The Soldiers Of Twenty Two, lyrics and chords

to the tune of ''The Foggy Dew'' the songwriter remains unknown.


[Am]When they heard the call of a cause[G] laid low
They [C]sprang to their[Am] guns again,
And [Am]the pride of all was the first to[G] fall,
The [C]Glory of our[Am] fighting men.
In the [C]days to come, when the[Am] pip and drum
You [C]follow in the ways that they[Am] knew
When their praise you sin, let the echoes[G] ring
With [C]the memory of[Am] Cathal Brugha
 
Brave Liam Lynch on the mountainside
Felll a victim to the foe
And Danny Lacey for Ireland died
in the Glen of Aherlow
Neil Boyle and Quinn fromt the North came down
To stand with the faithful and true
And we'll sing their praise in the freedom days
'Mong the heroes of 22
 
Some fell in the proud red rush of war
And some by the treacherous blow,
Like the martyrs four in Dublin Town,
And the their comrades at Dromboe
And a hundred more in the barrack squares
and by lonely roadsides too
Without fear they died and we speak with pride
of the martyrs of 22
 
They were true to our right, they fought the good fight
and they rest in the peace of God
Lift up your hearts, O brave young men,
And march in the ways they trod.
The cause still calls that called to them
And the task will be only through
When freedom comes to the land we love
By the soldiers of 22.

(Key of A minor) full chords

Verse 1

[Am]When they heard the call of a cause [G]laid low
They [C]sprang to their [Am]guns again,
And the [Am]pride of all was the first to [G]fall,
The [C]Glory of our [Am]fighting men.
In the [C]days to come, when the [Am]pip and drum
You [C]follow in the ways that they [Am]knew
When their [C]praise you sing, let the echoes [G]ring
With the [C]memory of [Am]Cathal Brugha.

Verse 2

[Am]Brave Liam Lynch on the mountain [G]side
Fell a [C]victim to the [Am]foe,
And [Am]Danny Lacey for Ireland [G]died
In the [C]Glen of Aher[Am]low.
[Am]Neil Boyle and Quinn from the North came [G]down
To [C]stand with the faithful and [Am]true,
And we’ll [C]sing their praise in the freedom [G]days
’Mong the [C]heroes of [Am]’22.

Verse 3

[Am]Some fell in the proud red rush of [G]war,
And [C]some by the treach’rous [Am]blow,
Like the [Am]martyrs four in Dublin [G]Town,
And their [C]comrades at Drom[Am]boe.
And a [C]hundred more in the barrack [Am]squares,
And by [C]lonely roadsides [Am]too,
With[Am]out fear they died and we [G]speak with pride
Of the [C]martyrs of [Am]’22.

Verse 4

[Am]They were true to our right, they fought the [G]good fight,
And they [C]rest in the peace of [Am]God.
Lift [Am]up your hearts, O brave young [G]men,
And [C]march in the ways they [Am]trod.
The [C]cause still calls that [Am]called to them,
And the [C]task will be only [Am]through,
When [Am]freedom comes to the [G]land we love
By the [C]soldiers of [Am]’22.

🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Time)

For a proud march-like ballad rhythm:

D – D U – U D U
↓   ↓ ↑   ↑ ↓ ↑


Emphasize beats 2 and 4 for the marching feel.

Play softer during verses, stronger and ringing during emotional lines like “heroes of ’22.”

Alternative for slower, storytelling verses:

D – D – | D – D U


(This one gives a steady, march-like pulse.)

🎵 Fingerpicking Tab – First Verse (A minor version)

A gentle, arpeggiated pattern for verse 1.
Use T (thumb) on bass strings (A, D), I (index) on G, and M (middle) on B.

Pattern: T–I–M–I (repeat)

Verse 1 Fingerpicking Tab
   Am                    G                    C                   Am
e|---------0-----------|---------3---------|---------0---------|---------0---------|
B|-----1-------1-------|-----0-------0-----|-----1-------1-----|-----1-------1-----|
G|---2---2---2---2-----|---0---0---0---0---|---0---0---0---0---|---2---2---2---2---|
D|---------------------|-------------------|---2---------------|-------------------|
A|-0-------0-----------|-2-------2---------|-3-------3---------|-0-------0---------|
E|---------------------|-3-------3---------|-------------------|-------------------|


Play this pattern once for each chord change through the first verse.
It gives a calm, reverent feel, matching the tone of remembrance.

Here's the list of Irish rebel songs sheet music / tin whistle notes in the 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]

Here's an example of the sheet music / tin whistle tab from the ebook.