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The Irish Rover

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Liam Clancy - The Irish Rover
[VERSE 1:]
In the Gyear of our Lord eighteen Chundred and six 
We set Gsail from the Cobh quay of DCork 
We were Gsailing away with a cargo of Cbricks 
For the Ggrand city Dhall in New GYork
Twas an Gelegant craft, she was Drigged fore and aft 
And Ghow the trade winds Ddrove her 
She had Gtwenty-three masts and she Emstood several Cblasts 
And they Gcalled her the Irish D7Ro-Gver
[VERSE 2:]
We had Gone million bags of the best Sligo Crags
We had Gtwo million barrels of Dstones
We had Gthree million sides of old Cblind horses hides
We had Gfour million Dbarrels of Gbone
We had Gfive million hogs, Dsix million dogs
GSeven million barrels of Dporter
We had Geight million bales of old Emnanny goats Ctails
In the Ghold of the Irish D7Ro-Gver
[VERSE 3:]
There was GBarney McGee from the Cbanks of the Lee
There was GHogan from County DTyrone
There was GJohnny McGuirk who was Cscared stiff of work
And a Gchap from WestDmeath named GMalone
There was GSlugger O'Toole who was Ddrunk as a rule
And Gfighting Bill Tracy from DDover
And your Gman Mick McCann from the Embanks of the CBann
Was the Gskipper of the Irish D7Ro-Gver
[VERSE 4:]
We had Gsailed seven years when the Cmeasles broke out 
And our Gship lost it's way in the Dfog
Then the Gwhole of the crew was Creduced down to two 
Just Gmyself and the Dcaptain’s old Gdog
The Gship struck a rock, oh DLord what a shock 
And Gnearly tumbled Dover
It turned Gnine times around and the Empoor dog was Cdrowned 
I'm the Glast of the Irish D7Ro-Gver

All chords in this song (5)

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The Irish Rover

by Liam Clancy

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Liam Clancy - The Irish Rover

[VERSE 1:]

G C

In the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and six

G D

We set sail from the Cobh quay of Cork

G C

We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks

G D G

For the grand city hall in New York

G D

Twas an elegant craft, she was rigged fore and aft

G D

And how the trade winds drove her

G Em C

She had twenty-three masts and she stood several blasts

G D7 G

And they called her the Irish Ro-ver

[VERSE 2:]

G C

We had one million bags of the best Sligo rags

G D

We had two million barrels of stones

G C

We had three million sides of old blind horses hides

G D G

We had four million barrels of bone

G D

We had five million hogs, six million dogs

G D

Seven million barrels of porter

G Em C

We had eight million bales of old nanny goats tails

G D7 G

In the hold of the Irish Ro-ver

[VERSE 3:]

G C

There was Barney McGee from the banks of the Lee

G D

There was Hogan from County Tyrone

G C

There was Johnny McGuirk who was scared stiff of work

G D G

And a chap from Westmeath named Malone

G D

There was Slugger O'Toole who was drunk as a rule

G D

And fighting Bill Tracy from Dover

G Em C

And your man Mick McCann from the banks of the Bann

G D7 G

Was the skipper of the Irish Ro-ver

[VERSE 4:]

G C

We had sailed seven years when the measles broke out

G D

And our ship lost it's way in the fog

G C

Then the whole of the crew was reduced down to two

G D G

Just myself and the captain’s old dog

G D

The ship struck a rock, oh Lord what a shock

G D

And nearly tumbled over

G Em C

It turned nine times around and the poor dog was drowned

G D7 G

I'm the last of the Irish Ro-ver

About The Irish Rover Chords by Liam Clancy

Learn how to play The Irish Rover by Liam Clancy with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Irish Rover chords”, “The Irish Rover guitar chords”, or “Liam Clancy The Irish Rover 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 Irish Rover chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Irish Rover lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, C, D, Em, D7.

FAQ — The Irish Rover by Liam Clancy

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Is "The Irish Rover" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "The Irish Rover" in?

The chords for "The Irish Rover" show the original chord names (including G, C, D, Em, D7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.