1. So (G)now, Kevin (C)Barry, I stand (D7)here by your (G)grave
And (A7)wonder a(D)bout the young (A7)life that you (D)gave
As a (C)martyr for (D)Ireland, in the (Bm)old days of (Em)yore
If you (C)still had the (G)chance, would you (C)do it once (D)more? -Dsus4-D
2. When you (G)joined a ba(C)tallion of the (D7)Dublin Bri(G)gade
After (A7)schooldays and (D)rugby British (A7)rifles to (D)take.
You (C)swore to serve (D)Ireland with your (Bm)strengh and you (Em)gore
If you (C)still had the (G)chance, would you (C)do it once (D)more? -Dsus4-D
3. When you (G)went out at (C)nigttime for a (D7)dance or a (G)jar
There to (A7)flirt with young (D)ladies and make (A7)friends at the (D)bar.
A (C)smart lad of (D)eighteen that whould (Bm)not reach a (Em)score
If you (C)still had the (G)chance, would you (C)do it once (D)more? -Dsus4-D
4. On a (G)bright September (C)morning, you marched (D7)out for a (G)raid
An (A7)exam planned for (D)midday, not a (A7)fight- but too (D)late!
Three (C)young Brits (D)lay dying near the (Bm)bakery (Em)door
If you (C)still had the (G)chance, would you (C)do it once (D)more? -Dsus4-D
5. Soldiers (G)caught you and (C)forced you for (D7)names them to (G)tell
But you (A7)were not a (D)traitor and (A7)sent them to (D)hell
So they (C)tortured you (D)cruelly, pressed you (Bm)down to the (Em)floor
If you (C)still had the (G)chance, would you (C)do it once (D)more? -Dsus4-D
6. You were (G)then charged in ab(C)sence by a (D7)court you’d re(G)fused
And con(A7)demned as a (D)murderer due to (A7)laws they a(D)bused.
For not (C)one fatal (D)bullet with (Bm)yours matched in (Em)bore
If you (C)still had the (G)chance, would you (C)do it once (D)more? -Dsus4-D
7. When they (G)showed you the (C)rope that would (D7)seal your sad (G)fate
You (A7)just replied (D)„Fine, this will (A7)carry my (D)weight!“
You’d be (C)hanged like a (D)criminal, not a (Bm)prisoner of (Em)war
If you (C)still had the (G)chance, would you (C)do it once (D)more? -Dsus4-D
8. When you (G)last met your (C)family, you (D7)begged not to (G)fuss
For what’s (A7)death for old (D)Erin, if the (A7)cause is won (D)thus.
Then you(C)walked to the (D)scaffold, brave as (Bm)few men be(Em)fore
If you (C)still had the (G)chance, would you (C)do it once (D)more?
9. When they (G)placed your dead (C)body in (D7)cold prison (G)clay
Until (A7)many years (D)later in a (A7)staged public (D)play
You were (C)moved to this (D)spot as a (Bm)man to (Em)adore
If you (C)still had the (G)chance, would you (C)do it once (D)more? -Dsus4-D
10. Well, you (G)won’t give an (C)answer so I’ll (D7)leave you a(G)lone
Rest in (A7)peace with your (D)comrades - all nine (A7)names on this (D)stone!
Ireland’s (C)still not one (D)nation but you were (Bm)Irish to the
(Em)core
Sure you’d (C)do what you (G)did and be for(D7)gotten no (G)more! -Dsus4-D
Note: For a key of C major change chords as follows: G=C, C=F, D7=G7, A7=D7,
D=G, Bm=Em, Em=Am,
(Dsus4 (xx0233)=Gsus4 (320013): both chords are optional!)
For
a shorter version have a try without verses 3, 9 and/or the first half of verse 6 and the second half of verse 7 combined to one new
verse
