The Minstrel Boy Song Lyrics And Guitar Chords
The Minstrel Boy Song Lyrics And Guitar Chords. Written by Thomas Moore and made famous by The Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem, timing 4/4. Guitar chords for this Clancy Brothers version worked out by Marc Patrick Fahrbach. The Minstrel Boy Tin Whistle Sheet Music .
4/4 (By Thomas Moore, Clancy Brothers & Makem’s Version)
Intro: Drums
The (C)Minstrel (Am)Boy to the (C)war is (F)gone,
In the (C)ranks of (Am)death you'll (G)find (C)him,
His (C)father's (Am)sword he has (C)girded (F)on,
And his (C)wild harp (Am)slung be(G)hind (C)him,
(Am)"Land of (F)Song"! said the (Em)warrior bard,
"Tho' (Am)all the world be(F)trays (C)thee,
One (C)sword at (Am)least thy (C)rights shall (F)guard,
One (C)faithful (Am)harp shall (G)praise (C)thee"!
C-Am-C-F
C-Am-G-C
The (C)Minstrel (Am)fell but the (C)foeman's (F)chain
Could not (C)bring his (Am)proud soul (G)un(C)der,
The (C)harp he (Am)loved ne'er (C)spoke a(F)gain
For he (C)tore its (Am)chords a(G)sun(C)der,
And (Am)said "No (F)chains shall (Em)sully thee,
Thou (Am)soul of love and (F)brave(C)ry!
Thy (C)songs were (Am)made for the (C)pure and (F)free
They shall (C)never (Am)sound in (G)slave(C)ry".
C-Am-G-C
Additional Verse (added during the US Civil War, not used by the Clancy Bros. & Makem)
The (C)Minstrel (Am)Boy will re(C)turn we (F)pray
When we (C)hear the (Am)news we all will (G)cheer (C)it,
The (C)minstrel (Am)boy will re(C)turn one (F)day,
Torn per(C)haps in (Am)body, not in (G)spi(C)rit.
Then (Am)may he (F)play on his (Em)harp in peace,
In a (Am)world such as Heaven in(F)ten(C)ded,
For (C)all the (Am)bitterness of (C)man must (F)cease,
And (C)ev'ry (Am)battle must be (G)en(C)ded
Intro: Drums
The (C)Minstrel (Am)Boy to the (C)war is (F)gone,
In the (C)ranks of (Am)death you'll (G)find (C)him,
His (C)father's (Am)sword he has (C)girded (F)on,
And his (C)wild harp (Am)slung be(G)hind (C)him,
(Am)"Land of (F)Song"! said the (Em)warrior bard,
"Tho' (Am)all the world be(F)trays (C)thee,
One (C)sword at (Am)least thy (C)rights shall (F)guard,
One (C)faithful (Am)harp shall (G)praise (C)thee"!
C-Am-C-F
C-Am-G-C
The (C)Minstrel (Am)fell but the (C)foeman's (F)chain
Could not (C)bring his (Am)proud soul (G)un(C)der,
The (C)harp he (Am)loved ne'er (C)spoke a(F)gain
For he (C)tore its (Am)chords a(G)sun(C)der,
And (Am)said "No (F)chains shall (Em)sully thee,
Thou (Am)soul of love and (F)brave(C)ry!
Thy (C)songs were (Am)made for the (C)pure and (F)free
They shall (C)never (Am)sound in (G)slave(C)ry".
C-Am-G-C
Additional Verse (added during the US Civil War, not used by the Clancy Bros. & Makem)
The (C)Minstrel (Am)Boy will re(C)turn we (F)pray
When we (C)hear the (Am)news we all will (G)cheer (C)it,
The (C)minstrel (Am)boy will re(C)turn one (F)day,
Torn per(C)haps in (Am)body, not in (G)spi(C)rit.
Then (Am)may he (F)play on his (Em)harp in peace,
In a (Am)world such as Heaven in(F)ten(C)ded,
For (C)all the (Am)bitterness of (C)man must (F)cease,
And (C)ev'ry (Am)battle must be (G)en(C)ded
Key of D
The (D)Minstrel (Bm)Boy to the (D)war is (G)gone,
In the (D)ranks of (Bm)death you'll (A)find (D)him,
His (D)father's (Bm)sword he has (D)girded (G)on,
And his (D)wild harp (Bm)slung be(A)hind (D)him,
(Bm)"Land of (G)Song"! said the (F#m)warrior bard,
"Tho' (Bm)all the world be(G)trays (D)thee,
One (D)sword at (Bm)least thy (D)rights shall (G)guard,
One (D)faithful (Bm)harp shall (A)praise (D)thee"!
Key of G
The (G)Minstrel (Em)Boy to the (G)war is (C)gone,
In the (G)ranks of (Em)death you'll (D)find (G)him,
His (G)father's (Em)sword he has (G)girded (C)on,
And his (G)wild harp (Em)slung be(D)hind (G)him,
(Em)"Land of (C)Song"! said the (Bm)warrior bard,
"Tho' (Em)all the world be(C)trays (G)thee,
One (G)sword at (Em)least thy (G)rights shall (C)guard,
One (G)faithful (Em)harp shall (D)praise (G)thee"!
The (D)Minstrel (Bm)Boy to the (D)war is (G)gone,
In the (D)ranks of (Bm)death you'll (A)find (D)him,
His (D)father's (Bm)sword he has (D)girded (G)on,
And his (D)wild harp (Bm)slung be(A)hind (D)him,
(Bm)"Land of (G)Song"! said the (F#m)warrior bard,
"Tho' (Bm)all the world be(G)trays (D)thee,
One (D)sword at (Bm)least thy (D)rights shall (G)guard,
One (D)faithful (Bm)harp shall (A)praise (D)thee"!
Key of G
The (G)Minstrel (Em)Boy to the (G)war is (C)gone,
In the (G)ranks of (Em)death you'll (D)find (G)him,
His (G)father's (Em)sword he has (G)girded (C)on,
And his (G)wild harp (Em)slung be(D)hind (G)him,
(Em)"Land of (C)Song"! said the (Bm)warrior bard,
"Tho' (Em)all the world be(C)trays (G)thee,
One (G)sword at (Em)least thy (G)rights shall (C)guard,
One (G)faithful (Em)harp shall (D)praise (G)thee"!
Below is your mobile-friendly layout in G Major, with lyrics above 3-bar fingerpicking tabs, a gentle folk strumming pattern, and a harp-like fingerpicking arrangement to capture the song’s noble tone.
🎸 **Key:** G Major
🕒 **Time Signature:** 4/4 (slow march feel)
🎶 **Tempo:** ~72 bpm (solemn and steady)
---
### 🎸 Strumming Pattern
> **Pattern:** ↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
> Count: 1 2& 3&4&
> - Light on beats 2 and 4 for a marching-folk rhythm
> - Emphasize the downstroke on beat 1 with your thumb or pick
---
### 🎶 Fingerpicking Pattern
> **p–i–m–a–m–i** (Thumb–Index–Middle–Ring–Middle–Index)
> - Thumb plays bass (E/A/D)
> - Roll gently across G–B–E strings
> - Works perfectly for verses to mimic harp texture
---
## 🎵 Verse 1
The (G)Minstrel (Em)Boy to the (G)war is (C)gone,
```
G Em G
e|---------3-----------3-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|---------3-----------3-----------|
B|-----0-----------0---------------|-----0-----------0---------------|-----0-----------0---------------|
G|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|
D|-0-----------0-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|
A|-----------------2-----------2---|-2-----------2-------------------|-----------------2-----------2---|
E|-3-----------3-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|-3-----------3-------------------|
```
In the (G)ranks of (Em)death you'll (D)find (G)him,
```
G Em D
e|---------3-----------3-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|---------2-----------2-----------|
B|-----0-----------0---------------|-----0-----------0---------------|-----3-----------3---------------|
G|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---2-----2-----2-----2-----------|
D|-0-----------0-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|
A|-----------------2-----------2---|-2-----------2-------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|---------------------------------|
```
His (G)father's (Em)sword he has (G)girded (C)on,
```
G Em C
e|---------3-----------3-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|
B|-----0-----------0---------------|-----0-----------0---------------|-----1-----------1---------------|
G|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|
D|-0-----------0-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|
A|-----------------2-----------2---|-2-----------2-------------------|-3-----------3-------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|---------------------------------|
```
And his (G)wild harp (Em)slung be(D)hind (G)him,
```
G Em D
e|---------3-----------3-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|---------2-----------2-----------|
B|-----0-----------0---------------|-----0-----------0---------------|-----3-----------3---------------|
G|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---2-----2-----2-----2-----------|
D|-0-----------0-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|
A|-----------------2-----------2---|-2-----------2-------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|---------------------------------|
```
---
(Em)"Land of (C)Song"! said the (Bm)warrior bard,
```
Em C Bm
e|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|---------2-----------2-----------|
B|-----0-----------0---------------|-----1-----------1---------------|-----3-----------3---------------|
G|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---4-----4-----4-----4-----------|
D|-2-----------2-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|-4-----------4-------------------|
A|-2-----------2-------------------|-3-----------3-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|
E|-0-----------0-------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
```
"Tho' (Em)all the world be(C)trays (G)thee,
```
Em C G
e|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|---------3-----------3-----------|
B|-----0-----------0---------------|-----1-----------1---------------|-----0-----------0---------------|
G|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|
D|-2-----------2-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|
A|-2-----------2-------------------|-3-----------3-------------------|-----------------2-----------2---|
E|-0-----------0-------------------|---------------------------------|-3-----------3-------------------|
```
One (G)sword at (Em)least thy (G)rights shall (C)guard,
```
G Em C
e|---------3-----------3-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|
B|-----0-----------0---------------|-----0-----------0---------------|-----1-----------1---------------|
G|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|
D|-0-----------0-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|
A|-----------------2-----------2---|-2-----------2-------------------|-3-----------3-------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|---------------------------------|
```
One (G)faithful (Em)harp shall (D)praise (G)thee"!
```
G Em D
e|---------3-----------3-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|---------2-----------2-----------|
B|-----0-----------0---------------|-----0-----------0---------------|-----3-----------3---------------|
G|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---2-----2-----2-----2-----------|
D|-0-----------0-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|
A|-----------------2-----------2---|-2-----------2-------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|---------------------------------|
```
---
### 💡 Playing Tips
- Begin softly fingerpicked, increasing dynamics in the last four lines.
- On “**Land of Song**,” let chords **ring naturally** like a harp.
- For the closing line, strum gently instead of picking — it adds a proud finale.
- Optional: add a **final slow G–C–D–G** cadence for a traditional finish.
🎸 **Key:** G Major
🕒 **Time Signature:** 4/4 (slow march feel)
🎶 **Tempo:** ~72 bpm (solemn and steady)
---
### 🎸 Strumming Pattern
> **Pattern:** ↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
> Count: 1 2& 3&4&
> - Light on beats 2 and 4 for a marching-folk rhythm
> - Emphasize the downstroke on beat 1 with your thumb or pick
---
### 🎶 Fingerpicking Pattern
> **p–i–m–a–m–i** (Thumb–Index–Middle–Ring–Middle–Index)
> - Thumb plays bass (E/A/D)
> - Roll gently across G–B–E strings
> - Works perfectly for verses to mimic harp texture
---
## 🎵 Verse 1
The (G)Minstrel (Em)Boy to the (G)war is (C)gone,
```
G Em G
e|---------3-----------3-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|---------3-----------3-----------|
B|-----0-----------0---------------|-----0-----------0---------------|-----0-----------0---------------|
G|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|
D|-0-----------0-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|
A|-----------------2-----------2---|-2-----------2-------------------|-----------------2-----------2---|
E|-3-----------3-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|-3-----------3-------------------|
```
In the (G)ranks of (Em)death you'll (D)find (G)him,
```
G Em D
e|---------3-----------3-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|---------2-----------2-----------|
B|-----0-----------0---------------|-----0-----------0---------------|-----3-----------3---------------|
G|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---2-----2-----2-----2-----------|
D|-0-----------0-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|
A|-----------------2-----------2---|-2-----------2-------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|---------------------------------|
```
His (G)father's (Em)sword he has (G)girded (C)on,
```
G Em C
e|---------3-----------3-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|
B|-----0-----------0---------------|-----0-----------0---------------|-----1-----------1---------------|
G|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|
D|-0-----------0-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|
A|-----------------2-----------2---|-2-----------2-------------------|-3-----------3-------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|---------------------------------|
```
And his (G)wild harp (Em)slung be(D)hind (G)him,
```
G Em D
e|---------3-----------3-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|---------2-----------2-----------|
B|-----0-----------0---------------|-----0-----------0---------------|-----3-----------3---------------|
G|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---2-----2-----2-----2-----------|
D|-0-----------0-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|
A|-----------------2-----------2---|-2-----------2-------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|---------------------------------|
```
---
(Em)"Land of (C)Song"! said the (Bm)warrior bard,
```
Em C Bm
e|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|---------2-----------2-----------|
B|-----0-----------0---------------|-----1-----------1---------------|-----3-----------3---------------|
G|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---4-----4-----4-----4-----------|
D|-2-----------2-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|-4-----------4-------------------|
A|-2-----------2-------------------|-3-----------3-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|
E|-0-----------0-------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
```
"Tho' (Em)all the world be(C)trays (G)thee,
```
Em C G
e|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|---------3-----------3-----------|
B|-----0-----------0---------------|-----1-----------1---------------|-----0-----------0---------------|
G|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|
D|-2-----------2-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|
A|-2-----------2-------------------|-3-----------3-------------------|-----------------2-----------2---|
E|-0-----------0-------------------|---------------------------------|-3-----------3-------------------|
```
One (G)sword at (Em)least thy (G)rights shall (C)guard,
```
G Em C
e|---------3-----------3-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|
B|-----0-----------0---------------|-----0-----------0---------------|-----1-----------1---------------|
G|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|
D|-0-----------0-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|
A|-----------------2-----------2---|-2-----------2-------------------|-3-----------3-------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|---------------------------------|
```
One (G)faithful (Em)harp shall (D)praise (G)thee"!
```
G Em D
e|---------3-----------3-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|---------2-----------2-----------|
B|-----0-----------0---------------|-----0-----------0---------------|-----3-----------3---------------|
G|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---0-----0-----0-----0-----------|---2-----2-----2-----2-----------|
D|-0-----------0-------------------|-2-----------2-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|
A|-----------------2-----------2---|-2-----------2-------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-3-----------3-------------------|-0-----------0-------------------|---------------------------------|
```
---
### 💡 Playing Tips
- Begin softly fingerpicked, increasing dynamics in the last four lines.
- On “**Land of Song**,” let chords **ring naturally** like a harp.
- For the closing line, strum gently instead of picking — it adds a proud finale.
- Optional: add a **final slow G–C–D–G** cadence for a traditional finish.
