The Great Fenian Ram Song Lyrics Guitar Chords
Derek Warfield The Wolfe Tones, This songs is about the story of John Holland who was the first man to build a submarine which he used to ram British ships
[D]Near the town of Liscannor in the county of Clare
Where [G]many great [D]Irishmans [G]plans were laid [Em]bare,,,[A]
You [D]saw the wild sea's as you stood on the heath
And [G]wondered and [D]gazed at the [Bm]ocean beneath
Your [D]life of re[G]ligion was [D]never to [G]be
you [D]soon found your [G]way to the [Em]land of the free,,[A]
In the [D]state of New Jersey you perfected your plan,
And your [G]work was un[D]veiled as the [Bm]great fenian ram
Chorus:
[D]Some men for ad[G]venture have [D]planned for the [G]stars
And [D]others had [Bm]hoped to see [Em]Venus or Mars,,[A]
but you [D]worked and you labored to build your wild dream
That [G]you'd be the [D]man with the [Bm]first submarine,,[D]
Now O'Donovan Rossa Bold Breslan Devoy
Knew that Holland's invention was real and no toy
For to take on the ships of the British Navy
And all would be done now from under the sea
The English protested to Old Uncle Sam
About the mischievous boat called the Great Fenian Ram
Oh he's just an inventor we've got nothing to hide
John Bull was so angry when the Yankees replied
Chorus
Neath the waves of the ocean this craft was at home
And the Fenians [ song ] had plans for this boat for to roam
In the Passaic River, your friends were amazed
As your ship moved so silent neath the rivers and waves
An attack on the Empire was prevented by spies
And the cause was all crushed mid dissension and lies
But Uncle Sam's Navy was so proud of the boat
That the Holland's the name of the first sub afloat
Chorus
Here as I stand beside New York Bay
I can see all the ways you are remembered today
For your name is all written on tunnels and ships
On the streets of New York and on New Jersey's slips
So be proud sons of Erin, an Irishman he
John Holland the first for to voyage 'neath the sea
Leet the Statue of Liberty, a beacon shine free
For John Holland, the first for to voyage 'neath the sea.
Where [G]many great [D]Irishmans [G]plans were laid [Em]bare,,,[A]
You [D]saw the wild sea's as you stood on the heath
And [G]wondered and [D]gazed at the [Bm]ocean beneath
Your [D]life of re[G]ligion was [D]never to [G]be
you [D]soon found your [G]way to the [Em]land of the free,,[A]
In the [D]state of New Jersey you perfected your plan,
And your [G]work was un[D]veiled as the [Bm]great fenian ram
Chorus:
[D]Some men for ad[G]venture have [D]planned for the [G]stars
And [D]others had [Bm]hoped to see [Em]Venus or Mars,,[A]
but you [D]worked and you labored to build your wild dream
That [G]you'd be the [D]man with the [Bm]first submarine,,[D]
Now O'Donovan Rossa Bold Breslan Devoy
Knew that Holland's invention was real and no toy
For to take on the ships of the British Navy
And all would be done now from under the sea
The English protested to Old Uncle Sam
About the mischievous boat called the Great Fenian Ram
Oh he's just an inventor we've got nothing to hide
John Bull was so angry when the Yankees replied
Chorus
Neath the waves of the ocean this craft was at home
And the Fenians [ song ] had plans for this boat for to roam
In the Passaic River, your friends were amazed
As your ship moved so silent neath the rivers and waves
An attack on the Empire was prevented by spies
And the cause was all crushed mid dissension and lies
But Uncle Sam's Navy was so proud of the boat
That the Holland's the name of the first sub afloat
Chorus
Here as I stand beside New York Bay
I can see all the ways you are remembered today
For your name is all written on tunnels and ships
On the streets of New York and on New Jersey's slips
So be proud sons of Erin, an Irishman he
John Holland the first for to voyage 'neath the sea
Leet the Statue of Liberty, a beacon shine free
For John Holland, the first for to voyage 'neath the sea.
“John Holland (The Fenian Ram)”, a brilliant Irish ballad in 4/4 time.
Below you’ll find:
🎵 All verses + chorus with chords,
🎸 A strumming pattern for that folk storytelling feel, and
🎶 A fingerpicking tab for the first verse.
🎸 Chords Used
D xx0232
G 320003
A x02220
Bm x24432
Em 022000
🪘 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Time – Folk Ballad Style)
You want a steady, flowing rhythm — like waves under the lyrics.
✅ Pattern 1 – Common Folk Strum
D – D U – U D U
(Down, down-up, up-down-up)
Count: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
This gives a rolling, storytelling motion.
Add light bass emphasis on beat 1 (the root note of the chord) for depth.
✅ Pattern 2 – Optional Waltz Swing
If you want a softer lilt for reflective verses:
Bass – Down – Up (count: 1 2 3 4)
Good for alternating between verses and chorus.
🎶 Lyrics + Chords
Verse 1
[D]Near the town of Liscannor in the county of Clare
Where [G]many great [D]Irishman’s [G]plans were laid [Em]bare, [A]
You [D]saw the wild sea’s as you stood on the heath
And [G]wondered and [D]gazed at the [Bm]ocean beneath
Your [D]life of re[G]ligion was [D]never to [G]be
You [D]soon found your [G]way to the [Em]land of the free, [A]
In the [D]state of New Jersey you perfected your plan,
And your [G]work was un[D]veiled as the [Bm]Great Fenian Ram.
Chorus
[D]Some men for ad[G]venture have [D]planned for the [G]stars,
And [D]others had [Bm]hoped to see [Em]Venus or Mars, [A]
But you [D]worked and you labored to build your wild dream,
That [G]you’d be the [D]man with the [Bm]first subma[D]rine.
Verse 2
Now O’[D]Donovan Rossa, bold Breslan, Devoy,
Knew that [G]Holland’s in[D]vention was [G]real and no toy,
For to [D]take on the ships of the [G]British Na[Em]vy, [A]
And [D]all would be done now from [G]under the sea.
The [D]English protested to [G]Old Uncle Sam
About [D]the mischievous boat called the [Bm]Great Fenian Ram,
Oh, he’s [D]just an inventor, we’ve [G]got nothing to hide,
John [D]Bull was so [G]angry when the [A]Yankees replied.
Verse 3
Neath the [D]waves of the ocean this craft was at home,
And the [G]Fenians’ song [D]had plans for to [G]roam,
In the [D]Passaic River, your [G]friends were a[Em]mazed, [A]
As your [D]ship moved so [G]silent ‘neath [D]rivers and waves.
An [D]attack on the Empire was [G]thwarted by spies,
And the [D]cause was all [G]crushed mid dis[Em]sension and lies, [A]
But [D]Uncle Sam’s Navy was [G]so proud of the boat,
That the [D]Holland’s the [G]name of the [Bm]first sub a[D]float.
Verse 4
Here as [D]I stand beside New [G]York Bay,
I can [D]see all the [G]ways you are [Em]honored today, [A]
For your [D]name is inscribed upon [G]tunnels and ships,
On the [D]streets of New [G]York and on [Bm]New Jersey’s slips.
So be [D]proud sons of Erin, an [G]Irishman he,
John [D]Holland the [G]first for to [Em]voyage ‘neath the sea, [A]
Let the [D]Statue of Liberty a [G]beacon shine free,
For [D]John Holland, [G]the first for to [Bm]voyage ‘neath the [D]sea.
🎸 Fingerpicking TAB – First Verse
Use a gentle 4/4 arpeggio pattern:
T – i – m – i – m – i
(T = thumb, i = index, m = middle)
Keep the thumb alternating between D/A/E strings depending on chord root.
Let the melody breathe — it’s storytelling, not rigid rhythm.
TAB – Verse 1
D G Em A
e|-----------2-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------0-----------|
B|-------3-----------3---|-------0-----------0---|-------0-----------0---|-------2-----------2---|
G|-----2---2-------2---2-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----2---2-------2---2-|
D|---0-----------0-------|---0-----------0-------|---2-----------2-------|---2-----------2-------|
A|-----------------------|---2-------------------|---2-------------------|---0-------------------|
E|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
D G Bm D
e|-----------2-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------2-----------|-----------2-----------|
B|-------3-----------3---|-------0-----------0---|-------3-----------3---|-------3-----------3---|
G|-----2---2-------2---2-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----4---4-------4---4-|-----2---2-------2---2-|
D|---0-----------0-------|---0-----------0-------|---4-----------4-------|---0-----------0-------|
A|-----------------------|---2-------------------|---2-------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
🔊 Performance Tips
Play softly and evenly, keeping the thumb steady.
Let the treble strings ring out naturally — avoid muting.
Switch to light strumming for the chorus to lift energy, then back to fingerpicking for verses.
If playing solo, you can end each verse with a D chord arpeggio to let the harmony settle.
“John Holland (The Fenian Ram)”, a brilliant Irish ballad in 4/4 time.
Below you’ll find:
🎵 All verses + chorus with chords,
🎸 A strumming pattern for that folk storytelling feel, and
🎶 A fingerpicking tab for the first verse.
🎸 Chords Used
D xx0232
G 320003
A x02220
Bm x24432
Em 022000
🪘 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Time – Folk Ballad Style)
You want a steady, flowing rhythm — like waves under the lyrics.
✅ Pattern 1 – Common Folk Strum
D – D U – U D U
(Down, down-up, up-down-up)
Count: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
This gives a rolling, storytelling motion.
Add light bass emphasis on beat 1 (the root note of the chord) for depth.
✅ Pattern 2 – Optional Waltz Swing
If you want a softer lilt for reflective verses:
Bass – Down – Up (count: 1 2 3 4)
Good for alternating between verses and chorus.
🎶 Lyrics + Chords
Verse 1
[D]Near the town of Liscannor in the county of Clare
Where [G]many great [D]Irishman’s [G]plans were laid [Em]bare, [A]
You [D]saw the wild sea’s as you stood on the heath
And [G]wondered and [D]gazed at the [Bm]ocean beneath
Your [D]life of re[G]ligion was [D]never to [G]be
You [D]soon found your [G]way to the [Em]land of the free, [A]
In the [D]state of New Jersey you perfected your plan,
And your [G]work was un[D]veiled as the [Bm]Great Fenian Ram.
Chorus
[D]Some men for ad[G]venture have [D]planned for the [G]stars,
And [D]others had [Bm]hoped to see [Em]Venus or Mars, [A]
But you [D]worked and you labored to build your wild dream,
That [G]you’d be the [D]man with the [Bm]first subma[D]rine.
Verse 2
Now O’[D]Donovan Rossa, bold Breslan, Devoy,
Knew that [G]Holland’s in[D]vention was [G]real and no toy,
For to [D]take on the ships of the [G]British Na[Em]vy, [A]
And [D]all would be done now from [G]under the sea.
The [D]English protested to [G]Old Uncle Sam
About [D]the mischievous boat called the [Bm]Great Fenian Ram,
Oh, he’s [D]just an inventor, we’ve [G]got nothing to hide,
John [D]Bull was so [G]angry when the [A]Yankees replied.
Verse 3
Neath the [D]waves of the ocean this craft was at home,
And the [G]Fenians’ song [D]had plans for to [G]roam,
In the [D]Passaic River, your [G]friends were a[Em]mazed, [A]
As your [D]ship moved so [G]silent ‘neath [D]rivers and waves.
An [D]attack on the Empire was [G]thwarted by spies,
And the [D]cause was all [G]crushed mid dis[Em]sension and lies, [A]
But [D]Uncle Sam’s Navy was [G]so proud of the boat,
That the [D]Holland’s the [G]name of the [Bm]first sub a[D]float.
Verse 4
Here as [D]I stand beside New [G]York Bay,
I can [D]see all the [G]ways you are [Em]honored today, [A]
For your [D]name is inscribed upon [G]tunnels and ships,
On the [D]streets of New [G]York and on [Bm]New Jersey’s slips.
So be [D]proud sons of Erin, an [G]Irishman he,
John [D]Holland the [G]first for to [Em]voyage ‘neath the sea, [A]
Let the [D]Statue of Liberty a [G]beacon shine free,
For [D]John Holland, [G]the first for to [Bm]voyage ‘neath the [D]sea.
🎸 Fingerpicking TAB – First Verse
Use a gentle 4/4 arpeggio pattern:
T – i – m – i – m – i
(T = thumb, i = index, m = middle)
Keep the thumb alternating between D/A/E strings depending on chord root.
Let the melody breathe — it’s storytelling, not rigid rhythm.
TAB – Verse 1
D G Em A
e|-----------2-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------0-----------|
B|-------3-----------3---|-------0-----------0---|-------0-----------0---|-------2-----------2---|
G|-----2---2-------2---2-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----2---2-------2---2-|
D|---0-----------0-------|---0-----------0-------|---2-----------2-------|---2-----------2-------|
A|-----------------------|---2-------------------|---2-------------------|---0-------------------|
E|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
D G Bm D
e|-----------2-----------|-----------3-----------|-----------2-----------|-----------2-----------|
B|-------3-----------3---|-------0-----------0---|-------3-----------3---|-------3-----------3---|
G|-----2---2-------2---2-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----4---4-------4---4-|-----2---2-------2---2-|
D|---0-----------0-------|---0-----------0-------|---4-----------4-------|---0-----------0-------|
A|-----------------------|---2-------------------|---2-------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|---3-----------3-------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
🔊 Performance Tips
Play softly and evenly, keeping the thumb steady.
Let the treble strings ring out naturally — avoid muting.
Switch to light strumming for the chorus to lift energy, then back to fingerpicking for verses.
If playing solo, you can end each verse with a D chord arpeggio to let the harmony settle.
There's a story behind every ballad and the story behind Derek Warfield's song about the Great Fenian Ram is an intriguing account of a man from County Clare, Ireland who at the age of 7 couldn't speak a word of English. John Holland spoke only Gaelige until he went to school where the English language was drilled into him. He was born in 1840 in and by 1858 was teaching English in the Christian Brothers School in Limerick. He moved to the United States in 1873 and studied to become an engineer.
By 1875 he had drawn up his first plans for his submarine and decided to share his plans with the United States Navy but they didn't accept his drawing as they thought his ideas were unworkable. Holland was sympathetic to the Fenians and it was the Fenians who gave him the money to construct his first submarine. But The Fenians had other plans for the sub, they wanted to use the submarine to attack British shipping around the United States.By the way The Fenians were a group of Republican revolutionaries from Ireland hell bent on getting the British out of Ireland by force, there was a large group of Fenians based in America also. They had plans at one time to take over Canada, but that's another story.
Anyway John Holland made his first real workable sub in 1897 which was duel-powered, it ran on petrol when the sub was on water and used electric engines when submerged. It must have been very difficult sourcing material to build an underwater vehicle in 1897, especially since this contraption was going where no man had gone before. For example how to make the sub waterproof ? The United States Navy soon changed their minds when they seen that John Holland had successfully built an under water boat as they called it. The Navy took over and done a complete series of tests. They bought the submarine of Holland in 1900 and made another six subs. The Americans named the sub The USS Holland. The British Navy copied the design, it's ironic considering that Holland's initial attempts at building a Sub was for the intention of ramming British ships and here they were now building the same sub that was to be used to attack the British Navy. Here's the link to .What an amazing story.
Back to the Wolfe Tones Song List
By 1875 he had drawn up his first plans for his submarine and decided to share his plans with the United States Navy but they didn't accept his drawing as they thought his ideas were unworkable. Holland was sympathetic to the Fenians and it was the Fenians who gave him the money to construct his first submarine. But The Fenians had other plans for the sub, they wanted to use the submarine to attack British shipping around the United States.By the way The Fenians were a group of Republican revolutionaries from Ireland hell bent on getting the British out of Ireland by force, there was a large group of Fenians based in America also. They had plans at one time to take over Canada, but that's another story.
Anyway John Holland made his first real workable sub in 1897 which was duel-powered, it ran on petrol when the sub was on water and used electric engines when submerged. It must have been very difficult sourcing material to build an underwater vehicle in 1897, especially since this contraption was going where no man had gone before. For example how to make the sub waterproof ? The United States Navy soon changed their minds when they seen that John Holland had successfully built an under water boat as they called it. The Navy took over and done a complete series of tests. They bought the submarine of Holland in 1900 and made another six subs. The Americans named the sub The USS Holland. The British Navy copied the design, it's ironic considering that Holland's initial attempts at building a Sub was for the intention of ramming British ships and here they were now building the same sub that was to be used to attack the British Navy. Here's the link to .What an amazing story.
Back to the Wolfe Tones Song List
