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Joe Mcdonnell

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Gmajor

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Oh me Gname is Joe McDonnell, from CBelfast town I cGame,
That ciCty I will neGver see agaiDn.      
GFor in the town of Belfast I speCnt many happGy days,
I lCove that town in oGh so many waDys.
For it's thAmere I spCent my chAmildhood and foCund for me a wiGfe,
I tAmhen set out to mCake for hGer a liDfe.
But aGll my young ambitions, met with bCitterness and haGte,
I soon fCound myself insiGde a prison gaDte.
Chorus
And you Amdare cCall me a Amterrorist while Cyou look down your Ggun,
When I Amthink of all the Cdeeds that you Ghave dDone.
You had pGlundered many nations divided many lands,
You had tCerrorised their Ampeople, you ruled wCith an iron hDand,
And you Gbrought this reign of Cterror, to my lDand.
Through those mGany months internment in the mCaidstone and the Gmaze,
I thCought about my Gland throught those dDays.
Why my cGountry was divided, why CI was now in jGail,
ImpCrisoned without Gcrime or without tDrial.
And tAmhough I lCove my cAmountry, I am Cnot a bitter Gman,
I've seen Amcruelty and injCustice Gat first Dhand
So tGhen one faithful morning I sChook bold freedom's hGand
For Cright or wrong I'd tGried to free my lDand.
Chorus
And you Amdare cCall me a Amterrorist while Cyou look down your Ggun,
When I Amthink of all the Cdeeds that you Ghave dDone.
You had pGlundered many nations divided many lands,
You had tCerrorised their Ampeople, you ruled wCith an iron hDand,
And you Gbrought this reign of Cterror, to my lDand.
Then one Gcold October morning, tCrapped in a lion's Gden,
I fCound myself in Gprison once agDain.
I was comGmitted to the H-Blocks, for C14 years or moGre,
And the Cblanket, and conGdition, they were Dpoor.
Then a Amhunger sCtrike we Amdid commence, for the Cdignity of Gman,
But it Amseemed to me that Cno one Ggave a Ddam.
But Gnow I am a saddened man, I Cwatched my comrades dGie,
If Conly people Gcared or wondered Dwhy.
Chorus
And you Amdare cCall me a Amterrorist while Cyou look down your Ggun,
When I Amthink of all the Cdeeds that you Ghave dDone.
You had pGlundered many nations divided many lands,
You had tCerrorised their Ampeople, you ruled wCith an iron hDand,
And you Gbrought this reign of Cterror, to my lDand.
May GGod shine on you Bobby Sands for the cCourage you have Gshown,
May your gClory and your fGame be widely kDnown.
And FGrancis Hughes and Ray McCreesh, who Cdied unselfishlGy,
And CPatsy O’Hara and the nGext in line is Dme.
And tGhose who lie behind me, may your cCourage be the Gsame,
And I Ampray to God my lCife is Gnot in vaDin.
Ah but Gsad and bitter was the year of C198G1,
For eCverything I've lGost and nothing's Dwon. 

All chords in this song (4)

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Joe Mcdonnell

by The Wolfe Tones

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

G C G

Oh me name is Joe McDonnell, from Belfast town I came,

C G D

That city I will never see again.

G C G

For in the town of Belfast I spent many happy days,

C G D

I love that town in oh so many ways.

Am C Am C G

For it's there I spent my childhood and found for me a wife,

Am C G D

I then set out to make for her a life.

G C G

But all my young ambitions, met with bitterness and hate,

C G D

I soon found myself inside a prison gate.

Chorus

Am C Am C G

And you dare call me a terrorist while you look down your gun,

Am C G D

When I think of all the deeds that you have done.

You had plundered many nations divided many lands,

C Am C D

You had terrorised their people, you ruled with an iron hand,

G C D

And you brought this reign of terror, to my land.

G C G

Through those many months internment in the maidstone and the maze,

C G D

I thought about my land throught those days.

G C G

Why my country was divided, why I was now in jail,

C G D

Imprisoned without crime or without trial.

Am C Am C G

And though I love my country, I am not a bitter man,

Am C G D

I've seen cruelty and injustice at first hand

G C G

So then one faithful morning I shook bold freedom's hand

C G D

For right or wrong I'd tried to free my land.

Chorus

Am C Am C G

And you dare call me a terrorist while you look down your gun,

Am C G D

When I think of all the deeds that you have done.

You had plundered many nations divided many lands,

C Am C D

You had terrorised their people, you ruled with an iron hand,

G C D

And you brought this reign of terror, to my land.

G C G

Then one cold October morning, trapped in a lion's den,

C G D

I found myself in prison once again.

G C G

I was committed to the H-Blocks, for 14 years or more,

C G D

And the blanket, and condition, they were poor.

Am C Am C G

Then a hunger strike we did commence, for the dignity of man,

Am C G D

But it seemed to me that no one gave a dam.

G C G

But now I am a saddened man, I watched my comrades die,

C G D

If only people cared or wondered why.

Chorus

Am C Am C G

And you dare call me a terrorist while you look down your gun,

Am C G D

When I think of all the deeds that you have done.

You had plundered many nations divided many lands,

C Am C D

You had terrorised their people, you ruled with an iron hand,

G C D

And you brought this reign of terror, to my land.

G C G

May God shine on you Bobby Sands for the courage you have shown,

C G D

May your glory and your fame be widely known.

G C G

And Francis Hughes and Ray McCreesh, who died unselfishly,

C G D

And Patsy O’Hara and the next in line is me.

G C G

And those who lie behind me, may your courage be the same,

Am C G D

And I pray to God my life is not in vain.

G C G

Ah but sad and bitter was the year of 1981,

C G D

For everything I've lost and nothing's won.

About Joe Mcdonnell Chords by The Wolfe Tones

Learn how to play Joe Mcdonnell by The Wolfe Tones with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Joe Mcdonnell chords”, “Joe Mcdonnell guitar chords”, or “The Wolfe Tones Joe Mcdonnell 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 Joe Mcdonnell chords and for experienced players who want accurate Joe Mcdonnell lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, C, D, Am.

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