Twenty One Years Lyrics Chords & Sheet Music

Twenty One Years lyrics and chords

21 years was written in 1930 in the USA by Bob Miller, info. supplied by Garrett Taylor, Recorded by Daniel O'Donnell, Ryans Fancy and by Dermot Hegerty. The youtube guitar lesson is by myself. A simple 2 chord job in the key of G in chordpro. If the chords don't suit you try changing the chords here. The sheet music is included. When I used to sing this song to myself as a child I often wondered what this man was put in prison for, I suppose I must of thought the song was for real. The banjo / mandolin chords are included, tuned to Irish tenor banjo GDAE. Twenty one years tenor guitar / mandola tab in the tuning of CGDA now added plus a pdf file of the piano score with chords.

The Harmonica Tab Is In This Ebook of Irish Songs

21 Years Song Words And Chords In The Key Of G Major

The[G judge said stand up lad and dry up your[D7] tears,
Your sentenced to Dartmore for twenty one[G] years,
So dry up your tears babe and kiss me good[D7]bye,
For the[D] best friends must part babe,so must you and[G] I,
[2]
I hear the train coming, t'will be here at nine,
To take me to Dartmore to serve up my time,
I look down the railway,and plainly I see,
Your standing there waving your good bye's to me.

[3]
Six months have gone by babe,I wish I was dead,
This cold weary prison,a stone for my head,
It's raining it's hailing,the moon gives no light,
Oh wont you tell me babe,why you never wright.
[4]
I've counted the days babe I've counted the nights,
I've counted the footsteps I've counted the lights
I've counted the raindrops I've counted the stars,
I've counted a million of these prison bars.
[5]
I waited I trusted I longed for the day,
A life-time so lonely,now my hair's turning grey,
But my thoughts are for you babe till I'm out of my mind,
For twenty one years is a mighty long time.

“Twenty-One Years” (sometimes “Dartmoor Prison”). It’s a slow, mournful 3/4 waltz, so we’ll build it in that style.

Below you’ll find:

✅ Full chord chart for all verses

🎸 A strumming pattern for accompaniment

🎶 A fingerstyle tab for the first verse and chorus section (verse 1 pattern)

🎵 1. Full Song With Chords
[Verse 1]
G
The judge said stand up lad and dry up your D7 tears,
G
You're sentenced to Dartmoor for twenty one years,
G
So dry up your tears babe and kiss me good D7 bye,
D
For the best friends must part babe, so must you and G I.

[Verse 2]
G
I hear the train coming, t'will be here at D7 nine,
G
To take me to Dartmoor to serve out my time,
G
I look down the railway, and plainly I D7 see,
D
You're standing there waving your goodbyes to G me.

[Verse 3]
G
Six months have gone by babe, I wish I was D7 dead,
G
This cold weary prison, a stone for my head,
G
It's raining it's hailing, the moon gives no D7 light,
D
Oh won’t you tell me babe, why you never G write.

[Verse 4]
G
I've counted the days babe, I've counted the D7 nights,
G
I've counted the footsteps, I've counted the lights,
G
I've counted the raindrops, I've counted the D7 stars,
D
I've counted a million of these prison G bars.

[Verse 5]
G
I waited I trusted I longed for the D7 day,
G
A life-time so lonely, now my hair’s turning grey,
G
But my thoughts are for you babe till I'm out of my D7 mind,
D
For twenty one years is a mighty long G time.

🎸 2. Strumming Pattern

Time Signature: 3/4 (slow waltz feel)
Tempo: ~85 BPM

➤ Pattern:

↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑
Count: 1 2 & 3 &

Keep it gentle and flowing — think of it like a slow dance, not a march.

Dynamics:

For verses: soft, thumb-led strums (brush top strings)

For emotional moments: fuller downstrokes on beat 1

🎶 3. Fingerstyle Guitar Tab

(First Verse – can also serve for chorus if repeated)

Picking Pattern (per bar):

Bass → G → B → high E → B → G
(Thumb alternates between root and fifth, classic folk waltz pattern.)

FIRST VERSE TAB

Lyrics:

The [G]judge said stand up lad and dry up your [D7]tears,
You're [G]sentenced to Dartmoor for twenty one years,
So [G]dry up your tears babe and kiss me good [D7]bye,
For the [D]best friends must part babe, so must you and [G]I.

G
e|--------3-------------3-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|3-----------------3-----------------|

D7
e|--------2-------------2-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|

D
e|--------2-------------2-------------|
B|------3---3---------3---3-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|0-----------------0-----------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|

G
e|--------3-------------3-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|3-----------------3-----------------|

💡 Performance Tips

Let bass notes ring clearly on beats 1 and 2 — that drives the rhythm.

Use your thumb gently, almost like a soft heartbeat.

If you sing, keep the treble notes light to make space for your voice.

On the last line of each verse, pause slightly before the final G — it adds emotional weight.

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