The Helicopter Song lyrics and chords
The Wolfe Tones, written by Sean (Jobby) Mc Ginley, Castlefinn, Co. Donegal about the escape of three republican prisoners from Mountjoy jail on October 31 1973. The helicopter was hijacked earlier in north Co. Dublin and the pilot forced to fly into the prison grounds. Seamus Twomey, J.B. O'Hagen and Kevin Mallon escaped. The song reached No 1 in the Irish charts for The Wolfe Tones Group.
And it's[G] Up like a bird and high [C] over the [G] city
"Three men are [Em] missing" I [C] heard the warder [D] cry
"Sure it [G] must have been a bird that [C] flew into the [D] prison
Or [C] one of those new Ministers" [D] said the [C] warder [D] from Mount[G]joy
Early one evening as the branchmen they were sleeping
A little helicopter flew in from the sky
Down into the yard where some prisoners were walking
"Get ready for inspection" said the warder in the ´Joy
Down in the yard through the pushing and the shoving
Three of the prisoners they climbed upon the bird
And up and away they went into the grey skies
"I think someone escaped" said the warder in the ´Joy
Over in the Dail they were drinking gin and brandy
The Minister for Justice was soaking up the sun
Then came this little message that some prisoners were escaping
"I think it´s three of the Provos" said the warder in the ´Joy
"Search every hole search every nook and cranny
Let no man rest until these men are found,
For this cannot happen to a law and order government."
"I think you´ll never find them said the warder in Mountjoy
"Three men are [Em] missing" I [C] heard the warder [D] cry
"Sure it [G] must have been a bird that [C] flew into the [D] prison
Or [C] one of those new Ministers" [D] said the [C] warder [D] from Mount[G]joy
Early one evening as the branchmen they were sleeping
A little helicopter flew in from the sky
Down into the yard where some prisoners were walking
"Get ready for inspection" said the warder in the ´Joy
Down in the yard through the pushing and the shoving
Three of the prisoners they climbed upon the bird
And up and away they went into the grey skies
"I think someone escaped" said the warder in the ´Joy
Over in the Dail they were drinking gin and brandy
The Minister for Justice was soaking up the sun
Then came this little message that some prisoners were escaping
"I think it´s three of the Provos" said the warder in the ´Joy
"Search every hole search every nook and cranny
Let no man rest until these men are found,
For this cannot happen to a law and order government."
"I think you´ll never find them said the warder in Mountjoy
🎵 all verses & chorus with chords,
🎸 a strumming pattern (for lively Irish folk rhythm), and
🎶 a fingerpicking tab for the first verse (in key of G).
🎸 Chords Used
G 320003
C x32010
D xx0232
Em 022000
🪘 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Irish Folk Style)
This song should feel bouncy and driving, like The Wild Rover or The Boys of the Old Brigade.
✅ Pattern:
D – D U – U D U
(Down, down-up, up-down-up)
Count: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
💡 Tips:
Emphasize beat 1 and 3 slightly for momentum.
For a “rebel song” sound, keep your strumming wrist loose and percussive.
Optional: light palm muting during verses, open up for the chorus.
🎶 Lyrics with Chords
Verse 1
And it’s [G]up like a bird and high [C]over the [G]city,
“Three men are [Em]missing,” I [C]heard the warder [D]cry.
“Sure it [G]must have been a bird that [C]flew into the [D]prison,
Or [C]one of those new Ministers,” [D]said the [C]warder [D]from Mount[G]joy.
Verse 2
[Ear]ly one evening as the [G]branchmen they were [C]sleeping,
A [G]little helicopter flew [C]in from the [D]sky.
Down [G]into the yard where some [C]prisoners were [G]walking,
“Get [C]ready for inspection,” [D]said the [C]warder [D]in the [G]’Joy.
Verse 3
Down [G]in the yard through the [C]pushing and the [G]shoving,
Three of the [Em]prisoners they [C]climbed upon the [D]bird.
And [G]up and away they went [C]into the grey [D]skies,
“I [C]think someone escaped,” said the [D]warder [C]in the [D]’Joy.
Verse 4
Over [G]in the Dáil they were [C]drinking gin and [G]brandy,
The Minister for [Em]Justice was [C]soaking up the [D]sun.
Then [G]came this little message that [C]some prisoners were [G]escaping,
“I [C]think it’s three of the [D]Provos,” said the [C]warder [D]in the [G]’Joy.
Verse 5
“Search [G]every hole, search [C]every nook and [G]cranny,
Let no man [Em]rest until these [C]men are [D]found.
For [G]this cannot happen to a [C]law and order [G]government.”
“I [C]think you’ll never [D]find them,” said the [C]warder [D]in Mount[G]joy.
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern (for First Verse)
Use a steady 4/4 arpeggio to simulate the rolling motion of the “bird” (helicopter).
Pattern:
T – i – m – i – m – i
(T = thumb, i = index, m = middle)
Thumb plays the bass (E/A/D depending on chord)
Index & middle alternate gently on G and B strings
Maintain a 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 rhythm
🎶 Fingerpicking TAB – First Verse
G C G
e|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|
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 the thumb steady and relaxed — it drives the rhythm.
Lightly emphasize beat 1 to make it waltz-like and flowing.
During the “Up like a bird” line, let the high notes ring out like wings lifting.
Switch to strumming in later verses for a rousing finish!
🎸 a strumming pattern (for lively Irish folk rhythm), and
🎶 a fingerpicking tab for the first verse (in key of G).
🎸 Chords Used
G 320003
C x32010
D xx0232
Em 022000
🪘 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Irish Folk Style)
This song should feel bouncy and driving, like The Wild Rover or The Boys of the Old Brigade.
✅ Pattern:
D – D U – U D U
(Down, down-up, up-down-up)
Count: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
💡 Tips:
Emphasize beat 1 and 3 slightly for momentum.
For a “rebel song” sound, keep your strumming wrist loose and percussive.
Optional: light palm muting during verses, open up for the chorus.
🎶 Lyrics with Chords
Verse 1
And it’s [G]up like a bird and high [C]over the [G]city,
“Three men are [Em]missing,” I [C]heard the warder [D]cry.
“Sure it [G]must have been a bird that [C]flew into the [D]prison,
Or [C]one of those new Ministers,” [D]said the [C]warder [D]from Mount[G]joy.
Verse 2
[Ear]ly one evening as the [G]branchmen they were [C]sleeping,
A [G]little helicopter flew [C]in from the [D]sky.
Down [G]into the yard where some [C]prisoners were [G]walking,
“Get [C]ready for inspection,” [D]said the [C]warder [D]in the [G]’Joy.
Verse 3
Down [G]in the yard through the [C]pushing and the [G]shoving,
Three of the [Em]prisoners they [C]climbed upon the [D]bird.
And [G]up and away they went [C]into the grey [D]skies,
“I [C]think someone escaped,” said the [D]warder [C]in the [D]’Joy.
Verse 4
Over [G]in the Dáil they were [C]drinking gin and [G]brandy,
The Minister for [Em]Justice was [C]soaking up the [D]sun.
Then [G]came this little message that [C]some prisoners were [G]escaping,
“I [C]think it’s three of the [D]Provos,” said the [C]warder [D]in the [G]’Joy.
Verse 5
“Search [G]every hole, search [C]every nook and [G]cranny,
Let no man [Em]rest until these [C]men are [D]found.
For [G]this cannot happen to a [C]law and order [G]government.”
“I [C]think you’ll never [D]find them,” said the [C]warder [D]in Mount[G]joy.
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern (for First Verse)
Use a steady 4/4 arpeggio to simulate the rolling motion of the “bird” (helicopter).
Pattern:
T – i – m – i – m – i
(T = thumb, i = index, m = middle)
Thumb plays the bass (E/A/D depending on chord)
Index & middle alternate gently on G and B strings
Maintain a 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 rhythm
🎶 Fingerpicking TAB – First Verse
G C G
e|-----------3-----------|-----------0-----------|-----------3-----------|
B|-------0-----------0---|-------1-----------1---|-------0-----------0---|
G|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|-----0---0-------0---0-|
D|-----------------------|---2-----------2-------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|---3-------------------|-----------------------|
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 the thumb steady and relaxed — it drives the rhythm.
Lightly emphasize beat 1 to make it waltz-like and flowing.
During the “Up like a bird” line, let the high notes ring out like wings lifting.
Switch to strumming in later verses for a rousing finish!
The image link about takes you to the sheet music
The Helicopter Song was written by Sean (Jobby) Mc Ginley, Castlefinn, Co. Donegal .
This was the Wolfe Tone's group's first No1 record. It became the
fastest selling record of all time in Ireland.
It went straight into the No 1 slot and became
the first song to ever reach No1 without been
played on radio. It created a sensation at the time
by selling 30,000 units in three days.
The helicopter escape took place on 31 October.
There had just been a change of government
and the warder explained to the press reporters
that he thought it was one of the new ministers
coming to the jail for an inspection.
It was one of the most spectacular prison escapes
of all time."
The Wolfe Tones Song List
This was the Wolfe Tone's group's first No1 record. It became the
fastest selling record of all time in Ireland.
It went straight into the No 1 slot and became
the first song to ever reach No1 without been
played on radio. It created a sensation at the time
by selling 30,000 units in three days.
The helicopter escape took place on 31 October.
There had just been a change of government
and the warder explained to the press reporters
that he thought it was one of the new ministers
coming to the jail for an inspection.
It was one of the most spectacular prison escapes
of all time."
The Wolfe Tones Song List
Here's the chords for the key of D.
And it's[D] Up like a bird and high [G] over the [D] city
"Three men are [Bm] missing" I [G] heard the warder [A] cry
"Sure it [D] must have been a bird that [G] flew into the [A] prison
Or [G] one of those new Ministers" [A] said the [G] warder [A] from Mount[D]joy
And it's[D] Up like a bird and high [G] over the [D] city
"Three men are [Bm] missing" I [G] heard the warder [A] cry
"Sure it [D] must have been a bird that [G] flew into the [A] prison
Or [G] one of those new Ministers" [A] said the [G] warder [A] from Mount[D]joy
