The Time Has Come Lyrics And Chords
Christy Moore & Donal Lunny.This song is about Patsy O Hara [July 1957 – 21 May 1981] who died on hunger strike in 1981 in Long Kesh prison [ song lyrics ], and his girlfriend who visited him just before he died. Along with Christy it was also recorded by Francis Black and Kieran Goss. The sheet music is included. Christy played this song at the graveside of Martin McGuiness's funeral on the 23rd of March 2016. [Martin McGuinness 23 May 1950 – 21 March 2017]
The[Am] time has come to[G] part my[C] love[D] I must go a[G]way
I[Am] leave you[D] now my[G] darling[C] girl no[D] longer can I[G] stay
My[C] heart like[D] yours is[C] breaking[Em] togeather [D]we'll prove[C] strong
The[B7] road I take wil[Em]l show the[D] world the[C] suffering[D] that goes[Am] on
The gentle clasp that holds my hand must loosen and let go
Please help me through the door though instinct tells you no
Our vow it is eternal and will bring you dreadful pain
But if our demands aren't recognised don't call me back again
How their sorrow totched us all in those final days
When it was time she held the door and touched his shallow face
The flame he lit by leaving is still burning strong
By the lights it's plain to see the suffering still goes on
The time has come to part my love I must go away
I leave yoy now my darling girl no longer can I stay
I[Am] leave you[D] now my[G] darling[C] girl no[D] longer can I[G] stay
My[C] heart like[D] yours is[C] breaking[Em] togeather [D]we'll prove[C] strong
The[B7] road I take wil[Em]l show the[D] world the[C] suffering[D] that goes[Am] on
The gentle clasp that holds my hand must loosen and let go
Please help me through the door though instinct tells you no
Our vow it is eternal and will bring you dreadful pain
But if our demands aren't recognised don't call me back again
How their sorrow totched us all in those final days
When it was time she held the door and touched his shallow face
The flame he lit by leaving is still burning strong
By the lights it's plain to see the suffering still goes on
The time has come to part my love I must go away
I leave yoy now my darling girl no longer can I stay
The Time Has Come Song - Patsy O'Hara
A strumming pattern that fits the song’s emotional style.
A fingerpicking tab for the first verse and chorus (last 4 lines of verse 1) in key of G major / E minor.
🎵 Full Song with Chords
(consistent progression and phrasing)
Verse 1
The [Am]time has come to [G]part my [C]love, I [D]must go a[G]way
I [Am]leave you [D]now my [G]darling [C]girl, no [D]longer can I [G]stay
My [C]heart like [D]yours is [C]breaking, [Em]together [D]we'll prove [C]strong
The [B7]road I take will [Em]show the [D]world the [C]suffering [D]that goes [Am]on
Verse 2
The [Am]gentle clasp that [G]holds my [C]hand must [D]loosen and let [G]go
Please [Am]help me [D]through the [G]door though [C]instinct [D]tells you [G]no
Our [C]vow it [D]is e[C]ternal and [Em]will bring [D]dreadful [C]pain
But [B7]if our demands aren’t [Em]recognised, [D]don’t call me [C]back a[D]gain [Am]
Verse 3
How [Am]their sorrow [G]touched us [C]all in [D]those final [G]days
When [Am]it was [D]time she [G]held the [C]door and [D]touched his shallow [G]face
The [C]flame he [D]lit by [C]leaving is [Em]still burning [D]strong
By the [B7]lights it’s plain to [Em]see the [D]suffering [C]still goes [D]on [Am]
Verse 4 (Repeat of Verse 1)
The [Am]time has come to [G]part my [C]love, I [D]must go a[G]way
I [Am]leave you [D]now my [G]darling [C]girl, no [D]longer can I [G]stay
🎸 Suggested Strumming Pattern
For a slow 4/4 Irish ballad feel:
Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count:
1 2-and &-4-and
This gives a gentle flowing rhythm. Try muting the bass slightly with the side of your palm for a softer, more mournful tone.
If you want a simpler version for accompaniment:
Down, down-up, down, up-down-up (repeat each bar)
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab (Verse 1 + Chorus / Final 4 Lines)
Fingerstyle in G major with alternating bass.
Let low notes ring and pick melody on top strings (Travis-picking style).
Tempo: ♩ = 90
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
[Verse 1 - first 4 lines]
Am G C D
e|-------0----------3-----------0----------2-------2-----2----|
B|-----1---1------0---0-------1---1------3---3---3---3--------|
G|---2-------2--0-------0---0-------0--2-------2--------------|
D|-2----------------------------------------------------------|
A|0-----------2-----------3-----------0------------------------|
E|------------3-----------------------------------------------|
G C Em D
e|-------3-----------0----------0----------2---------2---------|
B|-----0---0-------1---1------0---0------3---3-----3---3-------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--0-------0--2-------2-2-------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------3--------------------------------------------|
E|-3-----------------------------------------------------------|
C B7 Em D
e|------0----------2----------0---------2---------2-------------|
B|----1---1------0---0------0---0-----3---3-----3---3-----------|
G|--0-------0--2-------2--0-------0-2-------2-2-----------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-3----------------2-------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------|
C D Am
e|------0---------2----------0----------------------------------|
B|----1---1-----3---3------1---1--------------------------------|
G|--0-------0-2-------2--2-------2------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-3--------------------------0---------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------|
This version keeps the melody voice high while alternating bass between root and fifth notes—giving a haunting and steady pulse typical of Irish folk accompaniment.
A fingerpicking tab for the first verse and chorus (last 4 lines of verse 1) in key of G major / E minor.
🎵 Full Song with Chords
(consistent progression and phrasing)
Verse 1
The [Am]time has come to [G]part my [C]love, I [D]must go a[G]way
I [Am]leave you [D]now my [G]darling [C]girl, no [D]longer can I [G]stay
My [C]heart like [D]yours is [C]breaking, [Em]together [D]we'll prove [C]strong
The [B7]road I take will [Em]show the [D]world the [C]suffering [D]that goes [Am]on
Verse 2
The [Am]gentle clasp that [G]holds my [C]hand must [D]loosen and let [G]go
Please [Am]help me [D]through the [G]door though [C]instinct [D]tells you [G]no
Our [C]vow it [D]is e[C]ternal and [Em]will bring [D]dreadful [C]pain
But [B7]if our demands aren’t [Em]recognised, [D]don’t call me [C]back a[D]gain [Am]
Verse 3
How [Am]their sorrow [G]touched us [C]all in [D]those final [G]days
When [Am]it was [D]time she [G]held the [C]door and [D]touched his shallow [G]face
The [C]flame he [D]lit by [C]leaving is [Em]still burning [D]strong
By the [B7]lights it’s plain to [Em]see the [D]suffering [C]still goes [D]on [Am]
Verse 4 (Repeat of Verse 1)
The [Am]time has come to [G]part my [C]love, I [D]must go a[G]way
I [Am]leave you [D]now my [G]darling [C]girl, no [D]longer can I [G]stay
🎸 Suggested Strumming Pattern
For a slow 4/4 Irish ballad feel:
Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count:
1 2-and &-4-and
This gives a gentle flowing rhythm. Try muting the bass slightly with the side of your palm for a softer, more mournful tone.
If you want a simpler version for accompaniment:
Down, down-up, down, up-down-up (repeat each bar)
🎶 Fingerpicking Tab (Verse 1 + Chorus / Final 4 Lines)
Fingerstyle in G major with alternating bass.
Let low notes ring and pick melody on top strings (Travis-picking style).
Tempo: ♩ = 90
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
[Verse 1 - first 4 lines]
Am G C D
e|-------0----------3-----------0----------2-------2-----2----|
B|-----1---1------0---0-------1---1------3---3---3---3--------|
G|---2-------2--0-------0---0-------0--2-------2--------------|
D|-2----------------------------------------------------------|
A|0-----------2-----------3-----------0------------------------|
E|------------3-----------------------------------------------|
G C Em D
e|-------3-----------0----------0----------2---------2---------|
B|-----0---0-------1---1------0---0------3---3-----3---3-------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--0-------0--2-------2-2-------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------3--------------------------------------------|
E|-3-----------------------------------------------------------|
C B7 Em D
e|------0----------2----------0---------2---------2-------------|
B|----1---1------0---0------0---0-----3---3-----3---3-----------|
G|--0-------0--2-------2--0-------0-2-------2-2-----------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-3----------------2-------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------|
C D Am
e|------0---------2----------0----------------------------------|
B|----1---1-----3---3------1---1--------------------------------|
G|--0-------0-2-------2--2-------2------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-3--------------------------0---------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------|
This version keeps the melody voice high while alternating bass between root and fifth notes—giving a haunting and steady pulse typical of Irish folk accompaniment.
Alternative chords in the key of Em
The[Em] time has come to[D] part my[G] love[A] I must go a[D]way
I[Em] leave you[A] now my[D] darling[G] girl no[A] longer can I[D] stay
My[G] heart like[A] yours is[G] breaking[Bm] togeather [A]we'll prove[G] strong
The[F#7] road I take wil[Bm]l show the[A] world the[G] suffering[A] that goes[Em] on
The[Em] time has come to[D] part my[G] love[A] I must go a[D]way
I[Em] leave you[A] now my[D] darling[G] girl no[A] longer can I[D] stay
My[G] heart like[A] yours is[G] breaking[Bm] togeather [A]we'll prove[G] strong
The[F#7] road I take wil[Bm]l show the[A] world the[G] suffering[A] that goes[Em] on
The Time Has Come Sheet Music
The time has come singer Christy Moore
