The Old Bog Road Lyrics And Guitar Chords
Written by Teresa Brayton . There are many roads in Ireland called The Old Bog Road. Johnny McEvoy made this song his own. It was also covered by Irish country singer Paddy O'Brien.
but the song is about the one in County Kildare near Kilcock. President Eamon De Valera in 1959 unvaled a memorial to Teresa Brayton in Cloncurry Cemetery Kilcock Co. Kildare, it is an 8 foot Celtic Cross and the inscription includes a line from her most famous expression, 'The Old Bog Road'
Her poems and stories were printed in every newspaper in Ireland at the time.
Teresa wa born in Kilbrook, County, Kildare, in 1968 and also died there in 1943 having returned from New York,Her father was Hugh Boylan and her republican family were associated with the rising of 1798, she knew most of the leaders of the 1916 rising and around her neck she wore a chain, a piece of the flagstaff which flew the flag of the Irish Republic from the G.P.O. in Dublin on Easter Monday 1916, the chain was given to her by Countess Markievicz.The air of the song is an original air by Madeline O'Farrelly. Thanks to Johnny McEvoy for keeping the song alive.
but the song is about the one in County Kildare near Kilcock. President Eamon De Valera in 1959 unvaled a memorial to Teresa Brayton in Cloncurry Cemetery Kilcock Co. Kildare, it is an 8 foot Celtic Cross and the inscription includes a line from her most famous expression, 'The Old Bog Road'
Her poems and stories were printed in every newspaper in Ireland at the time.
Teresa wa born in Kilbrook, County, Kildare, in 1968 and also died there in 1943 having returned from New York,Her father was Hugh Boylan and her republican family were associated with the rising of 1798, she knew most of the leaders of the 1916 rising and around her neck she wore a chain, a piece of the flagstaff which flew the flag of the Irish Republic from the G.P.O. in Dublin on Easter Monday 1916, the chain was given to her by Countess Markievicz.The air of the song is an original air by Madeline O'Farrelly. Thanks to Johnny McEvoy for keeping the song alive.
My[D] feet are here on Broadway, this blessed harvest[A] morn,
But[G] o the ache that's [D] in them for the[A] place where I was[D] born,
My[D] weary hands are blistered, from working cold and[A] heath,
But[G] o to swing the[D] scythe again, in a[A] field of Irish[D] wheat,
Had[G] I the chance to wander back or own a King's[A] abode,
I'd[D] sooner see the[G] hawthorn tree, by the[A] old bog[D] road.
[2]
My mother died last springtime, when Ireland's field's were green,
The neighbours said her waking was the finest ever seen,
There were snowdrops and primroses, piled high beside her bed,
And Ferns Church was crowded, when the funeral mass was said,
But here was I on Broadway, just building bricks by load,
When they carried out her coffin down the Old Bog Road.
[3]
Now life is a weary puzzle, as finding out by man,
I take the day for what it's worth, and do the best I can,
Since no one cares a rush for me what need for me to moan,
I go my way and draw my pay and smoke my pipe alone,
Each human heart must know it's grief, though bitter be the load,
So God be with you Ireland, and the Old Bog Road.
The Old Bog Road Extra Verses.
These verses are seldom sang, they were written as the second and forth verses.
When I was young and restless, my mind was ill at ease, Through dreaming of America, and gold beyond the seas, 0 sorrow take their money, 'tis hard to get that same,
And what's the world to any man, where no one speaks his name. I've had my day and here I am, with building bricks for load, A long three thousand miles away, from the Old Bog Road.
There was a decent girl at home, who used to walk with me, Her eyes were soft and sorrowful, like sunbeams on the sea, Her name was Mary Dwyer; but that was long ago,
And the ways of God are wiser, than the things a man may know. She die
🎵 “The Old Bog Road” (Key of G Chords)
Strumming pattern (4/4):
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
(Down, Down, Up, Up, Down, Up)
👉 A gentle folk feel — emphasize the bass note on the first down strum.
Verse 1
[G]My feet are here on [C]Broadway, this [G]blessed harvest [D]morn,
But [G]oh the ache that's [C]in them for the [A7]place where I was [D]born,
My [G]weary hands are [C]blistered, from [G]working cold and [D]heat,
But [G]oh to swing the [C]scythe again, in a [A7]field of Irish [D]wheat,
Had [G]I the chance to [C]wander back or [G]own a King's a-[A7]bode,
I'd [G]sooner see the [C]hawthorn tree, by the [A7]old bog [G]road.
Verse 2
[G]My mother died last [C]springtime, when [G]Ireland's fields were [D]green,
The [G]neighbours said her [C]waking was the [A7]finest ever [D]seen,
There were [G]snowdrops and [C]primroses, piled [G]high beside her [D]bed,
And [G]Ferns Church was [C]crowded when the [A7]funeral mass was [D]said,
But [G]here was I on [C]Broadway, just [G]building bricks by [A7]load,
When they [G]carried out her [C]coffin down the [A7]Old Bog [G]Road.
Verse 3
[G]Now life is but a [C]puzzle, as [G]finding out by [D]man,
I [G]take the day for [C]what it's worth, and [A7]do the best I [D]can,
Since [G]no one cares a [C]rush for me, what [G]need for me to [D]moan,
I [G]go my way and [C]draw my pay and [A7]smoke my pipe a-[D]lone,
Each [G]human heart must [C]know its grief, though [G]bitter be the [A7]load,
So [G]God be with you [C]Ireland, and the [A7]Old Bog [G]Road.
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern (Verse 1)
Try a Travis-style alternating bass (thumb alternates between 6th–4th or 5th–4th strings).
Use T (thumb), I (index), M (middle) for right-hand fingers.
Picking pattern per chord (4/4 time):
T I M I T I M I
(bass) (high) alternating flow
🪕 Fingerpicking Tab — First Verse
Here’s a simple fingerstyle arrangement for the first verse:
[Intro]
G C G D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------1---------|------0---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|
D|----------------|--2-------2-----|----------------|--0-------0-----|
A|--2-------2-----|3---------------|--2-------2-----|----------------|
E|3---------------|----------------|3---------------|----------------|
[G]My feet are here on [C]Broadway, this [G]blessed harvest [D]morn,
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------1---------|------0---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|
D|----------------|--2-------2-----|----------------|--0-------0-----|
A|--2-------2-----|3---------------|--2-------2-----|----------------|
E|3---------------|----------------|3---------------|----------------|
But [G]oh the ache that's [C]in them for the [A7]place where I was [D]born,
👉 Continue this same alternating pattern through the rest of the verse.
Strumming pattern (4/4):
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
(Down, Down, Up, Up, Down, Up)
👉 A gentle folk feel — emphasize the bass note on the first down strum.
Verse 1
[G]My feet are here on [C]Broadway, this [G]blessed harvest [D]morn,
But [G]oh the ache that's [C]in them for the [A7]place where I was [D]born,
My [G]weary hands are [C]blistered, from [G]working cold and [D]heat,
But [G]oh to swing the [C]scythe again, in a [A7]field of Irish [D]wheat,
Had [G]I the chance to [C]wander back or [G]own a King's a-[A7]bode,
I'd [G]sooner see the [C]hawthorn tree, by the [A7]old bog [G]road.
Verse 2
[G]My mother died last [C]springtime, when [G]Ireland's fields were [D]green,
The [G]neighbours said her [C]waking was the [A7]finest ever [D]seen,
There were [G]snowdrops and [C]primroses, piled [G]high beside her [D]bed,
And [G]Ferns Church was [C]crowded when the [A7]funeral mass was [D]said,
But [G]here was I on [C]Broadway, just [G]building bricks by [A7]load,
When they [G]carried out her [C]coffin down the [A7]Old Bog [G]Road.
Verse 3
[G]Now life is but a [C]puzzle, as [G]finding out by [D]man,
I [G]take the day for [C]what it's worth, and [A7]do the best I [D]can,
Since [G]no one cares a [C]rush for me, what [G]need for me to [D]moan,
I [G]go my way and [C]draw my pay and [A7]smoke my pipe a-[D]lone,
Each [G]human heart must [C]know its grief, though [G]bitter be the [A7]load,
So [G]God be with you [C]Ireland, and the [A7]Old Bog [G]Road.
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern (Verse 1)
Try a Travis-style alternating bass (thumb alternates between 6th–4th or 5th–4th strings).
Use T (thumb), I (index), M (middle) for right-hand fingers.
Picking pattern per chord (4/4 time):
T I M I T I M I
(bass) (high) alternating flow
🪕 Fingerpicking Tab — First Verse
Here’s a simple fingerstyle arrangement for the first verse:
[Intro]
G C G D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------1---------|------0---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|
D|----------------|--2-------2-----|----------------|--0-------0-----|
A|--2-------2-----|3---------------|--2-------2-----|----------------|
E|3---------------|----------------|3---------------|----------------|
[G]My feet are here on [C]Broadway, this [G]blessed harvest [D]morn,
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------1---------|------0---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|
D|----------------|--2-------2-----|----------------|--0-------0-----|
A|--2-------2-----|3---------------|--2-------2-----|----------------|
E|3---------------|----------------|3---------------|----------------|
But [G]oh the ache that's [C]in them for the [A7]place where I was [D]born,
👉 Continue this same alternating pattern through the rest of the verse.
The Old Bog Road Street Sign
My Home By The Old Bog Road Song Lyrics
I grew up on the old bog road
Where the grass was tall and the wind it blowed
My home was a small cottage, so modest and quaint
But the memories it holds, they'll never faint
Chorus:
My home by the old bog road
Where the birds would sing and the rivers flowed
It may not be fancy, but it's where I belong
My heart will always be here, where I grew strong
Verse 2:
The sun would rise and set on this land
With fields of green and a sky so grand
We'd gather 'round the fire on cold winter nights
Nothing could compare to these simple delights
Chorus:
My home by the old bog road
Where the birds would sing and the rivers flowed
It may not be fancy, but it's where I belong
My heart will always be here, where I grew strong
Bridge:
I've traveled far, seen many sights
But nothing compares to these familiar sights
No matter where I roam, my heart will always yearn
For my home by the old bog road, where I can return
Chorus:
My home by the old bog road
Where the birds would sing and the rivers flowed
It may not be fancy, but it's where I belong
My heart will always be here, where I grew strong
Outro:
So I'll cherish every moment, every step I take
On this old bog road, for my heart's sake
My home may be simple, but it's where I'm free
On this old bog road, it's where I'll always be.
I grew up on the old bog road
Where the grass was tall and the wind it blowed
My home was a small cottage, so modest and quaint
But the memories it holds, they'll never faint
Chorus:
My home by the old bog road
Where the birds would sing and the rivers flowed
It may not be fancy, but it's where I belong
My heart will always be here, where I grew strong
Verse 2:
The sun would rise and set on this land
With fields of green and a sky so grand
We'd gather 'round the fire on cold winter nights
Nothing could compare to these simple delights
Chorus:
My home by the old bog road
Where the birds would sing and the rivers flowed
It may not be fancy, but it's where I belong
My heart will always be here, where I grew strong
Bridge:
I've traveled far, seen many sights
But nothing compares to these familiar sights
No matter where I roam, my heart will always yearn
For my home by the old bog road, where I can return
Chorus:
My home by the old bog road
Where the birds would sing and the rivers flowed
It may not be fancy, but it's where I belong
My heart will always be here, where I grew strong
Outro:
So I'll cherish every moment, every step I take
On this old bog road, for my heart's sake
My home may be simple, but it's where I'm free
On this old bog road, it's where I'll always be.
