The Song With No Name Lyrics And Chords
Written by Shane McGowan.The air of this song is the same as ''England's Motorway [ lyrics ]'' as sung by Luke Kelly. Also the same as Tramps And Hawkers and about 10 other songs use the same tune.
The tin whistle sheet music notes for The Song With No Name
is in the Pogues tin whistle ebook here .
is in the Pogues tin whistle ebook here .
Key: G Major
Time: 6/8 (slow folk waltz feel)
🎶 Full Chorded Lyrics
Verse 1
[G]Long years ago I [C]fell in love
With a [Am]lady proud and [D]fair
So [G]passionate [C]were she and [G]I
We made [D]fire in the [C]air
I [G]loved her [C]more than [Em]life it-[D]self
She [G]loved me just the [C]same
And it [G]broke my [C]heart to [Am]think we'd [D]part
If she [Em]ended [F]the af-[G]fair
Verse 2
[G]But I was brutal, [C]I was ignorant
I was [Am]cruel, I was [D]brash
I [G]never gave a [C]damn about
The [G]beauty that I [D]smashed
No [G]sadist I, but [C]I took delight
In [Em]making my love [D]cry
Now I'd [G]pray for a [C]single kiss
From her, [Am]to be lashed and [D]crucified
Verse 3
[G]And now I fear this [C]lady fair
Will [Am]never more be [D]mine
Long [G]gone are nights in [C]my lone-ly bed
All [G]suffering and [D]crying
And [G]though I fear that [C]through this life
She'll [Em]call me only [D]friend
'Till I'm [G]dead and [C]buried in my [Am]grave
My [D]love will [C]nev-er [G]end
🎸 Strumming Pattern (6/8 Folk Waltz)
This rhythm suits the melancholic storytelling feel.
Think of a slow Irish waltz — “ONE-two-three, FOUR-five-six”.
Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↓↑
Count:
1-2-3 4-5-6
Tips:
Hit the bass note on beat 1.
Light down-up motion on 2-3 and 5-6 keeps it flowing.
For the chorus or emotional rise, let it ring more open — no muting.
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab – First Verse
Gentle 6/8 Travis-style pattern.
Thumb alternates between the bass strings (6–4 for G, 5–4 for C, etc.).
Tempo: ♩. = 80–90 bpm
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
Long years ago I fell in love
C
e|---------0-----------0-|---------0-----------0-|
B|-----1-----------1-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-2-----------2---------|-2-----------2---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
With a lady proud and fair
Am
e|---------0-----------0-|---------0-----------0-|
B|-----1-----------1-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---2---2-------2---2---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-2-----------2---------|-2-----------2---------|
A|0-----------0-----------|----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
So passionate were she and I
D
e|---------2-----------2-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----3-----------3-----|-----3-----------3-----|
G|---2---2-------2---2---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-0-----------0---------|-0-----------0---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
We made fire in the air
G
e|---------3-----------3-|---------3-----------3-|
B|-----0-----------0-----|-----0-----------0-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-3-----------2---------|-3-----------2---------|
I loved her more than life itself
C
e|---------0-----------0-|---------0-----------0-|
B|-----1-----------1-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---0---0-------0---0---|---0---0-------0---0---|
D|-2-----------2---------|-2-----------2---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
She loved me just the same
Am
e|---------0-----------0-|---------0-----------0-|
B|-----1-----------1-----|-----1-----------1-----|
G|---2---2-------2---2---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-2-----------2---------|-2-----------2---------|
A|0-----------0-----------|----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
And it broke my heart to think we'd part
D
e|---------2-----------2-|---------2-----------2-|
B|-----3-----------3-----|-----3-----------3-----|
G|---2---2-------2---2---|---2---2-------2---2---|
D|-0-----------0---------|-0-----------0---------|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
If she ended the affair
💡 Performance Notes
Use the fingerpicking for verse one, then move to strumming in later verses for emotional lift.
Let chord transitions breathe; it’s a song of regret — don’t rush it.
A subtle bass run (G – F# – E – D) works well between phrases.
Below is the list of tin whistle sheet music notes in the Pogues Ebook of songs
which includes The Song With No Name. Price €7.40.
which includes The Song With No Name. Price €7.40.
The Song With No Name - The Pogues
