The Gay Galtee Mountains song lyrics and guitar chords
The gay galtee mountains sheet music lyrics and chords. The author remains unknown as do many rebel song writers of the time. probably written late 40s. The version here is the Wolfe Tones version and Marc Fahrbach has transcribed the chords from the Wolfe Tones version below. The singer is Tommy Byrne with lovely harmonies from Brian, Derek and Noel. Irish Soldier Boy Lyrics is another song about a rebel fighting in the Galtee Mountains.
The mandolin / tenor banjo tab is in this ebook here .
The mandolin / tenor banjo tab is in this ebook here .
Lyrics without the chords
On the gay Galtee Mountains one morning in May
I'll tell you a story that happened one day
It's about a fair maiden her age was sixteen
And she sported the colours white, orange and green.
A young British soldier was passing that day
And he spied a fair maiden with colours so gay
He rode alongside her and jumped from his machine
And he tried for to capture the flag of Sinn Féin.
You'll not get these colours the fair maiden said
You'll not get these colours until I am dead
I'll fight by the glenside, it remains to be seen
And I'll die for these colours white, orange and green.
T’was early next morning in Tipperary town [ song ]
From the gay Galtee Mountains this young maid came down
She was sick in her heart it was plain to be seen
For they murdered Tom Ashe for the flag of Sinn Féin.
On the gay Galtee Mountains one morning in May
I'll tell you a story that happened one day
It's about a fair maiden her age was sixteen
And she sported the colours white, orange and green.
A young British soldier was passing that day
And he spied a fair maiden with colours so gay
He rode alongside her and jumped from his machine
And he tried for to capture the flag of Sinn Féin.
You'll not get these colours the fair maiden said
You'll not get these colours until I am dead
I'll fight by the glenside, it remains to be seen
And I'll die for these colours white, orange and green.
T’was early next morning in Tipperary town [ song ]
From the gay Galtee Mountains this young maid came down
She was sick in her heart it was plain to be seen
For they murdered Tom Ashe for the flag of Sinn Féin.
On the (F)gay Galtee (Dm)Mountains one (Bb)morning in (F)May
I'll tell you a (Dm)story that (Bb)happened one (C)day
It's a(F)bout a fair maiden her (Bb)age was six(F)teen
And she (C)sported the colours white, (F)orange (C)and (F)green.
A (F)young British (Dm)soldier was (Bb)passing that (F)day
And he spied a fair (Dm)maiden with (Bb)colours so (C)gay
He (F)rode alongside her and jumped (Bb)from his ma(F)chine
And he (C)tried for to capture the (F)flag of (C)Sinn (F)Féin.
F-Dm-Bb-F-F
You'll (F)not get these (Dm)colours the (Bb)fair maiden (F)said
You'll not get these (Dm)colours un(Bb)til I am (C)dead
I'll (F)fight by the glenside, it (Bb)remains to be (F)seen
And I'll (C)die for these colours white, (F)orange (C)and (F)green.
T’was (F)early next (Dm)morning in (Bb)Tipperary (F)town
From the gay Galtee (Dm)Mountains this (Bb)young maid came (C)down
She was (F)sick in her heart it was (Bb)plain to be (F)seen
For they (C)murdered Tom Ashe for the (F)flag of (C)Sinn (F)Féin.
I'll tell you a (Dm)story that (Bb)happened one (C)day
It's a(F)bout a fair maiden her (Bb)age was six(F)teen
And she (C)sported the colours white, (F)orange (C)and (F)green.
A (F)young British (Dm)soldier was (Bb)passing that (F)day
And he spied a fair (Dm)maiden with (Bb)colours so (C)gay
He (F)rode alongside her and jumped (Bb)from his ma(F)chine
And he (C)tried for to capture the (F)flag of (C)Sinn (F)Féin.
F-Dm-Bb-F-F
You'll (F)not get these (Dm)colours the (Bb)fair maiden (F)said
You'll not get these (Dm)colours un(Bb)til I am (C)dead
I'll (F)fight by the glenside, it (Bb)remains to be (F)seen
And I'll (C)die for these colours white, (F)orange (C)and (F)green.
T’was (F)early next (Dm)morning in (Bb)Tipperary (F)town
From the gay Galtee (Dm)Mountains this (Bb)young maid came (C)down
She was (F)sick in her heart it was (Bb)plain to be (F)seen
For they (C)murdered Tom Ashe for the (F)flag of (C)Sinn (F)Féin.
Here are the guitar chords for the key of G.
On the (G)gay Galtee (Em)Mountains one (C)morning in (G)May
I'll tell you a (Em)story that (C)happened one (D)day
It's a(G)bout a fair maiden her (C)age was six(G)teen
And she (D)sported the colours white, (G)orange (D)and (G)green.
A (G)young British (Em)soldier was (C)passing that (G)day
And he spied a fair (Em)maiden with (C)colours so (D)gay
He (G)rode alongside her and jumped (C)from his ma(G)chine
And he (D)tried for to capture the (G)flag of (D)Sinn (G)Féin.
You'll (G)not get these (Em)colours the (C)fair maiden (G)said
You'll not get these (Em)colours un(C)til I am (D)dead
I'll (G)fight by the glenside, it (C)remains to be (G)seen
And I'll (D)die for these colours white, (G)orange (D)and (G)green.
T’was (G)early next (Em)morning in (C)Tipperary (G)town
From the gay Galtee (Em)Mountains this (C)young maid came (D)down
She was (G)sick in her heart it was (C)plain to be (G)seen
For they (D)murdered Tom Ashe for the (G)flag of (D)Sinn (G)Féin.
On the (G)gay Galtee (Em)Mountains one (C)morning in (G)May
I'll tell you a (Em)story that (C)happened one (D)day
It's a(G)bout a fair maiden her (C)age was six(G)teen
And she (D)sported the colours white, (G)orange (D)and (G)green.
A (G)young British (Em)soldier was (C)passing that (G)day
And he spied a fair (Em)maiden with (C)colours so (D)gay
He (G)rode alongside her and jumped (C)from his ma(G)chine
And he (D)tried for to capture the (G)flag of (D)Sinn (G)Féin.
You'll (G)not get these (Em)colours the (C)fair maiden (G)said
You'll not get these (Em)colours un(C)til I am (D)dead
I'll (G)fight by the glenside, it (C)remains to be (G)seen
And I'll (D)die for these colours white, (G)orange (D)and (G)green.
T’was (G)early next (Em)morning in (C)Tipperary (G)town
From the gay Galtee (Em)Mountains this (C)young maid came (D)down
She was (G)sick in her heart it was (C)plain to be (G)seen
For they (D)murdered Tom Ashe for the (G)flag of (D)Sinn (G)Féin.
Irish waltz-time (3/4) ballad, so it needs a gentle rolling rhythm rather than a driving march.
Below you’ll find:
🎵 A 3/4 strumming pattern for accompaniment, and
🎸 A fingerpicking tab for the first verse — all in the key of G major.
🎸 Chords Used
G 320003
Em 022000
C x32010
D xx0232
🪘 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Time – Waltz Feel)
In 3/4 time, think ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three, like a gentle dance.
✅ Basic Pattern
D – D U – U D U
(or simply Bass – Down – Up)
Count it as:
1 (Bass) 2 (Down) 3 (Up)
💡 Tips:
Let the bass note (root of the chord) fall on beat 1.
Keep the 2 & 3 beats lighter — it should sway, not thump.
Works beautifully with soft dynamics and flowing motion.
🎶 Verse (with Chords)
On the (G)gay Galtee (Em)Mountains one (C)morning in (G)May
I'll tell you a (Em)story that (C)happened one (D)day
It's a (G)bout a fair maiden her (C)age was six (G)teen
And she (D)sported the colours white, (G)orange (D)and (G)green.
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern (3/4 Arpeggio Style)
For a gentle waltz-style picking pattern, use:
T – i – m – i – m – i
(T = thumb, i = index, m = middle)
Thumb plays the bass (E/A/D string, depending on chord)
Index & middle alternate softly on G and B strings
Keep the rhythm: 1 – 2 – 3, 1 – 2 – 3
🎶 Fingerpicking TAB – First Verse
G Em C G
e|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------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|-----------------------|---2-------------------|---3-------------------|---2-----------2-------|
E|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|
Em C D G
e|-----------0-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------2-----------|-----------3-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------3-----------3---|-------0-----------0---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----2---2-------2---2-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|---2-----------2-------|---2-----------2-------|---0-----------0-------|-----------------------|
A|---2-------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|
E|---0-------------------|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|---3-----------3-------|
🎵 Playing Tips
Keep your thumb steady and emphasize beat 1 gently.
Let the treble notes ring — don’t mute too quickly.
For the last line (the “white, orange, and green”), open up slightly for a warmer finish.
Below you’ll find:
🎵 A 3/4 strumming pattern for accompaniment, and
🎸 A fingerpicking tab for the first verse — all in the key of G major.
🎸 Chords Used
G 320003
Em 022000
C x32010
D xx0232
🪘 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Time – Waltz Feel)
In 3/4 time, think ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three, like a gentle dance.
✅ Basic Pattern
D – D U – U D U
(or simply Bass – Down – Up)
Count it as:
1 (Bass) 2 (Down) 3 (Up)
💡 Tips:
Let the bass note (root of the chord) fall on beat 1.
Keep the 2 & 3 beats lighter — it should sway, not thump.
Works beautifully with soft dynamics and flowing motion.
🎶 Verse (with Chords)
On the (G)gay Galtee (Em)Mountains one (C)morning in (G)May
I'll tell you a (Em)story that (C)happened one (D)day
It's a (G)bout a fair maiden her (C)age was six (G)teen
And she (D)sported the colours white, (G)orange (D)and (G)green.
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern (3/4 Arpeggio Style)
For a gentle waltz-style picking pattern, use:
T – i – m – i – m – i
(T = thumb, i = index, m = middle)
Thumb plays the bass (E/A/D string, depending on chord)
Index & middle alternate softly on G and B strings
Keep the rhythm: 1 – 2 – 3, 1 – 2 – 3
🎶 Fingerpicking TAB – First Verse
G Em C G
e|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------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|-----------------------|---2-------------------|---3-------------------|---2-----------2-------|
E|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|
Em C D G
e|-----------0-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------2-----------|-----------3-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------3-----------3---|-------0-----------0---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----2---2-------2---2-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|---2-----------2-------|---2-----------2-------|---0-----------0-------|-----------------------|
A|---2-------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|
E|---0-------------------|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|---3-----------3-------|
🎵 Playing Tips
Keep your thumb steady and emphasize beat 1 gently.
Let the treble notes ring — don’t mute too quickly.
For the last line (the “white, orange, and green”), open up slightly for a warmer finish.
Rebel songs sheet music / tin whistle notes
The gay galtee mountains sheet music lyrics and chords
