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Lawless

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Gmajor

90BPM

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[Verse 1]
GHe was Lawless by name, CLawless by Gnature
GHe was trouble Dright from the GstartG  
AmHard as nails, runnin' Dwild through the streets
GHe was breakin' his poor mother's Dheart
AmNature played a Dtrick on Lawless
GAnd the humour of nature is Dcruel
GAnd he grew up as we Call had Gexpected him
GInto a Ddangerous Gfool
[Verse 2]
GHe was a hard man, a Cman for all Gseasons
GHe was always Dout for a GfightG  
AmHe couldn't hold drink but Dstill he'd get plastered
GIn Clark's every Saturday Dnight
AmStrip to the vest and Dchallenge the best
GUntil the guards they were called to come Dfast
GAnd they'd lock him away for the Crest of the Gday
GAnd let him out on the DSunday for Gmass
[Verse 3]
GOh one night he went down to the CRingsend GRegatta
GWhere he met up with the Dbould Dolly GPlattsG  
AmShe wasn't exactly Dwhat you'd call beauty
GBut she was the belle of her Dflats
AmA whirlwind romance and DDolly took a flier
GWith Lawless she Dwould settle down
GAnd It was pure coincidence Cthree months Gbefore
GThere was a yankee Ddestroyer in Gtown
[Verse 4]
GAnd the couple were blessed with Cone of god's Gmiracles
GBefore six Dmonths had GelapsedG  
AmDolly gave birth to a Dnine-pound black baby
GAnd Lawless was fit to Dcollapse
AmShe swore she'd never been Dtouched by another
GAnd Lawless took her at her Dword
GAnd the neighbours all say, she's the Cspit of her Gfather
Gand the cuckoo is a Dwonderful Gbird.'
[Verse 5]
GOh now Lawless stays in and lCooks after the fGamily
GWhile Dolly goes oDut for the GnightG  
AmThe old gossips all say she's frDee in her ways
GAnd its there evil rumours run Drife
AmWhen Lawless heard this he Dwaited for Dolly
GIn the bridge where the river runs Dlow
GNoone will ever know Cwhat happened Gnext
GBut Dolly drowned in the DDodder Gbelow
[Verse 6]
GSome say he's crazy and Cmore say he's Gevil
GEveryone sDays that he's GmadG  
AmNoone will defend him, Dhe was no angel
GBut I'll tell you he wasn't all Dbad
AmThey've locked him away for the Drest of his natural
GNever again will he Dsee
GDown the back of Ring's End
There's a Clonely child Gplaying
GWhere the Liffey flows Dinto the Gsea
{Outro}
GDown the back of Ring's End
There's a Clonely child Gplaying
GWhere the Liffey flows Dinto the CseaC  C  C  C  G  

All chords in this song (4)

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Lawless

by Christy Moore

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse 1]

G C G

He was Lawless by name, Lawless by nature

G D G G

He was trouble right from the start

Am D

Hard as nails, runnin' wild through the streets

G D

He was breakin' his poor mother's heart

Am D

Nature played a trick on Lawless

G D

And the humour of nature is cruel

G C G

And he grew up as we all had expected him

G D G

Into a dangerous fool

[Verse 2]

G C G

He was a hard man, a man for all seasons

G D G G

He was always out for a fight

Am D

He couldn't hold drink but still he'd get plastered

G D

In Clark's every Saturday night

Am D

Strip to the vest and challenge the best

G D

Until the guards they were called to come fast

G C G

And they'd lock him away for the rest of the day

G D G

And let him out on the Sunday for mass

[Verse 3]

G C G

Oh one night he went down to the Ringsend Regatta

G D G G

Where he met up with the bould Dolly Platts

Am D

She wasn't exactly what you'd call beauty

G D

But she was the belle of her flats

Am D

A whirlwind romance and Dolly took a flier

G D

With Lawless she would settle down

G C G

And It was pure coincidence three months before

G D G

There was a yankee destroyer in town

[Verse 4]

G C G

And the couple were blessed with one of god's miracles

G D G G

Before six months had elapsed

Am D

Dolly gave birth to a nine-pound black baby

G D

And Lawless was fit to collapse

Am D

She swore she'd never been touched by another

G D

And Lawless took her at her word

G C G

And the neighbours all say, she's the spit of her father

G D G

and the cuckoo is a wonderful bird.'

[Verse 5]

G C G

Oh now Lawless stays in and looks after the family

G D G G

While Dolly goes out for the night

Am D

The old gossips all say she's free in her ways

G D

And its there evil rumours run rife

Am D

When Lawless heard this he waited for Dolly

G D

In the bridge where the river runs low

G C G

Noone will ever know what happened next

G D G

But Dolly drowned in the Dodder below

[Verse 6]

G C G

Some say he's crazy and more say he's evil

G D G G

Everyone says that he's mad

Am D

Noone will defend him, he was no angel

G D

But I'll tell you he wasn't all bad

Am D

They've locked him away for the rest of his natural

G D

Never again will he see

Down the back of Ring's End

C G

There's a lonely child playing

G D G

Where the Liffey flows into the sea

{Outro}

Down the back of Ring's End

C G

There's a lonely child playing

G D C C C C C G

Where the Liffey flows into the sea

About Lawless Chords by Christy Moore

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

FAQ — Lawless by Christy Moore

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Is "Lawless" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Lawless" in?

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