Up Went Nelson Lyrics And Chords
Written by The Go Lucky Four and a No.1 song in Ireland in 1966 as that was the year the pillar of Nelson was blown up by the Irish Republican Army. The tune of the ballad is the same as 'The Belfast Brigade song and also used for 'Glory, glory hallelujah' ,
For Irish Chart version use capo on 3rd fret)
Chorus
(G)Up went Nelson in old Dublin
(C)Up went Nelson in old (G)Dublin
All along O'Connell Street the (Em)stones and rubble flew
As (Am)up went (D)Nelson and the (G)pillar too
(G)One early mornin' in the year of '66
A (C)band of Irish laddies were (G)knockin' up some tricks
They though Horatio Nelson had (Em)overstayed a mite
So they (Am)helped him on his (D)way with some (G)sticks of gelignite
Chorus
The (G)Irish population came from miles around
To (C)see the English hero (G)lying on the ground
The Dublin corporation had no (Em)funds to have it done
But the (Am)pillar blew to (D)pieces by the (G)ton, ton, ton
Chorus
A (G)crowd of lads and lassies from a dance nearby came out
To (C)see the bits of Nelson (G)lyin' all about
A gussune from the Coombe says we'll (Em)have to have a care
In (Am)case the corpo(D)ration put King (G)Billy there
Chorus
As (Am)up went (D)Nelson and the (G)pillar too
Chorus
(G)Up went Nelson in old Dublin
(C)Up went Nelson in old (G)Dublin
All along O'Connell Street the (Em)stones and rubble flew
As (Am)up went (D)Nelson and the (G)pillar too
(G)One early mornin' in the year of '66
A (C)band of Irish laddies were (G)knockin' up some tricks
They though Horatio Nelson had (Em)overstayed a mite
So they (Am)helped him on his (D)way with some (G)sticks of gelignite
Chorus
The (G)Irish population came from miles around
To (C)see the English hero (G)lying on the ground
The Dublin corporation had no (Em)funds to have it done
But the (Am)pillar blew to (D)pieces by the (G)ton, ton, ton
Chorus
A (G)crowd of lads and lassies from a dance nearby came out
To (C)see the bits of Nelson (G)lyin' all about
A gussune from the Coombe says we'll (Em)have to have a care
In (Am)case the corpo(D)ration put King (G)Billy there
Chorus
As (Am)up went (D)Nelson and the (G)pillar too
Chords (in G Major for all verses)
✅ A strumming pattern (bright Irish jig feel)
✅ A fingerstyle guitar tab for the first verse and chorus
🎵 1. Song in G Major
[Chorus]
(G)Up went Nelson in old Dublin,
(C)Up went Nelson in old (G)Dublin,
All along O'Connell Street the (Em)stones and rubble flew,
As (Am)up went (D)Nelson and the (G)pillar too.
[Verse 1]
(G)One early mornin' in the year of '66,
A (C)band of Irish laddies were (G)knockin' up some tricks,
They thought Horatio Nelson had (Em)overstayed a mite,
So they (Am)helped him on his (D)way with some (G)sticks of gelignite.
[Verse 2]
(G)The Irish population came from miles around,
To (C)see the English hero (G)lying on the ground,
The Dublin corporation had no (Em)funds to have it done,
But the (Am)pillar blew to (D)pieces by the (G)ton, ton, ton.
[Verse 3]
(G)A crowd of lads and lassies from a dance nearby came out,
To (C)see the bits of Nelson (G)lyin' all about,
A gossoon from the Coombe says we'll (Em)have to have a care,
In (Am)case the corpo(D)ration put King (G)Billy there.
[Chorus – repeat]
(Am)Up went (D)Nelson and the (G)pillar too!
🎸 2. STRUMMING PATTERN
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: ~100–110 BPM (bright and bouncy)
Irish march/jig rhythm.
➤ Strumming pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count: 1 2& &4&
Emphasize beats 1 and 3 slightly.
Use muted palm hits (optional) on the off-beats for that punchy folk bounce.
Think of the feel in “Whiskey in the Jar” or “The Wild Rover” — brisk and lively.
Alternate (for verses):
Bass ↓ – Strum ↓↑ – Bass ↓ – Strum ↑↓↑
→ Light and rhythmic, keeps the story rolling.
🎶 3. FINGERSTYLE GUITAR TAB
(First verse + chorus, in G Major)
Right-hand pattern (per measure):
Bass → G → B → high E → B → G
Thumb = E/A/D strings
Index = G string
Middle = B string
Ring = high E string
FIRST VERSE TAB
Lyrics:
(G)One early mornin' in the year of '66,
A (C)band of Irish laddies were (G)knockin' up some tricks,
They thought Horatio Nelson had (Em)overstayed a mite,
So they (Am)helped him on his (D)way with some (G)sticks of gelignite.
G
e|--------3-------------3-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|3-----------------3-----------------|
C
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|3-----------------3-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
Em
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|2-----------------2-----------------|
E|0-----------------------------------|
Am
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|0-----------------0-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
D
e|--------2-------------2-------------|
B|------3---3---------3---3-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|0-----------------0-----------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|
CHORUS TAB
Lyrics:
(G)Up went Nelson in old Dublin,
(C)Up went Nelson in old (G)Dublin,
All along O'Connell Street the (Em)stones and rubble flew,
As (Am)up went (D)Nelson and the (G)pillar too.
(Use same picking pattern as the verse.)
💡 Playing Tips
Keep your thumb steady on the bass to create that marching pulse.
Let the top notes ring — it gives that chiming, open Irish sound.
On the line “up went Nelson…”, give the rhythm a little lift (accent on “up”).
For performance:
Fingerpick the verses (storytelling feel).
Strum the chorus (energetic crowd singalong).
✅ A strumming pattern (bright Irish jig feel)
✅ A fingerstyle guitar tab for the first verse and chorus
🎵 1. Song in G Major
[Chorus]
(G)Up went Nelson in old Dublin,
(C)Up went Nelson in old (G)Dublin,
All along O'Connell Street the (Em)stones and rubble flew,
As (Am)up went (D)Nelson and the (G)pillar too.
[Verse 1]
(G)One early mornin' in the year of '66,
A (C)band of Irish laddies were (G)knockin' up some tricks,
They thought Horatio Nelson had (Em)overstayed a mite,
So they (Am)helped him on his (D)way with some (G)sticks of gelignite.
[Verse 2]
(G)The Irish population came from miles around,
To (C)see the English hero (G)lying on the ground,
The Dublin corporation had no (Em)funds to have it done,
But the (Am)pillar blew to (D)pieces by the (G)ton, ton, ton.
[Verse 3]
(G)A crowd of lads and lassies from a dance nearby came out,
To (C)see the bits of Nelson (G)lyin' all about,
A gossoon from the Coombe says we'll (Em)have to have a care,
In (Am)case the corpo(D)ration put King (G)Billy there.
[Chorus – repeat]
(Am)Up went (D)Nelson and the (G)pillar too!
🎸 2. STRUMMING PATTERN
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: ~100–110 BPM (bright and bouncy)
Irish march/jig rhythm.
➤ Strumming pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count: 1 2& &4&
Emphasize beats 1 and 3 slightly.
Use muted palm hits (optional) on the off-beats for that punchy folk bounce.
Think of the feel in “Whiskey in the Jar” or “The Wild Rover” — brisk and lively.
Alternate (for verses):
Bass ↓ – Strum ↓↑ – Bass ↓ – Strum ↑↓↑
→ Light and rhythmic, keeps the story rolling.
🎶 3. FINGERSTYLE GUITAR TAB
(First verse + chorus, in G Major)
Right-hand pattern (per measure):
Bass → G → B → high E → B → G
Thumb = E/A/D strings
Index = G string
Middle = B string
Ring = high E string
FIRST VERSE TAB
Lyrics:
(G)One early mornin' in the year of '66,
A (C)band of Irish laddies were (G)knockin' up some tricks,
They thought Horatio Nelson had (Em)overstayed a mite,
So they (Am)helped him on his (D)way with some (G)sticks of gelignite.
G
e|--------3-------------3-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|3-----------------3-----------------|
C
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|3-----------------3-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
Em
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|2-----------------2-----------------|
E|0-----------------------------------|
Am
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|0-----------------0-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
D
e|--------2-------------2-------------|
B|------3---3---------3---3-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|0-----------------0-----------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|
CHORUS TAB
Lyrics:
(G)Up went Nelson in old Dublin,
(C)Up went Nelson in old (G)Dublin,
All along O'Connell Street the (Em)stones and rubble flew,
As (Am)up went (D)Nelson and the (G)pillar too.
(Use same picking pattern as the verse.)
💡 Playing Tips
Keep your thumb steady on the bass to create that marching pulse.
Let the top notes ring — it gives that chiming, open Irish sound.
On the line “up went Nelson…”, give the rhythm a little lift (accent on “up”).
For performance:
Fingerpick the verses (storytelling feel).
Strum the chorus (energetic crowd singalong).
This is the third song on the site about Nelson's Pillar. Nelson's Farewell lyrics + chords by [Galway] Joe Dolan and a big hit for The Dubliners and Lord Nelson Chords And Lyrics by Tommy Makem. after the bombing which was carried out by the I.R.A.the Irish army came along afterwords to remove what was left of the pillar and also decided to use explosives.
Well, the Irish army caused more damage than what was originally done by ''so called amateurs'' Another piece of trivia is that the head of Nelson was recovered by a group of students from Trinity Collage, they gave the head to The Dubliners who brought it on tour with them and placed it on the stage when playing.The guitar chords for Up Went Nelson are by Marc Fahrbach.
Well, the Irish army caused more damage than what was originally done by ''so called amateurs'' Another piece of trivia is that the head of Nelson was recovered by a group of students from Trinity Collage, they gave the head to The Dubliners who brought it on tour with them and placed it on the stage when playing.The guitar chords for Up Went Nelson are by Marc Fahrbach.
