The Three Coloured Ribbon Lyrics And Chords
Irish Rebel Song-.Written by Peadar Kearney who wrote The Irish National Anthem . This ballad is to the tune of The Green Willow. Chorus and verses have the same melody I have simplified the chords in this one to make it easier to play. Made famous by The Wolfe Tones. The singer in the youtube video is Tommy Byrne. [ A Love Song About The Easter Rising 1916 ] . There's another song that basically uses the same tune All Around My Hat, I have given the tin whistle sheet music notes for this song along with the mandolin / banjo tab.
I[D] had a true love if[A] ever a girl[G] had[A] one
I[D] had a true love a[A] brave[G] lad was[A] he
And[G] one fine Easter monday[D] with his gallant comrades
He started away for to[A] make Ireland[D] free
[Chorus]
So all around me hat I wear a tricolour ribbon
All around me hat untill death comes to me
And if anybody's asking why do I wear it
It's all for my own true love I never more will see.
He whispered goodbye love old Ireland is calling
High over Dublin our tricolour flies
In the streets of our city the foeman is calling
The wee birds are whistling old Ireland arise
His bandolier around him his bright bayonet shining
His short service rifle a beauty to see
There was joy in his eyes though he left me repining
And started away for to make Ireland free
In praying and waiting the dark days passed over
The roar of the guns brought no message to me
I prayed for old Ireland I prayed for my lover
That he might be saved and old Ireland be free
The struggle was ended they brought me the story
The last whispered message he sent on to me
I was true to the land love I fought for her glory
And gave up my life for to make Ireland free.
I[D] had a true love a[A] brave[G] lad was[A] he
And[G] one fine Easter monday[D] with his gallant comrades
He started away for to[A] make Ireland[D] free
[Chorus]
So all around me hat I wear a tricolour ribbon
All around me hat untill death comes to me
And if anybody's asking why do I wear it
It's all for my own true love I never more will see.
He whispered goodbye love old Ireland is calling
High over Dublin our tricolour flies
In the streets of our city the foeman is calling
The wee birds are whistling old Ireland arise
His bandolier around him his bright bayonet shining
His short service rifle a beauty to see
There was joy in his eyes though he left me repining
And started away for to make Ireland free
In praying and waiting the dark days passed over
The roar of the guns brought no message to me
I prayed for old Ireland I prayed for my lover
That he might be saved and old Ireland be free
The struggle was ended they brought me the story
The last whispered message he sent on to me
I was true to the land love I fought for her glory
And gave up my life for to make Ireland free.
“The Tri-colour Ribbon” (also known as “I Had a True Love”), sung in a gentle march-ballad style (4/4, about 80–90 BPM).
Below you’ll find:
🎶 Full lyrics with chords on every verse
🎸 Strumming pattern (folk-march style)
🎵 Fingerpicking tab for the first verse
🎶 The Tri-colour Ribbon
Key: D Major
Verse 1
I [D]had a true love if [A]ever a girl [G]had [A]one
I [D]had a true love, a [A]brave [G]lad was [A]he
And [G]one fine Easter [D]Monday with his gallant comrades
He [G]started away for to [A]make Ireland [D]free
Chorus
So [G]all around me hat I [D]wear a tricolour ribbon
All [G]around me hat until [A]death comes to [D]me
And [G]if anybody’s [D]asking why do I wear it
It’s [G]all for my own true [A]love I never more will [D]see
Verse 2
He [D]whispered goodbye, love, old [A]Ireland is [G]calling [A]
High [D]over Dublin our [A]tricolour [G]flies [A]
In the [G]streets of our [D]city the foeman is calling
The [G]wee birds are whistling old [A]Ireland a[D]rise
Verse 3
His [D]bandolier round him, his [A]bright bayonet [G]shining [A]
His [D]short-service rifle a [A]beauty to [G]see [A]
There was [G]joy in his [D]eyes though he left me repining
And [G]started away for to [A]make Ireland [D]free
Verse 4
In [D]praying and waiting the [A]dark days passed [G]over [A]
The [D]roar of the guns brought no [A]message to [G]me [A]
I [G]prayed for old [D]Ireland, I prayed for my lover
That [G]he might be saved and old [A]Ireland be [D]free
Verse 5
The [D]struggle was ended, they [A]brought me the [G]story [A]
The [D]last whispered message he [A]sent on to [G]me [A]
I was [G]true to the [D]land, love, I fought for her glory
And [G]gave up my life for to [A]make Ireland [D]free
🎸 Strumming Pattern
Time signature: 4/4 Tempo: ≈ 85 BPM
Style: slow Irish march / ballad
Pattern:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Beat 1 = down-stroke on the bass note (root).
Beat 3 = slightly stronger down-stroke for that marching pulse.
Lightly palm-mute on beats 1 and 3 for a drum-like feel.
Optional bass–chord feel:
On D, hit 4th string (D) → strum.
On G, hit 6th string (G) → strum.
On A, hit 5th string (A) → strum.
🎵 Fingerpicking Tab – First Verse
Travis-style alternating bass for a lilting folk texture.
I had a true love if ever a girl had one
D A G A D
e|--------2---------2-|--------0---------0-|--------3---------3-|--------0---------0-|--------2----|
B|------3---3-----3---|------2---2-----2---|------0---0-----0---|------2---2-----2---|------3---3--|
G|----2-------2-2-----|----2-------2-2-----|----0-------0-0-----|----2-------2-2-----|----2-------2|
D|--0-----------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|--2-----------------|--0----------|
A|--------------------|--------------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|-------------|
E|--------------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|-------------|
I had a true love, a brave lad was he
D A G A D
e|--------2---------2-|--------0---------0-|--------3---------3-|--------0---------0-|--------2----|
B|------3---3-----3---|------2---2-----2---|------0---0-----0---|------2---2-----2---|------3---3--|
G|----2-------2-2-----|----2-------2-2-----|----0-------0-0-----|----2-------2-2-----|----2-------2|
D|--0-----------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|--2-----------------|--0----------|
A|--------------------|--------------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|-------------|
E|--------------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|-------------|
🎵 Tip: keep the thumb alternating (D–A → G–D etc.) while fingers pluck the top three strings gently — that gives the steady, heartfelt march feel.
Below you’ll find:
🎶 Full lyrics with chords on every verse
🎸 Strumming pattern (folk-march style)
🎵 Fingerpicking tab for the first verse
🎶 The Tri-colour Ribbon
Key: D Major
Verse 1
I [D]had a true love if [A]ever a girl [G]had [A]one
I [D]had a true love, a [A]brave [G]lad was [A]he
And [G]one fine Easter [D]Monday with his gallant comrades
He [G]started away for to [A]make Ireland [D]free
Chorus
So [G]all around me hat I [D]wear a tricolour ribbon
All [G]around me hat until [A]death comes to [D]me
And [G]if anybody’s [D]asking why do I wear it
It’s [G]all for my own true [A]love I never more will [D]see
Verse 2
He [D]whispered goodbye, love, old [A]Ireland is [G]calling [A]
High [D]over Dublin our [A]tricolour [G]flies [A]
In the [G]streets of our [D]city the foeman is calling
The [G]wee birds are whistling old [A]Ireland a[D]rise
Verse 3
His [D]bandolier round him, his [A]bright bayonet [G]shining [A]
His [D]short-service rifle a [A]beauty to [G]see [A]
There was [G]joy in his [D]eyes though he left me repining
And [G]started away for to [A]make Ireland [D]free
Verse 4
In [D]praying and waiting the [A]dark days passed [G]over [A]
The [D]roar of the guns brought no [A]message to [G]me [A]
I [G]prayed for old [D]Ireland, I prayed for my lover
That [G]he might be saved and old [A]Ireland be [D]free
Verse 5
The [D]struggle was ended, they [A]brought me the [G]story [A]
The [D]last whispered message he [A]sent on to [G]me [A]
I was [G]true to the [D]land, love, I fought for her glory
And [G]gave up my life for to [A]make Ireland [D]free
🎸 Strumming Pattern
Time signature: 4/4 Tempo: ≈ 85 BPM
Style: slow Irish march / ballad
Pattern:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Beat 1 = down-stroke on the bass note (root).
Beat 3 = slightly stronger down-stroke for that marching pulse.
Lightly palm-mute on beats 1 and 3 for a drum-like feel.
Optional bass–chord feel:
On D, hit 4th string (D) → strum.
On G, hit 6th string (G) → strum.
On A, hit 5th string (A) → strum.
🎵 Fingerpicking Tab – First Verse
Travis-style alternating bass for a lilting folk texture.
I had a true love if ever a girl had one
D A G A D
e|--------2---------2-|--------0---------0-|--------3---------3-|--------0---------0-|--------2----|
B|------3---3-----3---|------2---2-----2---|------0---0-----0---|------2---2-----2---|------3---3--|
G|----2-------2-2-----|----2-------2-2-----|----0-------0-0-----|----2-------2-2-----|----2-------2|
D|--0-----------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|--2-----------------|--0----------|
A|--------------------|--------------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|-------------|
E|--------------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|-------------|
I had a true love, a brave lad was he
D A G A D
e|--------2---------2-|--------0---------0-|--------3---------3-|--------0---------0-|--------2----|
B|------3---3-----3---|------2---2-----2---|------0---0-----0---|------2---2-----2---|------3---3--|
G|----2-------2-2-----|----2-------2-2-----|----0-------0-0-----|----2-------2-2-----|----2-------2|
D|--0-----------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|--2-----------------|--0----------|
A|--------------------|--------------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|-------------|
E|--------------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|-------------|
🎵 Tip: keep the thumb alternating (D–A → G–D etc.) while fingers pluck the top three strings gently — that gives the steady, heartfelt march feel.
To play along with The Wolfe Tones in the youtube video then use the following chords.
I[F] had a true love if[C] ever a girl had one
[F]I had a true love a[C] brave lad was he
one [Bb]fine Easter [C]monday[F] with his gallant [C]comrades
He [F]started away for to[C] make Ireland[F] free
[Chorus]
So [F]all around me hat I wear a [C]tricolour ribbon
[F]All around me hat untill [C]death comes to me
And if[Bb]anybody's [C]asking [F]why do I [C]wear it
It's [F]all for my own true love I [C]never more will [F]see.
The Wolfe Tones Song Lyrics
I[F] had a true love if[C] ever a girl had one
[F]I had a true love a[C] brave lad was he
one [Bb]fine Easter [C]monday[F] with his gallant [C]comrades
He [F]started away for to[C] make Ireland[F] free
[Chorus]
So [F]all around me hat I wear a [C]tricolour ribbon
[F]All around me hat untill [C]death comes to me
And if[Bb]anybody's [C]asking [F]why do I [C]wear it
It's [F]all for my own true love I [C]never more will [F]see.
The Wolfe Tones Song Lyrics
All around my hat tin whistle sheet music notes And Mandolin / Banjo Tab
All around my had is very similar to the tri coloured ribbon. I don't know how these two songs got intertwined. All around my hat would be more popular in England that anywhere else and was even recorded by rock group Status Quo.
The Wolfe Tones Tin Whistle Sheet Music has the Irish version
All around my hat sheet music for tin whistle
Girl wearing wolfe tones head sweat band playing guitar
All around my hat mandolin / banjo sheet music tab
