The county Down lyrics and chords by Tommy Sands
Lyrics and chords fit Tommy Sands version from his album ‘Beyond The Shadows’ . Many other songs have being written about the Co. Down and I suppose The Star Of The Co. Down Song remains the one that's most known around the world. Recorded by Caroline Regan and recently by Celtic Woman. The Piano Sheet Music With Chords Is Included.
Lyrics Without The Chords
When you're out walking, and there's no one near you
But a voice keeps calling and you hear your name
It's not the leaves or the whispering breezes
It's me that's calling you back again
Oh can you hear me? Oh can you hear me
As you roam through lonely London town?
When evening's falling you'll hear me calling
"Come on ho-ome to County Down"
Do you remember the fiddlers playing
The songs and stories the whole night long?
It’s little then that you thought of leaving
It seems so strange now that you are gone
The fish are dancing on Clanrye River
The teams are sporting in old Glenvale
My heart no longer can lead the cheering
When you're not playing, it's a different game
I'm always dreaming that things are changing
And that they're building a factory tall
And young ones needed again in Newry
But I still need you the most of all
"Come on ho-ome to the County Down"
When you're out walking, and there's no one near you
But a voice keeps calling and you hear your name
It's not the leaves or the whispering breezes
It's me that's calling you back again
Oh can you hear me? Oh can you hear me
As you roam through lonely London town?
When evening's falling you'll hear me calling
"Come on ho-ome to County Down"
Do you remember the fiddlers playing
The songs and stories the whole night long?
It’s little then that you thought of leaving
It seems so strange now that you are gone
The fish are dancing on Clanrye River
The teams are sporting in old Glenvale
My heart no longer can lead the cheering
When you're not playing, it's a different game
I'm always dreaming that things are changing
And that they're building a factory tall
And young ones needed again in Newry
But I still need you the most of all
"Come on ho-ome to the County Down"
The Guitar Chords
When (D7)you're out (C)wal(G)king, and there's (D7)no one near (G)you
But a voice keeps (C)cal(G)ling and you hear your (D)name
It's not the (D7)lea(Em)ves or the (D7)whispering bree(G)zes
It's me that's (C)calling you (G)back a(Am)gain
Chorus
Oh (D7)can you (D)hear (Em)me? Oh can you (C)hear (G)me
As you roam through (D7)lone(Em)ly (C)London (D)town?
When (D7)evening's (C)fal(G)ling you'll (D7)hear me (Em)calling
(G)"Come on (C)ho-(G)ome to (the) (D7)County (G)Down"
D7-G
Do (D7)you re(C)mem(G)ber the (D7)fiddlers play(G)ing
The songs and (C)sto(G)ries the whole night (D)long?
It’s little (D7)then (Em)that you (D7)thought of lea(G)ving
It seems so (C)strange now that (G)you are (Am)gone
Chorus
G-C-G-D7
The (D7)fish are (C)dan(G)cing on (D7)Clanrye Ri(G)ver
The teams are (C)spor(G)ting in old Glen(D)vale
My heart no (D7)lon(Em)ger can (D7)lead the chee(G)ring
When you're not (C)playing, it's a (G)different (Am)game
Chorus
G-C-G-D7 2x
I'm (D7)always (C)drea(G)ming that (D7)things are chang(G)ing
And that they're (C)buil(G)ding a factory (D)tall
And young ones (D7)nee(Em)ded a(D7)gain in New(G)ry
But I still (C)need you the (G)most of (Am)all
Chorus
(G)"Come on (C)ho-(G)ome to the (D7)County (G)Down"
When (D7)you're out (C)wal(G)king, and there's (D7)no one near (G)you
But a voice keeps (C)cal(G)ling and you hear your (D)name
It's not the (D7)lea(Em)ves or the (D7)whispering bree(G)zes
It's me that's (C)calling you (G)back a(Am)gain
Chorus
Oh (D7)can you (D)hear (Em)me? Oh can you (C)hear (G)me
As you roam through (D7)lone(Em)ly (C)London (D)town?
When (D7)evening's (C)fal(G)ling you'll (D7)hear me (Em)calling
(G)"Come on (C)ho-(G)ome to (the) (D7)County (G)Down"
D7-G
Do (D7)you re(C)mem(G)ber the (D7)fiddlers play(G)ing
The songs and (C)sto(G)ries the whole night (D)long?
It’s little (D7)then (Em)that you (D7)thought of lea(G)ving
It seems so (C)strange now that (G)you are (Am)gone
Chorus
G-C-G-D7
The (D7)fish are (C)dan(G)cing on (D7)Clanrye Ri(G)ver
The teams are (C)spor(G)ting in old Glen(D)vale
My heart no (D7)lon(Em)ger can (D7)lead the chee(G)ring
When you're not (C)playing, it's a (G)different (Am)game
Chorus
G-C-G-D7 2x
I'm (D7)always (C)drea(G)ming that (D7)things are chang(G)ing
And that they're (C)buil(G)ding a factory (D)tall
And young ones (D7)nee(Em)ded a(D7)gain in New(G)ry
But I still (C)need you the (G)most of (Am)all
Chorus
(G)"Come on (C)ho-(G)ome to the (D7)County (G)Down"
Key: G Major
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: ~70–75 BPM (slow waltz)
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Waltz Feel)
↓ – ↓ ↑ – ↑
(count: 1 2 3 | 1 2 3)
Alternate softer pattern:
Bass ↓ ↓ | Bass ↓ ↑
Keep beat 1 accented slightly — that gives it the “waltz sway.”
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern (3/4)
(T = thumb, I = index, M = middle, A = ring)
T – I – M – A – M – I
Thumb plays the bass note (root or alternating bass), fingers roll gently through treble strings.
Use a harp-like touch — slow, steady, and delicate.
🪶 Fingerpicking Tab with Lyrics (G Major)
Verse 1
G
e|--------3-----------3---|--------3-----------3---|
B|------0---0-------0---0-|------0---0-------0---0-|
G|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--0-----------0---------|--0-----------0---------|
A|--2----------------------|------------------------|
E|--3----------------------|--3---------------------|
When you're out walking, and there's no one near you
C G
e|--------0-----------0---|--------3-----------3---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------0---0-------0---0-|
G|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--2-----------2---------|--0-----------0---------|
A|--3----------------------|--2--------------------|
E|-------------------------|--3--------------------|
But a voice keeps calling and you hear your name
Em G
e|--------0-----------0---|--------3-----------3---|
B|------0---0-------0---0-|------0---0-------0---0-|
G|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--2-----------2---------|--0-----------0---------|
A|--2----------------------|--2--------------------|
E|--0----------------------|--3--------------------|
It's not the leaves or the whispering breezes
C Am G
e|--------0-----------0---|--------0-----------0---|--------3-----------3---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------1---1-------1---1-|------0---0-------0---0-|
G|----0-------0---0-------|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--2-----------2---------|--2-----------2---------|--0-----------0---------|
A|--3----------------------|--0--------------------|--2--------------------|
E|-------------------------|-----------------------|--3--------------------|
It's me that's calling you back again
Chorus
D7 D Em
e|--------2-----------2---|--------2-----------2---|--------0-----------0---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------3---3-------3---3-|------0---0-------0---0-|
G|----2-------2---2-------|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--0-----------0---------|--0-----------0---------|--2-----------2---------|
A|-------------------------|------------------------|--2--------------------|
E|-------------------------|------------------------|--0--------------------|
Oh can you hear me? Oh can you hear me
C G
e|--------0-----------0---|--------3-----------3---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------0---0-------0---0-|
G|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--2-----------2---------|--0-----------0---------|
A|--3----------------------|--2--------------------|
E|-------------------------|--3--------------------|
As you roam through lonely London town?
D7 C
e|--------2-----------2---|--------0-----------0---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------1---1-------1---1-|
G|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--0-----------0---------|--2-----------2---------|
A|-------------------------|--3--------------------|
E|-------------------------|-----------------------|
When evening’s falling you’ll hear me calling
G C G D7 G
e|--------3-----------3---|--------0-----------0---|--------3-----------3---|--------1-----------1---|--------3-----------3---|
B|------0---0-------0---0-|------1---1-------1---1-|------0---0-------0---0-|------1---1-------1---1-|------0---0-------0---0-|
G|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--0-----------0---------|--2-----------2---------|--0-----------0---------|--0-----------0---------|--0-----------0---------|
A|--2----------------------|--3--------------------|--2--------------------|-------------------------|--2--------------------|
E|--3----------------------|-----------------------|--3--------------------|-------------------------|--3--------------------|
"Come on home to the County Down"
🎧 Performance Tips
Tempo: ~70 BPM — think of a slow Irish waltz.
Dynamic flow:
Verses → light and personal (fingerpicked).
Chorus → strum softly or arpeggiate fuller chords.
Waltz feel: Slight push on beat 1, gentle on beats 2–3.
Optional outro (instrumental fade):
G → C → Am → G (fingerpicked slowly)
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: ~70–75 BPM (slow waltz)
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Waltz Feel)
↓ – ↓ ↑ – ↑
(count: 1 2 3 | 1 2 3)
Alternate softer pattern:
Bass ↓ ↓ | Bass ↓ ↑
Keep beat 1 accented slightly — that gives it the “waltz sway.”
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern (3/4)
(T = thumb, I = index, M = middle, A = ring)
T – I – M – A – M – I
Thumb plays the bass note (root or alternating bass), fingers roll gently through treble strings.
Use a harp-like touch — slow, steady, and delicate.
🪶 Fingerpicking Tab with Lyrics (G Major)
Verse 1
G
e|--------3-----------3---|--------3-----------3---|
B|------0---0-------0---0-|------0---0-------0---0-|
G|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--0-----------0---------|--0-----------0---------|
A|--2----------------------|------------------------|
E|--3----------------------|--3---------------------|
When you're out walking, and there's no one near you
C G
e|--------0-----------0---|--------3-----------3---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------0---0-------0---0-|
G|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--2-----------2---------|--0-----------0---------|
A|--3----------------------|--2--------------------|
E|-------------------------|--3--------------------|
But a voice keeps calling and you hear your name
Em G
e|--------0-----------0---|--------3-----------3---|
B|------0---0-------0---0-|------0---0-------0---0-|
G|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--2-----------2---------|--0-----------0---------|
A|--2----------------------|--2--------------------|
E|--0----------------------|--3--------------------|
It's not the leaves or the whispering breezes
C Am G
e|--------0-----------0---|--------0-----------0---|--------3-----------3---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------1---1-------1---1-|------0---0-------0---0-|
G|----0-------0---0-------|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--2-----------2---------|--2-----------2---------|--0-----------0---------|
A|--3----------------------|--0--------------------|--2--------------------|
E|-------------------------|-----------------------|--3--------------------|
It's me that's calling you back again
Chorus
D7 D Em
e|--------2-----------2---|--------2-----------2---|--------0-----------0---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------3---3-------3---3-|------0---0-------0---0-|
G|----2-------2---2-------|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--0-----------0---------|--0-----------0---------|--2-----------2---------|
A|-------------------------|------------------------|--2--------------------|
E|-------------------------|------------------------|--0--------------------|
Oh can you hear me? Oh can you hear me
C G
e|--------0-----------0---|--------3-----------3---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------0---0-------0---0-|
G|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--2-----------2---------|--0-----------0---------|
A|--3----------------------|--2--------------------|
E|-------------------------|--3--------------------|
As you roam through lonely London town?
D7 C
e|--------2-----------2---|--------0-----------0---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------1---1-------1---1-|
G|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--0-----------0---------|--2-----------2---------|
A|-------------------------|--3--------------------|
E|-------------------------|-----------------------|
When evening’s falling you’ll hear me calling
G C G D7 G
e|--------3-----------3---|--------0-----------0---|--------3-----------3---|--------1-----------1---|--------3-----------3---|
B|------0---0-------0---0-|------1---1-------1---1-|------0---0-------0---0-|------1---1-------1---1-|------0---0-------0---0-|
G|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--0-----------0---------|--2-----------2---------|--0-----------0---------|--0-----------0---------|--0-----------0---------|
A|--2----------------------|--3--------------------|--2--------------------|-------------------------|--2--------------------|
E|--3----------------------|-----------------------|--3--------------------|-------------------------|--3--------------------|
"Come on home to the County Down"
🎧 Performance Tips
Tempo: ~70 BPM — think of a slow Irish waltz.
Dynamic flow:
Verses → light and personal (fingerpicked).
Chorus → strum softly or arpeggiate fuller chords.
Waltz feel: Slight push on beat 1, gentle on beats 2–3.
Optional outro (instrumental fade):
G → C → Am → G (fingerpicked slowly)
Irish singer Tommy Sands
The Sheet Music.
