Wrap The Green Flag Round Me Lyrics And Chords
The tin whistle sheet music is included. [ My Version ] J.K. O' Reilly wrote the lyrics.This old Irish ballad [ history was recorded by Luke Kelly with the Dubliners and Brian Roebuck, another great singer sang a verse or so of this song, I have yet to here any one do the whole song[except myself] the songwriter John Kevin O'Reilly was a Fenian who preached that ''Ireland Would Get Her Courage Only When She Fights For It'' , he proved his word when himself and his five sons fought in the 1916 rising. He died in 1929. The singer here in the youtube video is Brian Roebuck.
Oh wrap[D] the green flag[G] round me[D] boys,
To die were far more[A] sweet,
With[D] Erin's noble[G] emblem[D] boys,
To[G] be my[A] winding[D] sheet,
In[A] life I loved to[D] see it wave
And[G] follow where it[A] led,
But[D] now my eyes grow[G] dim-my[D] hand
Would grasp its[A] last bright[D] shred.
[Chorus]
Then[D] wrap the green flag[G] round me[D] boys,
To die were far more[A] sweet,
With[D] Erin's noble[G] emblem[D] boys,
To[G] be my[A] winding[D] sheet.
[2]
And I had hopes to meet you boys,
On many a well fought field,
When to our sacred banner boys,
The traitrous foe would yield,
But now at last I am denied,
My dearest prayer,
You'll follow and you'll meet the foe,
But I shall not be there.
[3]
But though my body moulders boys
My spirit will be free,
And every comrade's honour boys
Will yet be dear to me,
And in the thick of bloody fight,
Let not your courage lag
For I'll be there and hovering near,
Around the dear old flag.
To die were far more[A] sweet,
With[D] Erin's noble[G] emblem[D] boys,
To[G] be my[A] winding[D] sheet,
In[A] life I loved to[D] see it wave
And[G] follow where it[A] led,
But[D] now my eyes grow[G] dim-my[D] hand
Would grasp its[A] last bright[D] shred.
[Chorus]
Then[D] wrap the green flag[G] round me[D] boys,
To die were far more[A] sweet,
With[D] Erin's noble[G] emblem[D] boys,
To[G] be my[A] winding[D] sheet.
[2]
And I had hopes to meet you boys,
On many a well fought field,
When to our sacred banner boys,
The traitrous foe would yield,
But now at last I am denied,
My dearest prayer,
You'll follow and you'll meet the foe,
But I shall not be there.
[3]
But though my body moulders boys
My spirit will be free,
And every comrade's honour boys
Will yet be dear to me,
And in the thick of bloody fight,
Let not your courage lag
For I'll be there and hovering near,
Around the dear old flag.
Another Version Of The Chord Structure
(D)Wrap the (D7)green flag (G)round me (Em)boys,
To (D)die were (E7)far more (A)sweet,(A7)
With (D)Erin's (D7)noble (G)emblem (Em)boys,
To (D)be my (A)winding (D)sheet, -DSus4-D
In (A)life I (A7)loved to (D)see it (Bm)wave
And (E7)follow (Em)where it (A)led,(A7)
But (D)now my (D7)eyes grow (G)dim my (Em)hand
Would (D)grasp its (A)last bright (D)shred. -DSus4-D
Chorus
So (A)wrap the (A7)green flag (D)round me (Bm)boys,
To (E7)die were (Em)far more (A)sweet,(A7)
With (D)Erin's (D7)noble (G)emblem (Em)boys,
To (D)be my (A)winding (D)sheet. -DSus4-D
And (D)I had (D7)hopes to (G)meet you (Em)boys,
On (D)many a (E7)well fought (A)field,(A7)
When (D)to our (D7)sacred (G)banner (Em)boys,
The (D)traitrous (A)foe would (D)yield, -DSus4-D
But (A)now at (A7)last I (D)am de(Bm)nied,
My (E7)dearest (Em)earthly (A)prayer,(A7)
You'll (D)follow (D7)and you'll (G)meet the (Em)foe,
But (D)I shall (A)not be (D)there. -DSus4-D
Chorus
But (D)though my (D7)body (G)moulders (Em)boys
My (D)spirit (E7)will be (A)free,(A7)
And (D)every (D7)comrade's (G)honour (Em)boys
Will(D) yet be (A)dear to (D)me, -DSus4-D
And (A)in the (A7)thick of (D)bloody (Bm)fight,
Let (E7)not your (Em)courage (A)lag (A7)
For (D)I'll be (D7)there and (G)hovering (Em)near,
A(D)round the (A)dear old (D)flag. -DSus4-D
Chorus
(D)Wrap the (D7)green flag (G)round me (Em)boys,
To (D)die were (E7)far more (A)sweet,(A7)
With (D)Erin's (D7)noble (G)emblem (Em)boys,
To (D)be my (A)winding (D)sheet, -DSus4-D
In (A)life I (A7)loved to (D)see it (Bm)wave
And (E7)follow (Em)where it (A)led,(A7)
But (D)now my (D7)eyes grow (G)dim my (Em)hand
Would (D)grasp its (A)last bright (D)shred. -DSus4-D
Chorus
So (A)wrap the (A7)green flag (D)round me (Bm)boys,
To (E7)die were (Em)far more (A)sweet,(A7)
With (D)Erin's (D7)noble (G)emblem (Em)boys,
To (D)be my (A)winding (D)sheet. -DSus4-D
And (D)I had (D7)hopes to (G)meet you (Em)boys,
On (D)many a (E7)well fought (A)field,(A7)
When (D)to our (D7)sacred (G)banner (Em)boys,
The (D)traitrous (A)foe would (D)yield, -DSus4-D
But (A)now at (A7)last I (D)am de(Bm)nied,
My (E7)dearest (Em)earthly (A)prayer,(A7)
You'll (D)follow (D7)and you'll (G)meet the (Em)foe,
But (D)I shall (A)not be (D)there. -DSus4-D
Chorus
But (D)though my (D7)body (G)moulders (Em)boys
My (D)spirit (E7)will be (A)free,(A7)
And (D)every (D7)comrade's (G)honour (Em)boys
Will(D) yet be (A)dear to (D)me, -DSus4-D
And (A)in the (A7)thick of (D)bloody (Bm)fight,
Let (E7)not your (Em)courage (A)lag (A7)
For (D)I'll be (D7)there and (G)hovering (Em)near,
A(D)round the (A)dear old (D)flag. -DSus4-D
Chorus
Below you’ll find:
✅ Full chords (transposed to G Major)
✅ A folk strumming pattern
✅ A fingerstyle tab for the first verse + chorus
🎵 1. Full Song in G Major
[Verse 1]
(G)Wrap the (G7)green flag (C)round me (Am)boys,
To (G)die were (A7)far more (D)sweet,
With (G)Erin's (G7)noble (C)emblem (Am)boys,
To (G)be my (D)winding (G)sheet.
In (D)life I (D7)loved to (G)see it (Em)wave,
And (A7)follow (Am)where it (D)led,
But (G)now my (G7)eyes grow (C)dim, my (Am)hand
Would (G)grasp its (D)last bright (G)shred.
[Chorus]
So (D)wrap the (D7)green flag (G)round me (Em)boys,
To (A7)die were (Am)far more (D)sweet,
With (G)Erin's (G7)noble (C)emblem (Am)boys,
To (G)be my (D)winding (G)sheet.
[Verse 2]
And (G)I had (G7)hopes to (C)meet you (Am)boys,
On (G)many a (A7)well-fought (D)field,
When (G)to our (G7)sacred (C)banner (Am)boys,
The (G)trait’rous (D)foe would (G)yield.
But (D)now at (D7)last I (G)am de(Em)nied,
My (A7)dearest (Am)earthly (D)prayer,
You’ll (G)follow (G7)and you’ll (C)meet the (Am)foe,
But (G)I shall (D)not be (G)there.
🎸 2. STRUMMING PATTERN
Time Signature: 3/4 (slow Irish waltz)
Tempo: ~70–75 BPM (dignified and flowing)
➤ Folk Waltz Pattern
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count: 1 2–3 4–5–6
Beat 1: Bass note (lowest string of chord)
Beats 2–6: gentle, rolling treble strums
Keep the rhythm smooth and circular — think of a slow march or solemn dance.
Alternate:
Bass ↓ – Strum ↓↑ – Bass ↓ – Strum ↑↓↑
🎶 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)Wrap the (G7)green flag (C)round me (Am)boys,
To (G)die were (A7)far more (D)sweet,
With (G)Erin’s (G7)noble (C)emblem (Am)boys,
To (G)be my (D)winding (G)sheet.
G
e|--------3-------------3-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|3-----------------3-----------------|
G7
e|--------1-------------1-------------|
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|------------------------------------|
Am
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|0-----------------0-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
A7
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------2---2---------2---2-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
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:
So (D)wrap the (D7)green flag (G)round me (Em)boys,
To (A7)die were (Am)far more (D)sweet,
With (G)Erin's (G7)noble (C)emblem (Am)boys,
To (G)be my (D)winding (G)sheet.
(Use the same picking pattern; let final “G” ring.)
💡 Playing Tips
Tempo: Slow, steady — think of it as a farewell march.
Bass: Let your thumb set a gentle pulse on beat 1.
Tone: Use fingers (not pick), and let the treble notes ring.
Emotion:
Verse: quiet, reverent
Chorus: slightly stronger, more heartfelt
For the final “sheet,” hold the last G chord for a full measure — let it fade naturally.
✅ Full chords (transposed to G Major)
✅ A folk strumming pattern
✅ A fingerstyle tab for the first verse + chorus
🎵 1. Full Song in G Major
[Verse 1]
(G)Wrap the (G7)green flag (C)round me (Am)boys,
To (G)die were (A7)far more (D)sweet,
With (G)Erin's (G7)noble (C)emblem (Am)boys,
To (G)be my (D)winding (G)sheet.
In (D)life I (D7)loved to (G)see it (Em)wave,
And (A7)follow (Am)where it (D)led,
But (G)now my (G7)eyes grow (C)dim, my (Am)hand
Would (G)grasp its (D)last bright (G)shred.
[Chorus]
So (D)wrap the (D7)green flag (G)round me (Em)boys,
To (A7)die were (Am)far more (D)sweet,
With (G)Erin's (G7)noble (C)emblem (Am)boys,
To (G)be my (D)winding (G)sheet.
[Verse 2]
And (G)I had (G7)hopes to (C)meet you (Am)boys,
On (G)many a (A7)well-fought (D)field,
When (G)to our (G7)sacred (C)banner (Am)boys,
The (G)trait’rous (D)foe would (G)yield.
But (D)now at (D7)last I (G)am de(Em)nied,
My (A7)dearest (Am)earthly (D)prayer,
You’ll (G)follow (G7)and you’ll (C)meet the (Am)foe,
But (G)I shall (D)not be (G)there.
🎸 2. STRUMMING PATTERN
Time Signature: 3/4 (slow Irish waltz)
Tempo: ~70–75 BPM (dignified and flowing)
➤ Folk Waltz Pattern
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count: 1 2–3 4–5–6
Beat 1: Bass note (lowest string of chord)
Beats 2–6: gentle, rolling treble strums
Keep the rhythm smooth and circular — think of a slow march or solemn dance.
Alternate:
Bass ↓ – Strum ↓↑ – Bass ↓ – Strum ↑↓↑
🎶 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)Wrap the (G7)green flag (C)round me (Am)boys,
To (G)die were (A7)far more (D)sweet,
With (G)Erin’s (G7)noble (C)emblem (Am)boys,
To (G)be my (D)winding (G)sheet.
G
e|--------3-------------3-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|3-----------------3-----------------|
G7
e|--------1-------------1-------------|
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|------------------------------------|
Am
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|0-----------------0-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
A7
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------2---2---------2---2-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
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:
So (D)wrap the (D7)green flag (G)round me (Em)boys,
To (A7)die were (Am)far more (D)sweet,
With (G)Erin's (G7)noble (C)emblem (Am)boys,
To (G)be my (D)winding (G)sheet.
(Use the same picking pattern; let final “G” ring.)
💡 Playing Tips
Tempo: Slow, steady — think of it as a farewell march.
Bass: Let your thumb set a gentle pulse on beat 1.
Tone: Use fingers (not pick), and let the treble notes ring.
Emotion:
Verse: quiet, reverent
Chorus: slightly stronger, more heartfelt
For the final “sheet,” hold the last G chord for a full measure — let it fade naturally.
