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The Legend

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The Legend (Mandela)
[Verse 1]
I weCnt to see a lEmegend juFst the oGther nigCht
AmAt the Yankee StEmadium, undernFeath the ligGht.
I heAmard a man speEmaking after yeFars and yeGars in jCail.
His name it was MaEmndela and he cFame to tGell his tCale.
[Verse 2]
The crCowd they cheered him loEmudly, ah, bFut then the siGlence feCll
As he Amspoke about the hEmard years in a SoFuth African ceGll.
And thAmough he was fEmree, his heaFrt was feeGlin' the pCain,
For his country and his pEmeople were stFill a part Gof that sChame.
[Verse 3]
He saCid he hoped that we would jEmoin him and wFalk down freGedom's pCath,
And tAmhese roads would be the haEmrdest, oh, bFut they would be the lGast.
And to Amjoin our hands toEmgether so that Fwe might Gbe as oCne,
And to bring ourselves Emto the cause so his bFattle coGuld be wCon.
[Verse 4]
I went hCome to bed that evEmening, went to slFeep and I hGad a dreCam.
I was stAmanding in the pEmouring rain, in an IrFish field of grGeen.
And aAmll around the headEmstones were the maFrtyrs oGf the pCast.
I stood there in siEmlence, and they sFpoke to Gme at lCast.
[Verse 5]
"Kevin BaCrry is my nEmame, and I dFied Gin a celCl.
They wAmanted the names of my coEmmrades, oh, but this FI would not teGll."
"And AmI am Roger CEmasement. I was sFhot in LoGndon tCown
For bringing German rEmifles to the lFonely BaGnna StrCand."
[Verse 6]
"James ConCnolly is my Emname. The working peFople aGre my lCife.
WAmhen they shot me Emdown in KilmaFinham Jail with stGrife."
"And AmI am Padraic EmPearse. I was sFhot down bGy the foCe.
I read the procEmlamation at the sFteps of the GGPCO."
[Verse 7]
And tChe last voice that I hEmeard says, "My nFame is BGobby SanCds,
And it's gAmood to hear MEmandela's words a-riFngin' through the Gland.
"I wAmant to hear them in BeEmlfast, in DeFrry and TGyrCone.
Maybe then those English soEmldiers will know it's tFime Gto go Chome."
[Verse 8]
I woCke up in the morEmning. I remFembered thGem aCll.
And Amwho would beEmlieve that they'd knFocked down the Berlin WGall?
And AmI said "ManEmdela, could thFis reaGlly bCe?
Maybe now we will see IEmreland reunFited aGnd frCee.
Maybe now we will see IEmreland reunFited aGnd frCee.

All chords in this song (5)

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The Legend

by Gary Óg

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

The Legend (Mandela)

[Verse 1]

C Em F G C

I went to see a legend just the other night

Am Em F G

At the Yankee Stadium, underneath the light.

Am Em F G C

I heard a man speaking after years and years in jail.

Em F G C

His name it was Mandela and he came to tell his tale.

[Verse 2]

C Em F G C

The crowd they cheered him loudly, ah, but then the silence fell

Am Em F G

As he spoke about the hard years in a South African cell.

Am Em F G C

And though he was free, his heart was feelin' the pain,

Em F G C

For his country and his people were still a part of that shame.

[Verse 3]

C Em F G C

He said he hoped that we would join him and walk down freedom's path,

Am Em F G

And these roads would be the hardest, oh, but they would be the last.

Am Em F G C

And to join our hands together so that we might be as one,

Em F G C

And to bring ourselves to the cause so his battle could be won.

[Verse 4]

C Em F G C

I went home to bed that evening, went to sleep and I had a dream.

Am Em F G

I was standing in the pouring rain, in an Irish field of green.

Am Em F G C

And all around the headstones were the martyrs of the past.

Em F G C

I stood there in silence, and they spoke to me at last.

[Verse 5]

C Em F G C

"Kevin Barry is my name, and I died in a cell.

Am Em F G

They wanted the names of my comrades, oh, but this I would not tell."

Am Em F G C

"And I am Roger Casement. I was shot in London town

Em F G C

For bringing German rifles to the lonely Banna Strand."

[Verse 6]

C Em F G C

"James Connolly is my name. The working people are my life.

Am Em F G

When they shot me down in Kilmainham Jail with strife."

Am Em F G C

"And I am Padraic Pearse. I was shot down by the foe.

Em F G C

I read the proclamation at the steps of the GPO."

[Verse 7]

C Em F G C

And the last voice that I heard says, "My name is Bobby Sands,

Am Em F G

And it's good to hear Mandela's words a-ringin' through the land.

Am Em F G C

"I want to hear them in Belfast, in Derry and Tyrone.

Em F G C

Maybe then those English soldiers will know it's time to go home."

[Verse 8]

C Em F G C

I woke up in the morning. I remembered them all.

Am Em F G

And who would believe that they'd knocked down the Berlin Wall?

Am Em F G C

And I said "Mandela, could this really be?

Em F G C

Maybe now we will see Ireland reunited and free.

Em F G C

Maybe now we will see Ireland reunited and free.

About The Legend Tab by Gary Óg

Learn how to play The Legend by Gary Óg with free guitar tab, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Legend chords”, “The Legend guitar chords”, or “Gary Óg The Legend chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy The Legend chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Legend lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, Em, F, G, Am.

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