When the boys come rolling home lyrics and chords by Tommy Sands
See the link below for the sheet music .Lyrics and chords fit Tommy Sands on his album ‘Beyond The Shadows’ , the youtube video is by The Dubliners with Sean Cannon on vocals. Sean sings sailing out of ''Dublin''. The song was originally written as sailing out of ''Belfast''. It's not uncommon for this to happen, there's two other songs on the site that got their names changed , one being Belfast Mill which originally was called Argon Mill. Another is The Old Dungarvan Oak which originally was called The Old Carmarthen Oak. This song was also recorded by The Dubliners with Sean Cannon singing. The title of this song is a line from the lyrics of The Boys Of Killybegs Song by Tommy Makem.
I always will remember well the day we went away
Sailin’ out of Belfast in the mor-ning
Our hopes were on tomorrow as we kissed the girls farewell
But our dreams were on the day of our retur-ning
Chorus
There’ll be dancin’, romancin’ and never more we’ll roam
There’ll be rolling in the hay there’ll be whiskey in the tea
When the boys come rolling home-C-G-G
We safely reached the other side in New York City fair
In spite of wind and rain and stormy wea-ther
We all sat down and drank a glass and wished each other well
And we said we’ll all come back again toge-ther
Chorus
Well Joe he went to Boston and Sam to Buffalo
And Pat went out as far as Califor-nia
I used to get some letters then but that was long ago
And they always spoke of Ireland and retur-ning
Chorus
I must be over ninety now my gandson’s by my bed
And here I’m in Chicago and still sche-ming
He says he’ll take me back again to rest my weary head
And I’ll leave him a legacy of drea-ming
There’ll be dancin’, romancin’ and never more we’ll roam
There’ll be rolling in the hay there’ll be whiskey in the tea
When the boys come rolling home-C
There’ll be dancin’, romancin’ and never more we’ll roam
There’ll be rolling in the hay there’ll be whiskey in the tea
When the boys come rolling home
Sailin’ out of Belfast in the mor-ning
Our hopes were on tomorrow as we kissed the girls farewell
But our dreams were on the day of our retur-ning
Chorus
There’ll be dancin’, romancin’ and never more we’ll roam
There’ll be rolling in the hay there’ll be whiskey in the tea
When the boys come rolling home-C-G-G
We safely reached the other side in New York City fair
In spite of wind and rain and stormy wea-ther
We all sat down and drank a glass and wished each other well
And we said we’ll all come back again toge-ther
Chorus
Well Joe he went to Boston and Sam to Buffalo
And Pat went out as far as Califor-nia
I used to get some letters then but that was long ago
And they always spoke of Ireland and retur-ning
Chorus
I must be over ninety now my gandson’s by my bed
And here I’m in Chicago and still sche-ming
He says he’ll take me back again to rest my weary head
And I’ll leave him a legacy of drea-ming
There’ll be dancin’, romancin’ and never more we’ll roam
There’ll be rolling in the hay there’ll be whiskey in the tea
When the boys come rolling home-C
There’ll be dancin’, romancin’ and never more we’ll roam
There’ll be rolling in the hay there’ll be whiskey in the tea
When the boys come rolling home
When the Boys Come Rolling Home
Key: C Major
Time Signature: 12/8
Tempo: ~85 BPM (slow, rolling Irish ballad)
🎸 Strumming Pattern (12/8 Feel)
Think swinging triplets — gentle “down, down-up-up” feel in 4 beats per bar.
↓ (↓↑) ↓ (↓↑) ↓ (↓↑) ↓ (↓↑)
(count: 1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a)
You can simplify to:
↓ – ↓↑ – ↓ – ↓↑
Beat 1: bass emphasis
Beats 2–3–4: rolling sway
Keep your wrist loose and flowing, as in a sea shanty or Irish folk waltz.
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern (12/8 Rolling Feel)
(T = thumb, I = index, M = middle, A = ring)
T – I – M – A – M – I – T – I – M – A – M – I
or more simply, treat each measure as two sets of 6/8:
T – I – M – A – M – I | T – I – M – A – M – I
Thumb plays bass note on beats 1 and 4, fingers roll upward.
🪶 Fingerpicking Tab with Lyrics
Verse 1
C
e|--------0-----------0-------0-----------0---|
B|------1---1-------1---1---1---1-------1---1-|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------0---0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------------------|
A|--3-----------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------|
I always will remember well the day we went away
F C
e|--------1-----------1-------1-----------1---|
B|------1---1-------1---1---1---1-------1---1-|
G|----2-------2---2-------0-------0---0-------|
D|--3-----------3----------------2-------------|
A|--3--------------------------------3---------|
E|---------------------------------------------|
Sailin’ out of Belfast in the morning
F G C
e|--------1-----------1---|--------3-----------3---|--------0-----------0---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------0---0-------0---0-|------1---1-------1---1-|
G|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--3-----------3---------|--0-----------0---------|--2-----------2---------|
A|--3----------------------|------------------------|--3--------------------|
E|-------------------------|--3---------------------|-----------------------|
Our hopes were on tomorrow as we kissed the girls farewell
F C G C
e|--------1-----------1---|--------0-----------0---|--------3-----------3---|--------0-----------0---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------1---1-------1---1-|------0---0-------0---0-|------1---1-------1---1-|
G|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--3-----------3---------|--2-----------2---------|--0-----------0---------|--2-----------2---------|
A|--3----------------------|--3--------------------|-------------------------|--3--------------------|
E|-------------------------|-----------------------|--3----------------------|-----------------------|
But our dreams were on the day of our returning
Chorus
F C
e|--------1-----------1---|--------0-----------0---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------1---1-------1---1-|
G|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--3-----------3---------|--2-----------2---------|
A|--3----------------------|--3--------------------|
E|-------------------------|-----------------------|
There’ll be dancin’, romancin’ and never more we’ll roam
F C D
e|--------1-----------1---|--------0-----------0---|--------2-----------2---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------1---1-------1---1-|------3---3-------3---3-|
G|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|----2-------2---2-------|
D|--3-----------3---------|--2-----------2---------|--0-----------0---------|
A|--3----------------------|--3--------------------|------------------------|
E|-------------------------|-----------------------|------------------------|
There’ll be rolling in the hay, there’ll be whiskey in the tea
C G F C
e|--------0-----------0---|--------3-----------3---|--------1-----------1---|--------0-----------0---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------0---0-------0---0-|------1---1-------1---1-|------1---1-------1---1-|
G|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--2-----------2---------|--0-----------0---------|--3-----------3---------|--2-----------2---------|
A|--3----------------------|------------------------|--3--------------------|--3--------------------|
E|-------------------------|--3---------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
When the boys come rolling home
🎧 Performance Tips
Feel: A gentle, rolling 12/8 triplet pulse — like a sea-song sway.
Verses: Fingerpick softly (harp-like, flowing).
Chorus: Slightly fuller — either a light strum or a heavier roll.
Accent beats: 1 and 4 (the first beat of each triplet group)
Key: C Major
Time Signature: 12/8
Tempo: ~85 BPM (slow, rolling Irish ballad)
🎸 Strumming Pattern (12/8 Feel)
Think swinging triplets — gentle “down, down-up-up” feel in 4 beats per bar.
↓ (↓↑) ↓ (↓↑) ↓ (↓↑) ↓ (↓↑)
(count: 1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a)
You can simplify to:
↓ – ↓↑ – ↓ – ↓↑
Beat 1: bass emphasis
Beats 2–3–4: rolling sway
Keep your wrist loose and flowing, as in a sea shanty or Irish folk waltz.
🎸 Fingerpicking Pattern (12/8 Rolling Feel)
(T = thumb, I = index, M = middle, A = ring)
T – I – M – A – M – I – T – I – M – A – M – I
or more simply, treat each measure as two sets of 6/8:
T – I – M – A – M – I | T – I – M – A – M – I
Thumb plays bass note on beats 1 and 4, fingers roll upward.
🪶 Fingerpicking Tab with Lyrics
Verse 1
C
e|--------0-----------0-------0-----------0---|
B|------1---1-------1---1---1---1-------1---1-|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------0---0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------------------|
A|--3-----------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------|
I always will remember well the day we went away
F C
e|--------1-----------1-------1-----------1---|
B|------1---1-------1---1---1---1-------1---1-|
G|----2-------2---2-------0-------0---0-------|
D|--3-----------3----------------2-------------|
A|--3--------------------------------3---------|
E|---------------------------------------------|
Sailin’ out of Belfast in the morning
F G C
e|--------1-----------1---|--------3-----------3---|--------0-----------0---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------0---0-------0---0-|------1---1-------1---1-|
G|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--3-----------3---------|--0-----------0---------|--2-----------2---------|
A|--3----------------------|------------------------|--3--------------------|
E|-------------------------|--3---------------------|-----------------------|
Our hopes were on tomorrow as we kissed the girls farewell
F C G C
e|--------1-----------1---|--------0-----------0---|--------3-----------3---|--------0-----------0---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------1---1-------1---1-|------0---0-------0---0-|------1---1-------1---1-|
G|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--3-----------3---------|--2-----------2---------|--0-----------0---------|--2-----------2---------|
A|--3----------------------|--3--------------------|-------------------------|--3--------------------|
E|-------------------------|-----------------------|--3----------------------|-----------------------|
But our dreams were on the day of our returning
Chorus
F C
e|--------1-----------1---|--------0-----------0---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------1---1-------1---1-|
G|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--3-----------3---------|--2-----------2---------|
A|--3----------------------|--3--------------------|
E|-------------------------|-----------------------|
There’ll be dancin’, romancin’ and never more we’ll roam
F C D
e|--------1-----------1---|--------0-----------0---|--------2-----------2---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------1---1-------1---1-|------3---3-------3---3-|
G|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|----2-------2---2-------|
D|--3-----------3---------|--2-----------2---------|--0-----------0---------|
A|--3----------------------|--3--------------------|------------------------|
E|-------------------------|-----------------------|------------------------|
There’ll be rolling in the hay, there’ll be whiskey in the tea
C G F C
e|--------0-----------0---|--------3-----------3---|--------1-----------1---|--------0-----------0---|
B|------1---1-------1---1-|------0---0-------0---0-|------1---1-------1---1-|------1---1-------1---1-|
G|----0-------0---0-------|----0-------0---0-------|----2-------2---2-------|----0-------0---0-------|
D|--2-----------2---------|--0-----------0---------|--3-----------3---------|--2-----------2---------|
A|--3----------------------|------------------------|--3--------------------|--3--------------------|
E|-------------------------|--3---------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
When the boys come rolling home
🎧 Performance Tips
Feel: A gentle, rolling 12/8 triplet pulse — like a sea-song sway.
Verses: Fingerpick softly (harp-like, flowing).
Chorus: Slightly fuller — either a light strum or a heavier roll.
Accent beats: 1 and 4 (the first beat of each triplet group)
When The Boys Come Rolling Home Sheet Music / Tin Whistle Notes Are In The Ebooks Below
Below is the list of sheet music and tin whistle songs that are in my ebooks. This is the largest collection of tin whistle songs ever put together.[over 1,000 songs ] Including folk, pop and trad tunes plus German And French songs along with Christmas Carols.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
Below is the list of sheet music and tin whistle songs that are in my ebooks. This is the largest collection of tin whistle songs ever put together.[over 1,000 songs ] Including folk, pop and trad tunes plus German And French songs along with Christmas Carols.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
Intro: F-C-G-G
I (C)always will remember well the day we went away
(F)Sailin’ out of (C)Belfast in the (F)mor-(G)ning
Our (C)hopes were on tomorrow as we kissed the girls farewell
But our (F)dreams were on the (C)day of our re(G)tur-(C)ning
Chorus
There’ll be (F)dancin’, ro(C)mancin’ and (F)never (C)more we’ll (D)roam(G)
There’ll be (F)rolling in the hay there’ll be (C)whiskey in the (Am)tea
When the (C)boys come (G)rolling (F)home-C-G-G
We (C)safely reached the other side in New York City fair
In (F)spite of wind and (C)rain and stormy (F)wea-(G)ther
We (C)all sat down and drank a glass and wished each other well
And we (F)said we’ll all come (C)back again to(G)ge-(C)ther
Chorus
Well (C)Joe he went to Boston and Sam to Buffalo
And (F)Pat went out as (C)far as Cali(F)for-(G)nia
I (C)used to get some letters then but that was long ago
And they (F)always spoke of (C)Ireland and re(G)tur-(C)ning
Chorus
I (C)must be over ninety now my gandson’s by my bed
And (F)here I’m in Chi(C)cago and still (F)sche-(G)ming
He (C)says he’ll take me back again to rest my weary head
And (F)I’ll leave him a (C)legacy of (G)drea-(C)ming
There’ll be (F)dancin’, ro(C)mancin’ and (F)never (C)more we’ll (D)roam(G)
There’ll be (F)rolling in the hay there’ll be (C)whiskey in the (Am)tea
When the (C)boys come (G)rolling (F)home-C
There’ll be (F)dancin’, ro(C)mancin’ and (F)never (C)more we’ll (D)roam(G)
There’ll be (F)rolling in the hay there’ll be (C)whiskey in the (Am)tea
When the (C)boys come (G)rolling (F)home-C-G-G -C
Folk Songs From Belfast
I (C)always will remember well the day we went away
(F)Sailin’ out of (C)Belfast in the (F)mor-(G)ning
Our (C)hopes were on tomorrow as we kissed the girls farewell
But our (F)dreams were on the (C)day of our re(G)tur-(C)ning
Chorus
There’ll be (F)dancin’, ro(C)mancin’ and (F)never (C)more we’ll (D)roam(G)
There’ll be (F)rolling in the hay there’ll be (C)whiskey in the (Am)tea
When the (C)boys come (G)rolling (F)home-C-G-G
We (C)safely reached the other side in New York City fair
In (F)spite of wind and (C)rain and stormy (F)wea-(G)ther
We (C)all sat down and drank a glass and wished each other well
And we (F)said we’ll all come (C)back again to(G)ge-(C)ther
Chorus
Well (C)Joe he went to Boston and Sam to Buffalo
And (F)Pat went out as (C)far as Cali(F)for-(G)nia
I (C)used to get some letters then but that was long ago
And they (F)always spoke of (C)Ireland and re(G)tur-(C)ning
Chorus
I (C)must be over ninety now my gandson’s by my bed
And (F)here I’m in Chi(C)cago and still (F)sche-(G)ming
He (C)says he’ll take me back again to rest my weary head
And (F)I’ll leave him a (C)legacy of (G)drea-(C)ming
There’ll be (F)dancin’, ro(C)mancin’ and (F)never (C)more we’ll (D)roam(G)
There’ll be (F)rolling in the hay there’ll be (C)whiskey in the (Am)tea
When the (C)boys come (G)rolling (F)home-C
There’ll be (F)dancin’, ro(C)mancin’ and (F)never (C)more we’ll (D)roam(G)
There’ll be (F)rolling in the hay there’ll be (C)whiskey in the (Am)tea
When the (C)boys come (G)rolling (F)home-C-G-G -C
Folk Songs From Belfast
Tommy Sands song
