The Isle Of Innisfree Lyrics Chords And Tin Whistle Notes
The Isle Of Innisfree Lyrics And Easy Guitar Chords Plus The Sheet piano music score is included which is suitable for flute along with The ukulele / guitar chords are set up in chordpro format..This piece of music formed the basis of the soundtrack of the movie The Quiet Man and was played constantly throughout the movie. Other songs included in the soundtrack include The Wild Colonial Boy song and the old folk song, The Humor Is On Me Now. Written by Richard Farrelly. Foster and Allen did a great version of this beautiful song . Thanks to Gerard Farrelly for letting me display and promote his father's song here.and for the information on his father and the song. The last verse in the song isn't played by the Dublin City Ramblers for some reason and not many others have included it either, Maureen Heggarty sings it though. The song was also recorded by Celtic Woman, Daniel O'Donnell, Bing Crosby and Charlie Landsborough to name a few. The sheet music and tin whistle music letter notes are included which are suited to the tin whistle, banjo / mandolin. Although Richard Farrelly had written the song, the director of the movie John Ford gave no credit to the songwriter, but it wasn't just this song he didn't credit, it was the same with most of the songs in the film. By the way another of the popular Irish songs that featured in the movie soundtrack is Galway Bay Song .The Isle of Innisfree tenor guitar / mandola tab in CGDA Tuning now added.
The Song Lyrics And Easy Chords In G Major
I've[D7] met some[G] folk who say that I'm a[D7] dreamer
And I've no doubt there's truth in[Am] what they[G] say
But[D7] sure a[G] body's[G7] bound to be a[C] dreamer
When[A7] all the[D7] things he loves are far[G] away
And[D7] precious[G] things are dreams onto an[D7] exile
They[D7] take o're the land[Am] across the[G] sea
Es[D7]pecially[G] when it happenes he's an[C] exile
[A7]From that dear[D7] lovely Isle of Innis[G]free
And when the[C] moonlight peeps across the[G] rooftops
Of this great [A7]city wondrous though it[D] be
I[D7] scarcely[G] feel it's wonder or it's[C] laughter
I'm once[D7] again back home in Innis[G]free
I wonder o're green hills and dreamy valleys
And find a peace no other land could know
I hear the birds make music fit for angles
And watch the rivers laughing as they flow
But dreams don't last though dreams are not forgotten
And soon I'm back to stern reality
But though they pave the foot-ways here with gold-dust
I still would choose my Isle of Innisfree.
"And then into a humble shack I wander,
My own sweet home & tenderly behold.
The folks around the turf gathered,
On bended knees, their rosary is told."
I've[D7] met some[G] folk who say that I'm a[D7] dreamer
And I've no doubt there's truth in[Am] what they[G] say
But[D7] sure a[G] body's[G7] bound to be a[C] dreamer
When[A7] all the[D7] things he loves are far[G] away
And[D7] precious[G] things are dreams onto an[D7] exile
They[D7] take o're the land[Am] across the[G] sea
Es[D7]pecially[G] when it happenes he's an[C] exile
[A7]From that dear[D7] lovely Isle of Innis[G]free
And when the[C] moonlight peeps across the[G] rooftops
Of this great [A7]city wondrous though it[D] be
I[D7] scarcely[G] feel it's wonder or it's[C] laughter
I'm once[D7] again back home in Innis[G]free
I wonder o're green hills and dreamy valleys
And find a peace no other land could know
I hear the birds make music fit for angles
And watch the rivers laughing as they flow
But dreams don't last though dreams are not forgotten
And soon I'm back to stern reality
But though they pave the foot-ways here with gold-dust
I still would choose my Isle of Innisfree.
"And then into a humble shack I wander,
My own sweet home & tenderly behold.
The folks around the turf gathered,
On bended knees, their rosary is told."
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4 — slow ballad)↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
(Soft, flowing, let chords ring)
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern (4/4)T – 3 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 2 – 1
Thumb alternates bass strings for a rolling feel.
🎵 TABS + LYRICS — 3 bars per line (4/4)
VERSE 1
I've met some folk who say that I'm a dreamer
D7......................G.......................D7
e|---1-------1-------1-|---3-------3-------3-|---1-------1-------1-|
B|---1---1---1---1---1-|---0---0---0---0---0-|---2---2---2---2---2-|
G|---2-------2-------2-|---0-------0-------0-|---1-------1-------1-|
D|---0------------------|----------------------|---0------------------|
A|----------------------|---2------------------|----------------------|
E|----------------------|---3------------------|----------------------|
And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say
Am......................G.......................D7
e|---0-------0-------0-|---3-------3-------3-|---1-------1-------1-|
B|---1---1---1---1---1-|---0---0---0---0---0-|---2---2---2---2---2-|
G|---2-------2-------2-|---0-------0-------0-|---1-------1-------1-|
D|---2------------------|----------------------|---0------------------|
A|---0------------------|---2------------------|----------------------|
E|----------------------|---3------------------|----------------------|
But sure a body's bound to be a dreamer
G.......................G7......................C
e|---3-------3-------3-|---1-------1-------1-|---0-------0-------0-|
B|---0---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0---0-|---1---1---1---1---1-|
G|---0-------0-------0-|---0-------0-------0-|---0-------0-------0-|
D|----------------------|---0------------------|---2------------------|
A|---2------------------|---2------------------|---3------------------|
E|---3------------------|---1------------------|----------------------|
When all the things he loves are far away
A7......................D7......................G
e|---0-------0-------0-|---1-------1-------1-|---3-------3-------3-|
B|---2---2---2---2---2-|---2---2---2---2---2-|---0---0---0---0---0-|
G|---0-------0-------0-|---1-------1-------1-|---0-------0-------0-|
D|---2------------------|---0------------------|----------------------|
A|---0------------------|----------------------|---2------------------|
E|----------------------|----------------------|---3------------------|
VERSE 2
markdown
Copy code
And precious things are dreams unto an exile
D7......................G.......................D7
e|---1-------1-------1-|---3-------3-------3-|---1-------1-------1-|
B|---2---2---2---2---2-|---0---0---0---0---0-|---2---2---2---2---2-|
G|---1-------1-------1-|---0-------0-------0-|---1-------1-------1-|
D|---0------------------|----------------------|---0------------------|
A|----------------------|---2------------------|----------------------|
E|----------------------|---3------------------|----------------------|
They take o’re the land across the sea
D7......................Am......................G
e|---1-------1-------1-|---0-------0-------0-|---3-------3-------3-|
B|---2---2---2---2---2-|---1---1---1---1---1-|---0---0---0---0---0-|
G|---1-------1-------1-|---2-------2-------2-|---0-------0-------0-|
D|---0------------------|---2------------------|----------------------|
A|----------------------|---0------------------|---2------------------|
E|----------------------|----------------------|---3------------------|
Especially when it happens he's an exile
D7......................G.......................C
e|---1-------1-------1-|---3-------3-------3-|---0-------0-------0-|
B|---2---2---2---2---2-|---0---0---0---0---0-|---1---1---1---1---1-|
G|---1-------1-------1-|---0-------0-------0-|---0-------0-------0-|
D|---0------------------|----------------------|---2------------------|
A|----------------------|---2------------------|---3------------------|
E|----------------------|---3------------------|----------------------|
From that dear lovely Isle of Innisfree
A7......................D7......................G
e|---0-------0-------0-|---1-------1-------1-|---3-------3-------3-|
B|---2---2---2---2---2-|---2---2---2---2---2-|---0---0---0---0---0-|
G|---0-------0-------0-|---1-------1-------1-|---0-------0-------0-|
D|---2------------------|---0------------------|----------------------|
A|---0------------------|----------------------|---2------------------|
E|----------------------|----------------------|---3------------------|
VERSE 3
markdown
Copy code
And when the moonlight peeps across the rooftops
C.......................G.......................A7
e|---0-------0-------0-|---3-------3-------3-|---0-------0-------0-|
B|---1---1---1---1---1-|---0---0---0---0---0-|---2---2---2---2---2-|
G|---0-------0-------0-|---0-------0-------0-|---0-------0-------0-|
D|---2------------------|----------------------|---2------------------|
A|---3------------------|---2------------------|---0------------------|
E|----------------------|---3------------------|----------------------|
Of this great city wondrous though it be
D.......................D7......................G
e|---2-------2-------2-|---1-------1-------1-|---3-------3-------3-|
B|---3---3---3---3---3-|---2---2---2---2---2-|---0---0---0---0---0-|
G|---2-------2-------2-|---1-------1-------1-|---0-------0-------0-|
D|---0------------------|---0------------------|----------------------|
A|----------------------|----------------------|---2------------------|
E|----------------------|----------------------|---3------------------|
I scarcely feel its wonder or its laughter
D7......................C.......................D7
e|---1-------1-------1-|---0-------0-------0-|---1-------1-------1-|
B|---2---2---2---2---2-|---1---1---1---1---1-|---2---2---2---2---2-|
G|---1-------1-------1-|---0-------0-------0-|---1-------1-------1-|
D|---0------------------|---2------------------|---0------------------|
A|----------------------|---3------------------|----------------------|
E|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
I'm once again back home in Innisfree
G.......................G.......................G
e|---3-------3-------3-|---3-------3-------3-|---3-------3-------3-|
B|---0---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0---0-|
G|---0-------0-------0-|---0-------0-------0-|---0-------0-------0-|
D|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
A|---2------------------|---2------------------|---2------------------|
E|---3------------------|---3------------------|---3------------------|
(Soft, flowing, let chords ring)
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern (4/4)T – 3 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 2 – 1
Thumb alternates bass strings for a rolling feel.
🎵 TABS + LYRICS — 3 bars per line (4/4)
VERSE 1
I've met some folk who say that I'm a dreamer
D7......................G.......................D7
e|---1-------1-------1-|---3-------3-------3-|---1-------1-------1-|
B|---1---1---1---1---1-|---0---0---0---0---0-|---2---2---2---2---2-|
G|---2-------2-------2-|---0-------0-------0-|---1-------1-------1-|
D|---0------------------|----------------------|---0------------------|
A|----------------------|---2------------------|----------------------|
E|----------------------|---3------------------|----------------------|
And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say
Am......................G.......................D7
e|---0-------0-------0-|---3-------3-------3-|---1-------1-------1-|
B|---1---1---1---1---1-|---0---0---0---0---0-|---2---2---2---2---2-|
G|---2-------2-------2-|---0-------0-------0-|---1-------1-------1-|
D|---2------------------|----------------------|---0------------------|
A|---0------------------|---2------------------|----------------------|
E|----------------------|---3------------------|----------------------|
But sure a body's bound to be a dreamer
G.......................G7......................C
e|---3-------3-------3-|---1-------1-------1-|---0-------0-------0-|
B|---0---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0---0-|---1---1---1---1---1-|
G|---0-------0-------0-|---0-------0-------0-|---0-------0-------0-|
D|----------------------|---0------------------|---2------------------|
A|---2------------------|---2------------------|---3------------------|
E|---3------------------|---1------------------|----------------------|
When all the things he loves are far away
A7......................D7......................G
e|---0-------0-------0-|---1-------1-------1-|---3-------3-------3-|
B|---2---2---2---2---2-|---2---2---2---2---2-|---0---0---0---0---0-|
G|---0-------0-------0-|---1-------1-------1-|---0-------0-------0-|
D|---2------------------|---0------------------|----------------------|
A|---0------------------|----------------------|---2------------------|
E|----------------------|----------------------|---3------------------|
VERSE 2
markdown
Copy code
And precious things are dreams unto an exile
D7......................G.......................D7
e|---1-------1-------1-|---3-------3-------3-|---1-------1-------1-|
B|---2---2---2---2---2-|---0---0---0---0---0-|---2---2---2---2---2-|
G|---1-------1-------1-|---0-------0-------0-|---1-------1-------1-|
D|---0------------------|----------------------|---0------------------|
A|----------------------|---2------------------|----------------------|
E|----------------------|---3------------------|----------------------|
They take o’re the land across the sea
D7......................Am......................G
e|---1-------1-------1-|---0-------0-------0-|---3-------3-------3-|
B|---2---2---2---2---2-|---1---1---1---1---1-|---0---0---0---0---0-|
G|---1-------1-------1-|---2-------2-------2-|---0-------0-------0-|
D|---0------------------|---2------------------|----------------------|
A|----------------------|---0------------------|---2------------------|
E|----------------------|----------------------|---3------------------|
Especially when it happens he's an exile
D7......................G.......................C
e|---1-------1-------1-|---3-------3-------3-|---0-------0-------0-|
B|---2---2---2---2---2-|---0---0---0---0---0-|---1---1---1---1---1-|
G|---1-------1-------1-|---0-------0-------0-|---0-------0-------0-|
D|---0------------------|----------------------|---2------------------|
A|----------------------|---2------------------|---3------------------|
E|----------------------|---3------------------|----------------------|
From that dear lovely Isle of Innisfree
A7......................D7......................G
e|---0-------0-------0-|---1-------1-------1-|---3-------3-------3-|
B|---2---2---2---2---2-|---2---2---2---2---2-|---0---0---0---0---0-|
G|---0-------0-------0-|---1-------1-------1-|---0-------0-------0-|
D|---2------------------|---0------------------|----------------------|
A|---0------------------|----------------------|---2------------------|
E|----------------------|----------------------|---3------------------|
VERSE 3
markdown
Copy code
And when the moonlight peeps across the rooftops
C.......................G.......................A7
e|---0-------0-------0-|---3-------3-------3-|---0-------0-------0-|
B|---1---1---1---1---1-|---0---0---0---0---0-|---2---2---2---2---2-|
G|---0-------0-------0-|---0-------0-------0-|---0-------0-------0-|
D|---2------------------|----------------------|---2------------------|
A|---3------------------|---2------------------|---0------------------|
E|----------------------|---3------------------|----------------------|
Of this great city wondrous though it be
D.......................D7......................G
e|---2-------2-------2-|---1-------1-------1-|---3-------3-------3-|
B|---3---3---3---3---3-|---2---2---2---2---2-|---0---0---0---0---0-|
G|---2-------2-------2-|---1-------1-------1-|---0-------0-------0-|
D|---0------------------|---0------------------|----------------------|
A|----------------------|----------------------|---2------------------|
E|----------------------|----------------------|---3------------------|
I scarcely feel its wonder or its laughter
D7......................C.......................D7
e|---1-------1-------1-|---0-------0-------0-|---1-------1-------1-|
B|---2---2---2---2---2-|---1---1---1---1---1-|---2---2---2---2---2-|
G|---1-------1-------1-|---0-------0-------0-|---1-------1-------1-|
D|---0------------------|---2------------------|---0------------------|
A|----------------------|---3------------------|----------------------|
E|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
I'm once again back home in Innisfree
G.......................G.......................G
e|---3-------3-------3-|---3-------3-------3-|---3-------3-------3-|
B|---0---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0---0-|
G|---0-------0-------0-|---0-------0-------0-|---0-------0-------0-|
D|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
A|---2------------------|---2------------------|---2------------------|
E|---3------------------|---3------------------|---3------------------|
The Isle of Innisfree guitar chords and tab in the key of D.
The Isle of Innisfree sheet music score in D Major
Below is the list of sheet music and tin whistle songs that are in my ebooks. This is the largest collection of tin whistle songs ever put together.[over 900 songs ] Including folk, pop and trad tunes plus German And French songs along with Christmas Carols.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50 . The Isle Of Innisfree Tin Whistle Sheet Music Included.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50 . The Isle Of Innisfree Tin Whistle Sheet Music Included.
A man playing the Isle Of Innisfree on guitar
The Isle of Innisfree tenor guitar / mandola tab in CGDA Tuning
The Isle of Innisfree arpeggios sheet music
Below is the sheet music score for The Isle Of Innisfree .
🇮🇪 The Isle of Innisfree
Type: Irish ballad / sentimental song
Lyrics and music: Richard Farrelly (1926–1993)
Written: 1949
Made famous by: Bing Crosby (1951), later by John McCormack, Maureen Hegarty, Daniel O’Donnell, and others
Film appearance: The Quiet Man (1952), directed by John Ford
Theme: Longing for Ireland, homesickness, love of one’s homeland
🌿 Origins and Background
“The Isle of Innisfree” was written in 1949 by Richard Farrelly, an Irish policeman and songwriter from Kells, County Meath.
Farrelly wrote both the words and the melody, which is relatively rare — and he did so while travelling by bus to Dublin.
The song expresses a deep homesickness and yearning for Ireland, seen through the eyes of someone far away. Its heartfelt simplicity and tender imagery made it one of the most loved Irish ballads of the 20th century.
Though often mistaken for a traditional song, “The Isle of Innisfree” is entirely original, and its connection to The Quiet Man film helped give it worldwide fame.
🎬 Connection to “The Quiet Man”
Director John Ford chose “The Isle of Innisfree” as the main theme for his Oscar-winning 1952 film The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara.
The haunting melody — arranged instrumentally by composer Victor Young — opens the film as Sean Thornton (Wayne) returns home to Ireland, capturing perfectly the nostalgia and emotional pull of the story.
Despite being one of the most recognizable film themes in history, Richard Farrelly was not initially credited for the use of his song in the movie’s score — something later corrected after much recognition of his authorship.
Type: Irish ballad / sentimental song
Lyrics and music: Richard Farrelly (1926–1993)
Written: 1949
Made famous by: Bing Crosby (1951), later by John McCormack, Maureen Hegarty, Daniel O’Donnell, and others
Film appearance: The Quiet Man (1952), directed by John Ford
Theme: Longing for Ireland, homesickness, love of one’s homeland
🌿 Origins and Background
“The Isle of Innisfree” was written in 1949 by Richard Farrelly, an Irish policeman and songwriter from Kells, County Meath.
Farrelly wrote both the words and the melody, which is relatively rare — and he did so while travelling by bus to Dublin.
The song expresses a deep homesickness and yearning for Ireland, seen through the eyes of someone far away. Its heartfelt simplicity and tender imagery made it one of the most loved Irish ballads of the 20th century.
Though often mistaken for a traditional song, “The Isle of Innisfree” is entirely original, and its connection to The Quiet Man film helped give it worldwide fame.
🎬 Connection to “The Quiet Man”
Director John Ford chose “The Isle of Innisfree” as the main theme for his Oscar-winning 1952 film The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara.
The haunting melody — arranged instrumentally by composer Victor Young — opens the film as Sean Thornton (Wayne) returns home to Ireland, capturing perfectly the nostalgia and emotional pull of the story.
Despite being one of the most recognizable film themes in history, Richard Farrelly was not initially credited for the use of his song in the movie’s score — something later corrected after much recognition of his authorship.
