THE SONG SINGS ON (BALLAD OF TOMMY MAKEM)

(Tommy Sands) Lyrics and chords fit Tommy Sands’ version from his album  ‘Let The Circle Be Wide’. This tribute song is dedicated to the life and times of Tommy Makem from Armagh who spent his life singing ballads with The Clancy Brothers and who was an inspiration to folk singers throughout the world. The song was written by Tommy Sands from the neighboring County Of Down. Tommy's biggest hit There Were Roses Song has now being recorded by many Irish folk and ballad singers including the ever popular Paddy Reilly and Cara Dillon .

Intro: D-D-G-Em   D-D-G-Em   D-D-G-Em   G-Em-G-A--D-A

Chorus
He was a (D)Rambling (G)Irish (D)Rover, the (G)Bard of Keady (A)Town
A (D)Rambling (G)Irish (D)Rover, he (G)sang the whole night [world] (A)round
And (Bm)when they’d hear the (G)banjo (D)play it would (G)make them (D)sing a(A)long
(A7)Make them sing like (D)Makem sang and the (G)song (A)sings (D)on

Bridge: D-D-G-Em   D-D-G-Em   D-D-G-Em   G-Em-G-A--D-A

I (Bm)always will remember when (D)first I (A)heard him (D)sing
With the (G)Clancy boys a(Em)round him they could (G)make the (Em)rafters (A)ring
They (Bm)took the songs of yesterday and (D)tuned them (A)for the (D)day
(G)Gave us pride to (Em)raise your voice and (G)sing the (Em)night a(A)way –D-A
Chorus + Bridge

I (Bm)sing of Tommy Makem  from a (D)noble (A)music (D)clan
His (G)mother’s name was (Em)Sarah and she (G)sang a (Em)thousand (A)songs
He (Bm)took them on his journey and he (D)wrote [made] a (A)thousand (D)more
So (G)people coming (Em)after, they would [might] (G)know  the (Em)way we (A)were –D-A
Chorus + Bridge

He (Bm)sang of joy and sorrow, of (D)justice (A)and of (D)peace
And (G)even in the (Em)final days his (G)music (Em)never (A)ceased
The (Bm)concert may be over but no (D)one (A)leaves the (D)hall
[The (Bm)concert may be over but I (D)still can (A)hear the (D)song]
[For] The (G)people keep on (Em)singing and the (G)song (Em)sings (A)on –D-A

Chorus 
D-D-G-Em
The (G)song (A)sings (D)on
D-D-G-Em   D-D-G-Em   D-D-G-Em   G-Em-G-A (Repeat several times fading)

Tommy Sands ''The Song Sings On''