The Legend lyrics and chords
By Dan Hennon. The first version is by Terry O'Neill and the second by by Pádraig Mór. The guitar chords in chordpro for both versions are by Marc Fahrbach. R.I.P Nelson Mandela who died on the 5th of December 2013, born in 1918.Terry O'Neill also recorded the Irish ballad Sean South From Garryowen song .
The Legend Lyrics without the chords
I went to see a legend just the other night
At the Yankee Stadium, underneath the light.
I heard a man speaking after years and years in jail.
His name it was Mandela and he came to tell his tale.
The crowd they cheered him loudly, ah, but then the silence fell
As he spoke about the hard years in a South African cell.
And though he was free, his heart was feelin' the pain,
For his country and his people were still a part of that shame.
He said he hoped that we would join him and walk down freedom's path,
And these roads would be the hardest, oh, but they would be the last.
And to join our hands together so that we might be as one,
And to bring ourselves to the cause so his battle could be won.
I went home to bed that evening, went to sleep and I had a dream.
I was standing in the pouring rain, in an Irish field of green.
And all around the headstones were the martyrs of the past.
I stood there in silence, and they spoke to me at last.
"Kevin Barry is my name, and I died in a cell.
They wanted the names of my comrades, oh, but this I would not tell."
"And I am Roger Casement. I was shot in London town
For bringing German rifles to the lonely Banna Strand."
"James Connolly is my name. The working people are my life.
When they shot me down in Kilmainham Jail with strife."
"And I am Padraic Pearse. I was shot down by the foe.
I read the proclamation at the steps of the GPO."
And the last voice that I heard says, "My name is Bobby Sands,
And it's good to hear Mandela's words a-ringin' through the land.
"I want to hear them in Belfast, in Derry and Tyrone.
Maybe then those English soldiers will know it's time to go home."
I woke up in the morning. I remembered them all.
And who would believe that they'd knocked down the Berlin Wall?
And I said "Madela, could this really be?
Maybe now we will see Ireland reunited and free.
Maybe now we will see Ireland reunited and free."
I went to see a legend just the other night
At the Yankee Stadium, underneath the light.
I heard a man speaking after years and years in jail.
His name it was Mandela and he came to tell his tale.
The crowd they cheered him loudly, ah, but then the silence fell
As he spoke about the hard years in a South African cell.
And though he was free, his heart was feelin' the pain,
For his country and his people were still a part of that shame.
He said he hoped that we would join him and walk down freedom's path,
And these roads would be the hardest, oh, but they would be the last.
And to join our hands together so that we might be as one,
And to bring ourselves to the cause so his battle could be won.
I went home to bed that evening, went to sleep and I had a dream.
I was standing in the pouring rain, in an Irish field of green.
And all around the headstones were the martyrs of the past.
I stood there in silence, and they spoke to me at last.
"Kevin Barry is my name, and I died in a cell.
They wanted the names of my comrades, oh, but this I would not tell."
"And I am Roger Casement. I was shot in London town
For bringing German rifles to the lonely Banna Strand."
"James Connolly is my name. The working people are my life.
When they shot me down in Kilmainham Jail with strife."
"And I am Padraic Pearse. I was shot down by the foe.
I read the proclamation at the steps of the GPO."
And the last voice that I heard says, "My name is Bobby Sands,
And it's good to hear Mandela's words a-ringin' through the land.
"I want to hear them in Belfast, in Derry and Tyrone.
Maybe then those English soldiers will know it's time to go home."
I woke up in the morning. I remembered them all.
And who would believe that they'd knocked down the Berlin Wall?
And I said "Madela, could this really be?
Maybe now we will see Ireland reunited and free.
Maybe now we will see Ireland reunited and free."
Terry O’Neill-Version: (Capo on 2nd fret)
I (C)went to see a (Em)legend (F)just the (G)other (C)night
(Am)At the Yankee (Em)Stadium, (F)underneath the (G)light.
I (Am)heard a man (Em)speaking after (F)years and (G)years in (C)jail.
His name it was Man(Em)dela and he (F)came to (G)tell his (C)tale.
The (C)crowd they cheered him (Em)loudly, ah, but (F)then the (G)silence (C)fell
As he (Am)spoke about the (Em)hard years in a (F)South African (G)cell.
And (Am)though he was (Em)free, his (F)heart was (G)feelin' the (C)pain,
For his country and his (Em)people were (F)still a part (G)of that (C)shame.
He (C)said he hoped that we would (Em)join him and (F)walk down (G)freedom's (C)path,
And (Am)these roads would be the (Em)hardest, oh, but (F)they would be the (G)last.
And to (Am)join our hands to(Em)gether so that (F)we might (G)be as (C)one,
And to bring ourselves (Em)to the cause so his (F)battle (G)could be (C)won.
I went (C)home to bed that (Em)evening, went to (F)sleep and I (G)had a (C)dream.
I was (Am)standing in the (Em)pouring rain, in an (F)Irish field of (G)green.
And (Am)all around the (Em)headstones were the (F)martyrs (G)of the (C)past.
I stood there in (Em)silence, and they (F)spoke to (G)me at (C)last.
"Kevin (C)Barry is my (Em)name, and I (F)died (G)in a (C)cell.
They (Am)wanted the names of my (Em)comrades, oh, but this (F)I would not (G)tell."
"And (Am)I am Roger (Em)Casement. I was (F)shot in (G)London (C)town
For bringing German (Em)rifles to the (F)lonely (G)Banna (C)Strand."
"James (C)Connolly is my (Em)name. The working (F)people (G)are my (C)life.
(Am)When they shot me (Em)down in Kil(F)mainham Jail with (G)strife."
"And (Am)I am Padraic (Em)Pearse. I was (F)shot down (G)by the (C)foe.
I read the procla(Em)mation at the (F)steps of the (G)GP(C)O."
And the (C)last voice that I (Em)heard says, "My (F)name is (G)Bobby (C)Sands,
And it's (Am)good to hear Man(Em)dela's words a-(F)ringin' through the (G)land.
"I (Am)want to hear them in (Em) Belfast, in (F)Derry and (G)Ty(C)rone.
Maybe then those English (Em)soldiers will know it's (F)time (G)to go (C)home."
I (C)woke up in the (Em)morning. I re(F)membered (G)them (C)all.
And (Am)who would be(Em)lieve that they'd (F)knocked down the Berlin (G)Wall?
And (Am)I said "Man(Em)dela, could (F)this (G)really (C)be?
Maybe now we will see (Em)Ireland reu(F)nited (G)and (C)free.
Maybe now we will see (Em)Ireland reu(F)nited (G)and (C)free."
I (C)went to see a (Em)legend (F)just the (G)other (C)night
(Am)At the Yankee (Em)Stadium, (F)underneath the (G)light.
I (Am)heard a man (Em)speaking after (F)years and (G)years in (C)jail.
His name it was Man(Em)dela and he (F)came to (G)tell his (C)tale.
The (C)crowd they cheered him (Em)loudly, ah, but (F)then the (G)silence (C)fell
As he (Am)spoke about the (Em)hard years in a (F)South African (G)cell.
And (Am)though he was (Em)free, his (F)heart was (G)feelin' the (C)pain,
For his country and his (Em)people were (F)still a part (G)of that (C)shame.
He (C)said he hoped that we would (Em)join him and (F)walk down (G)freedom's (C)path,
And (Am)these roads would be the (Em)hardest, oh, but (F)they would be the (G)last.
And to (Am)join our hands to(Em)gether so that (F)we might (G)be as (C)one,
And to bring ourselves (Em)to the cause so his (F)battle (G)could be (C)won.
I went (C)home to bed that (Em)evening, went to (F)sleep and I (G)had a (C)dream.
I was (Am)standing in the (Em)pouring rain, in an (F)Irish field of (G)green.
And (Am)all around the (Em)headstones were the (F)martyrs (G)of the (C)past.
I stood there in (Em)silence, and they (F)spoke to (G)me at (C)last.
"Kevin (C)Barry is my (Em)name, and I (F)died (G)in a (C)cell.
They (Am)wanted the names of my (Em)comrades, oh, but this (F)I would not (G)tell."
"And (Am)I am Roger (Em)Casement. I was (F)shot in (G)London (C)town
For bringing German (Em)rifles to the (F)lonely (G)Banna (C)Strand."
"James (C)Connolly is my (Em)name. The working (F)people (G)are my (C)life.
(Am)When they shot me (Em)down in Kil(F)mainham Jail with (G)strife."
"And (Am)I am Padraic (Em)Pearse. I was (F)shot down (G)by the (C)foe.
I read the procla(Em)mation at the (F)steps of the (G)GP(C)O."
And the (C)last voice that I (Em)heard says, "My (F)name is (G)Bobby (C)Sands,
And it's (Am)good to hear Man(Em)dela's words a-(F)ringin' through the (G)land.
"I (Am)want to hear them in (Em) Belfast, in (F)Derry and (G)Ty(C)rone.
Maybe then those English (Em)soldiers will know it's (F)time (G)to go (C)home."
I (C)woke up in the (Em)morning. I re(F)membered (G)them (C)all.
And (Am)who would be(Em)lieve that they'd (F)knocked down the Berlin (G)Wall?
And (Am)I said "Man(Em)dela, could (F)this (G)really (C)be?
Maybe now we will see (Em)Ireland reu(F)nited (G)and (C)free.
Maybe now we will see (Em)Ireland reu(F)nited (G)and (C)free."
THE LEGEND LYRICS AND CHORDS 4/4 (Dan Hennon)
Pádraig Mór-Version (Capo on 3rd fret)
Intro: C-Bm-C-D-G
G-EM-C-D-G
I (G)went to see a (Bm)legend (C)just the (D)other (G)night
Down in Yankee (Em)Stadium, (C)underneath the (D)light.
And I (Em)heard a no man (Bm)speak there after (C)years and (D)years in (G)jail.
His name it was Man(Em)dela and he (C)came to (D)tell his (G)tale.
Oh the (G)crowd they cheered him (Bm)loudly, ah, but (C)then the (D)silence (G)fell
As he spoke of the (Em)hard years in a (C)South African (D)cell.
And al(Em)though he was (Bm)free now, his (C)heart was (D)feelin' (G)pain,
For his country and his (Em)people still (C)wore a(D)partheid’s (G)chains.
He (G)said he hoped that we would (Bm)join him as he (C)walked down (D)freedom's (G)path,
And that these miles would be the (Em)hardest, but (C)they would be the (D)last.
And to (Em)join our hands to(Bm)gether so that (C)we might (D)be as (G)one,
Cry to fly ourselves to (Em)courage that this (C)battle (D)could be (G)won.
Well, I went (G)home that same (Bm)evening, I fell a(C)sleep and (D)had a (G)dream.
I was standing in the (Em)pouring rain, in an (C)Irish field of (D)green.
And (Em)all around the (Bm)headstones of our (C)martyrs (D)from the (G)past.
I was standing there in (Em)silence, and they (C)spoke to (D)me at (G)last.
"Kevin (G)Barry is my (Bm)name, and I (C)died (D)in a hangman’s (G)noose.
Oh, they wanted the names of my (Em)comrades, but this (C)I would not (D)do."
"And (Em)I am Roger (Bm)Casement, and I (C)died by (D)England’s (G)hand
For bringing German (Em)rifles to the (C)lonely (D)Banna (G)Strand."
"James (G)Connolly is my (Bm)name. The working (C)people (D)were my (G)life.
When they shot me down in Kil(Em)mainham Jail it (C)brough great civil (D)strife."
"And (Em)I am Padraic (Bm)Pearse. I was (C)murdered (D)by the (G)foe.
Because I read the procla(Em)mation from the (C)steps of the (D)GP(G)O."
G-D-Em-C-D-G G-Em-C-D Em-Bm-C-D-G G-Em-C-D-G
Well, the (G)last voice that I (Bm)heard said, "My (C)name is (D)Bobby (G)Sands,
It said it's good to hear Man(Em)dela's words (C)ringin' through the (D)land.
"I (Em)hope thry hear them up in (Bm) Belfast, in (C)Derry (D)and Ty(G)rone.
Maybe then those English (Em)soldiers will know it's (C)time (D)to go (G)home."
Well I a(G)woke up in the (Bm)morning. Nothing (C)made (D)sence at (G)all.
But then I got good be(Em)lieve that they'd (C)knocked down the Berlin (D)Wall?
For the (Em)freed Nelson Man(Bm)dela, oh could (C)this (D)really (G)be?
Maybe now we will see (Em)Ireland reu(C)nited (D)and (G)free.
Maybe now we will see (Bm)Ireland reu(C)nited (D)and (G)free."
Pádraig Mór-Version (Capo on 3rd fret)
Intro: C-Bm-C-D-G
G-EM-C-D-G
I (G)went to see a (Bm)legend (C)just the (D)other (G)night
Down in Yankee (Em)Stadium, (C)underneath the (D)light.
And I (Em)heard a no man (Bm)speak there after (C)years and (D)years in (G)jail.
His name it was Man(Em)dela and he (C)came to (D)tell his (G)tale.
Oh the (G)crowd they cheered him (Bm)loudly, ah, but (C)then the (D)silence (G)fell
As he spoke of the (Em)hard years in a (C)South African (D)cell.
And al(Em)though he was (Bm)free now, his (C)heart was (D)feelin' (G)pain,
For his country and his (Em)people still (C)wore a(D)partheid’s (G)chains.
He (G)said he hoped that we would (Bm)join him as he (C)walked down (D)freedom's (G)path,
And that these miles would be the (Em)hardest, but (C)they would be the (D)last.
And to (Em)join our hands to(Bm)gether so that (C)we might (D)be as (G)one,
Cry to fly ourselves to (Em)courage that this (C)battle (D)could be (G)won.
Well, I went (G)home that same (Bm)evening, I fell a(C)sleep and (D)had a (G)dream.
I was standing in the (Em)pouring rain, in an (C)Irish field of (D)green.
And (Em)all around the (Bm)headstones of our (C)martyrs (D)from the (G)past.
I was standing there in (Em)silence, and they (C)spoke to (D)me at (G)last.
"Kevin (G)Barry is my (Bm)name, and I (C)died (D)in a hangman’s (G)noose.
Oh, they wanted the names of my (Em)comrades, but this (C)I would not (D)do."
"And (Em)I am Roger (Bm)Casement, and I (C)died by (D)England’s (G)hand
For bringing German (Em)rifles to the (C)lonely (D)Banna (G)Strand."
"James (G)Connolly is my (Bm)name. The working (C)people (D)were my (G)life.
When they shot me down in Kil(Em)mainham Jail it (C)brough great civil (D)strife."
"And (Em)I am Padraic (Bm)Pearse. I was (C)murdered (D)by the (G)foe.
Because I read the procla(Em)mation from the (C)steps of the (D)GP(G)O."
G-D-Em-C-D-G G-Em-C-D Em-Bm-C-D-G G-Em-C-D-G
Well, the (G)last voice that I (Bm)heard said, "My (C)name is (D)Bobby (G)Sands,
It said it's good to hear Man(Em)dela's words (C)ringin' through the (D)land.
"I (Em)hope thry hear them up in (Bm) Belfast, in (C)Derry (D)and Ty(G)rone.
Maybe then those English (Em)soldiers will know it's (C)time (D)to go (G)home."
Well I a(G)woke up in the (Bm)morning. Nothing (C)made (D)sence at (G)all.
But then I got good be(Em)lieve that they'd (C)knocked down the Berlin (D)Wall?
For the (Em)freed Nelson Man(Bm)dela, oh could (C)this (D)really (G)be?
Maybe now we will see (Em)Ireland reu(C)nited (D)and (G)free.
Maybe now we will see (Bm)Ireland reu(C)nited (D)and (G)free."
Nelson Mandela Song The Legend
