The Broad Black Brimmer Lyrics And Chords

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

​Here are a set of 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

Here are the notes that are suitable for the tin whistle, accordion or banjo.
The CAPITAL letters over the lyrics are the low notes up as far as B and the small lower
​case letters are the high notes.. All F notes are sharp.
G        A  B B B    B       B   A   G  A        B        G  G  E       D
There's a uniform that's hangin'in what's known as Father's room
D G G G   G  G  G    F  G   A
A uniform so simple in its style
d    d   d   d       d  B     G    G   A    B   G      G    F      D
It's got no braid of gold nor silk Nor hat with feathered plume
G    A   B   B    B    G  A          F  F   D   G
but me mother has preserved it all the while
B     c    c     c     c    e   e  e  e d     B  G      B   d
One day she had me try it on a wish of mine for years
B   B   B      B  B    B A     G        A   B
"In mem'ry of your father dear," she said
c     d      e d    B   A      G        G  G     A    B   G   G           F   D
And when I put the Sam Brown on She was smilin' through her tears
G      A B    B   B        B       c   A       F    D  G
When I put the Broad Black Brimmer On me head

d    e    d B       B        A    G     G    G    c  c       d         e   d
It's just a Broad Black Brimmer with it's Ribbons frayed and torn
G  A    B    B     B       B  B A     G     A     B
By the careless whisk of manys mountain breeze
c   d    e        d     A       G  A    G         E    G    
An old trench coat that's battle stained and worn
A    B     B     B B      c       A       F  D   G
And breeches almost threadbare at the knees
B c     c          e    e        d  B   G   B     d 
A Sam Brown belt with  buckle big and strong
B  B  B     B      B      B   A   G  G   A  B
a holster that's been empty manys a day 
c       d      e       e  B        A   G
When men claim Ireland's freedom
A    B    G        G         E  E     D
The one should choose to lead 'em 
F    G     G     G       G      G   e      c   c   A A G
will wear the Broad Black Brimmer Of the I.R.A.