The Prisoner's Anthem song lyrics and guitar chords
Written by Gerry O' Glacain and recorded by The Irish Brigade. Also recorded by Gary Óg and The Players Brigade. The tune used for the song is The Rose as sung by Bette Midler and was written by Amanda McBroom. There at least 3 versions of this on youtube. I usually choose the one that was either first recorded or by the singer / band that wrote the song. There's a many a song by The Irish Brigade that's written about prisoners and another one on the site is A Prisoner's Christmas .
Chorus
Let[D] us sing a Prisoners an[A]them
Let it e[G]cho through the [D]cells
All along the halls and [A]land[A7]ings
Let our hearts [G]and voices [D]swell
let [D]us sing of home [A]and loved [A7]ones
And [G]the things that keep us [D]sane
Of the friends who will be[D] waiting
When [G]we all walk free[D] again
Chorus
Well there's a part that can't be captured
In every woman and in every man
For the spirit cannot be shackled
Although they chain our feet and hands
Chorus
So come all ye screws and warders
Don't you think that it's a crime?
Although you do your best to break us
We still stand as we do our time
Let[D] us sing a Prisoners an[A]them
Let it e[G]cho through the [D]cells
All along the halls and [A]land[A7]ings
Let our hearts [G]and voices [D]swell
let [D]us sing of home [A]and loved [A7]ones
And [G]the things that keep us [D]sane
Of the friends who will be[D] waiting
When [G]we all walk free[D] again
Chorus
Well there's a part that can't be captured
In every woman and in every man
For the spirit cannot be shackled
Although they chain our feet and hands
Chorus
So come all ye screws and warders
Don't you think that it's a crime?
Although you do your best to break us
We still stand as we do our time
🎵 “Prisoners’ Anthem” — in G MajorTuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~70–75 BPM (slow, steady march)
Time Signature: 4/4
🎶 1. Full Song with Chords (Transposed to G Major)Let [G]us sing a prisoners’ [D]anthem, Let it [C]echo through the [G]cells, All a[G]long the halls and [D]landings, Let our [C]hearts and voices [G]swell. Let [G]us sing of home and [D]loved ones, And the [C]things that keep us [G]sane, Of the [G]friends who will be [D]waiting, When we [C]all walk free a[G]gain.
🎸 2. Strumming PatternA gentle folk strum fits perfectly here — warm and reflective.
Pattern (per measure):
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count:
1 2& &4&
Tips:
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab for All VersesStyle: Slow Travis / arpeggiated folk picking.
Verse Fingerpicking Arrangement
G
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Let us sing a prisoners’ anthem,
D G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--2-------------|--2-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Let it echo through the cells,
C G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
All along the halls and landings,
C G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Let our hearts and voices swell.
G D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
Let us sing of home and loved ones,
C G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
And the things that keep us sane,
G D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
Of the friends who will be waiting,
C G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
When we all walk free again.
Tempo: ~70–75 BPM (slow, steady march)
Time Signature: 4/4
🎶 1. Full Song with Chords (Transposed to G Major)Let [G]us sing a prisoners’ [D]anthem, Let it [C]echo through the [G]cells, All a[G]long the halls and [D]landings, Let our [C]hearts and voices [G]swell. Let [G]us sing of home and [D]loved ones, And the [C]things that keep us [G]sane, Of the [G]friends who will be [D]waiting, When we [C]all walk free a[G]gain.
🎸 2. Strumming PatternA gentle folk strum fits perfectly here — warm and reflective.
Pattern (per measure):
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count:
1 2& &4&
Tips:
- Keep your wrist relaxed, with a soft downstroke on 1.
- Let the bass note ring a little before strumming the chord.
- Add one full slow downstroke at the end of each verse for emotion.
- Optionally, fingerpick the first verse and strum the rest to build intensity.
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab for All VersesStyle: Slow Travis / arpeggiated folk picking.
- Thumb (T): Alternating bass (E–D or A–D)
- Index (I): G string
- Middle (M): B string
- Pattern: T – I – T – M
Verse Fingerpicking Arrangement
G
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Let us sing a prisoners’ anthem,
D G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--2-------------|--2-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Let it echo through the cells,
C G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
All along the halls and landings,
C G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Let our hearts and voices swell.
G D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
Let us sing of home and loved ones,
C G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
And the things that keep us sane,
G D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
Of the friends who will be waiting,
C G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
When we all walk free again.
Here's the list of Irish rebel songs sheet music / tin whistle notes in that pdf ebook.
The price is €8.90. You'll be diverted to the download page after payment.
Any problems please let me know. [email protected]
The price is €8.90. You'll be diverted to the download page after payment.
Any problems please let me know. [email protected]
