The Sam Song, Lyrics And Chords
This ballad was written by singer / songwriter Gerry O Glacain from The Irish Brigade ballad group [ songs ] and is about the I.R.A. [ Irish Republican Army ] who for a time used surface to air missiles S.A.M. to try shoot down British army helicopters in Northern Ireland. Thanks to Gerry for letting me include and promote his song here. Gerry plays guitar and sings with ''The Irish Brigade'' , other songs here by the lads include Roll Of Honour this song has been recorded by Eire Og, now called Gary Og, and Athenry. The sheet music, mandolin and tin whistle tabs are included.The Sam song guitar tab, fingerstyle.
Well[Am] I have been a Provo now for[G] 15 years or more
With[Am] armalites and[C] mortorbombs I[E] though I knew the score
But[Am] now we have a weapon we've never used before
The[C] Brits are looking worried and their[E] going to worry[Am] more
[Chorus]
Tiocfaidh Ar[G] La,sing Up the[Am] Ra
[C]Sam missiles[Em] in the[Am] sky
[2]
I started off with petrol bombs and throwing bricks and stones
With a hundred more lads like me I never was alone
But soon I learned that bricks and stones wont drive the Brits away
It wasn't long before I joined the I.R.A.
[3]
Then there came internment in the year of '71
The Brits thought we were beaten,that we were on the run
On that early August morning they kicked in our door
But for every man they took away,they missed a hundred more
[4]
I spent eight years in the cages,I had time to think and plan
For though they locked away a boy,I walked away a man
And there's only one thing I learned while in their cell I lay
The Brits will never leave us,until there blown away
[5
All through the days of hunger strike I watched my comrades die
While in the streets of Belfast you could hear the women cry
I cant forget the massacre that Friday at Loughgall
I salute my fallen comrades,as I watch the choppers fall
With[Am] armalites and[C] mortorbombs I[E] though I knew the score
But[Am] now we have a weapon we've never used before
The[C] Brits are looking worried and their[E] going to worry[Am] more
[Chorus]
Tiocfaidh Ar[G] La,sing Up the[Am] Ra
[C]Sam missiles[Em] in the[Am] sky
[2]
I started off with petrol bombs and throwing bricks and stones
With a hundred more lads like me I never was alone
But soon I learned that bricks and stones wont drive the Brits away
It wasn't long before I joined the I.R.A.
[3]
Then there came internment in the year of '71
The Brits thought we were beaten,that we were on the run
On that early August morning they kicked in our door
But for every man they took away,they missed a hundred more
[4]
I spent eight years in the cages,I had time to think and plan
For though they locked away a boy,I walked away a man
And there's only one thing I learned while in their cell I lay
The Brits will never leave us,until there blown away
[5
All through the days of hunger strike I watched my comrades die
While in the streets of Belfast you could hear the women cry
I cant forget the massacre that Friday at Loughgall
I salute my fallen comrades,as I watch the choppers fall
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (2/2 Feel)
For 2/2 time, think in “ONE – and – TWO – and” with a driving march pulse.
Basic Strumming Pattern (per measure):
↓ ↓↑ | ↓ ↓↑
Counting (2/2):
1 & 2 &
Feel: strong down on 1, light bounce on “&” of 1 and 2.
Or slightly fuller version for intensity:
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑ (still in 2/2 — brisk feel)
Tips:
Keep the downstrokes firm and percussive (like a snare hit on beat 2).
Mute the bass strings slightly with your palm for a punchy rhythm.
In the chorus, strum more openly for energy.
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
Because the song is in 2/2, we’ll keep the picking tight and driving, not floaty — a marching pulse, alternating thumb and fingers.
Pattern (per measure):
T – I – T – M
(Thumb = bass, Index = G string, Middle = B string)
Verse Fingerpicking Arrangement
Am
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
Well I have been a Provo now for
G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
fifteen years or more,
Am C
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|--0-------------|--0-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
With armalites and mortorbombs I thought I knew the score,
E Am
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----1---1-------|----1---1-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|--0-------------|--0-------------|----------------|----------------|
But now we have a weapon we’ve never used before,
C E Am
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------1---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----1---1-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|--0-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--0-------------|----------------|
The Brits are looking worried and they’re going to worry more.
Chorus Fingerpicking Arrangement
G Am
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
Tiocfaidh ar lá, sing up the Ra!
C Em Am
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------1---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|--2-------------|--0-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
SAM missiles in the sky!
For 2/2 time, think in “ONE – and – TWO – and” with a driving march pulse.
Basic Strumming Pattern (per measure):
↓ ↓↑ | ↓ ↓↑
Counting (2/2):
1 & 2 &
Feel: strong down on 1, light bounce on “&” of 1 and 2.
Or slightly fuller version for intensity:
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑ (still in 2/2 — brisk feel)
Tips:
Keep the downstrokes firm and percussive (like a snare hit on beat 2).
Mute the bass strings slightly with your palm for a punchy rhythm.
In the chorus, strum more openly for energy.
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
Because the song is in 2/2, we’ll keep the picking tight and driving, not floaty — a marching pulse, alternating thumb and fingers.
Pattern (per measure):
T – I – T – M
(Thumb = bass, Index = G string, Middle = B string)
Verse Fingerpicking Arrangement
Am
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
Well I have been a Provo now for
G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
fifteen years or more,
Am C
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|--0-------------|--0-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
With armalites and mortorbombs I thought I knew the score,
E Am
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----1---1-------|----1---1-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|--0-------------|--0-------------|----------------|----------------|
But now we have a weapon we’ve never used before,
C E Am
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------1---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----1---1-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|--0-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--0-------------|----------------|
The Brits are looking worried and they’re going to worry more.
Chorus Fingerpicking Arrangement
G Am
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
Tiocfaidh ar lá, sing up the Ra!
C Em Am
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------1---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|--2-------------|--0-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
SAM missiles in the sky!
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]
Tin Whistle Sheet Music
The Sam song guitar tab, fingerstyle.
