Chords Used
G 320003
C x32010
D xx0232
D7 xx0212
Em 022000
🎵 Strumming Pattern
Since this song is in 4/4 march time, we’ll use a strong, driving rhythm.
✅ Pattern 1 (Common for verses):
D – D U – U D U
(“Down, down-up, up-down-up”)
Count it as:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
This gives a steady storytelling feel.
✅ Pattern 2 (Chorus – More power):
D – DU – DDU
Or alternate bass strumming:
Bass – Down – Up – Down – Up
Count it as:
1 2 3 4
→ play Bass (1), Down (2), Up (3), Down-Up (4)
Add emphasis on beats 1 and 3 for that marching feel.
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern
Use this steady 4/4 arpeggio:
T – i – m – a – i – m – a
(T = thumb, i = index, m = middle, a = ring)
Thumb plays the bass string for the chord (E/A/D)
i/m/a pluck G, B, and high e strings respectively
This creates a flowing yet strong accompaniment.
🎶 Fingerpicking TAB – First Verse & Chorus
Verse 1
G C G D
e|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------2-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|-------3-----------3---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----2---2-------2---2-|
D|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|---0-----------0-------|
A|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|
G C G C
e|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|
A|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|---3-------------------|
E|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|
G C G Em
e|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|-------0-----------0---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|
A|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|---2-------------------|
E|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|
G C G D
e|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------2-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|-------3-----------3---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----2---2-------2---2-|
D|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|---0-----------0-------|
A|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|
Chorus
D G C G
e|-----------2-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|
B|-------3-----------3---|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|
G|-----2---2-------2---2-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|---0-----------0-------|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|
C G C G
e|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|
B|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|
A|---3-------------------|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|
C G C G
e|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|
B|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|
A|---3-------------------|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|
G C G D7 G
e|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------2-----------|-----------3-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----2---2-------2---2-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|---0-----------0-------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|
🔊 Playing Tips
Keep your thumb steady on the beat (especially on bass notes).
Fingerpick softly for the verse, and switch to strumming in the chorus for energy.
Optional: emphasize the D7 → G at the end of the chorus for that traditional cadence.
1️⃣ A strumming pattern (for rhythm guitar)
2️⃣ A fingerpicking tab for the first verse and chorus
🎸 Chords Used
G 320003
C x32010
D xx0232
D7 xx0212
Em 022000
🎵 Strumming Pattern
Since this song is in 4/4 march time, we’ll use a strong, driving rhythm.
✅ Pattern 1 (Common for verses):
D – D U – U D U
(“Down, down-up, up-down-up”)
Count it as:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
This gives a steady storytelling feel.
✅ Pattern 2 (Chorus – More power):
D – DU – DDU
Or alternate bass strumming:
Bass – Down – Up – Down – Up
Count it as:
1 2 3 4
→ play Bass (1), Down (2), Up (3), Down-Up (4)
Add emphasis on beats 1 and 3 for that marching feel.
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern
Use this steady 4/4 arpeggio:
T – i – m – a – i – m – a
(T = thumb, i = index, m = middle, a = ring)
Thumb plays the bass string for the chord (E/A/D)
i/m/a pluck G, B, and high e strings respectively
This creates a flowing yet strong accompaniment.
🎶 Fingerpicking TAB – First Verse & Chorus
Verse 1
G C G D
e|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------2-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|-------3-----------3---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----2---2-------2---2-|
D|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|---0-----------0-------|
A|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|
G C G C
e|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|
A|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|---3-------------------|
E|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|
G C G Em
e|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|-------0-----------0---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|
A|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|---2-------------------|
E|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|
G C G D
e|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------2-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|-------3-----------3---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----2---2-------2---2-|
D|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|---0-----------0-------|
A|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|
Chorus
D G C G
e|-----------2-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|
B|-------3-----------3---|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|
G|-----2---2-------2---2-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|---0-----------0-------|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|
C G C G
e|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|
B|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|
A|---3-------------------|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|
C G C G
e|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|
B|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|
A|---3-------------------|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|
G C G D7 G
e|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------2-----------|-----------3-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----2---2-------2---2-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|---0-----------0-------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|
🔊 Playing Tips
Keep your thumb steady on the beat (especially on bass notes).
Fingerpick softly for the verse, and switch to strumming in the chorus for energy.
Optional: emphasize the D7 → G at the end of the chorus for that traditional cadence.
Here's the list of Irish rebel songs sheet music / tin whistle notes in that ebook.
The price is €8.90. You'll be diverted to the download page after payment.
Any problems please let me know. [email protected]
The price is €8.90. You'll be diverted to the download page after payment.
Any problems please let me know. [email protected]
The broad black brimmer lyrics by The Wolfe Tones
Below is the list of sheet music and tin whistle songs that are in my ebooks. This is the largest collection of tin whistle songs ever put together.[over 800 songs ] Including folk, pop and trad tunes plus German And French songs along with Christmas Carols.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
