Irish Songs Lyrics With Guitar Chords By Martin Dardis

Joe McDonnell The Wolfe Tones

	Oh[G] me name is Joe McDonnell from[C] Belfast town I [G]came, That[C] city I will[G] never see a[D]gain For[G] in the town of Belfast I spent [C]many happy[G] days I[C] love that town in[G] all so many[D] ways   For it's[Am] there I[C] spent my child[Am]hood and found for[C] me a[G] wife I then[Am] set[C] out to[G] make for me a[D] life But[G] all my young ambitions met with[C] bitterness and [G]hate I soon[C] found myself in[G]side a prison[D] gate   [Chorus] And you[Am] dare to[C] call me a terror[Am]ist while you look [C]down your[G] gun When I[Am] think of[C] all theG] things that you have[D] done You have[G] plundered many nations divided many lands You had[C] terrorised my[Am] people you ruled[C] with an iron[D] hand And you[G] brought this reign of[C] terror to my[D] land   [2] Through those many months internment in the maidstone and the maze I thought about my land throught those days Why my country was divided why I was now in jail Imprisoned without crime or without trial   And though I love my country I am not a bitter man I've seen cruelty and injustice at first hand So then one faithful morning I shook bold freedom's hand For right or wrong I'D tried to free my land     [Repeat chorus] Then one cold october morning trapped in a lion's den I found myself in prison once again I was committed to the H-Blocks for 14 years or more On the blanket the conditions they were poor   Then a hunger strike we did commence for the dignity of man But it seemed to me that no one gave a damm But now I am a saddened man I watched my comrades die If only people cared or wondered why     [Repeat chorus] May God shine on you Bobby Sands for the courage you have shown May your glory and your fame be widely known And Francis Hughes and Ray McCreesh who died unselfishly And Patsy O Hara and the next in line ios me   And those who lie behind me may your courage be the same And I pray to God my life is not in vain Ah but sad and bitter was the year of 1981 For everything I've lost and nothing's won  Brian wrote this song on the morning Joe McDonnell died. ''I had just heard it on the news that another hunger striker had died and I was shocked, saddened and angry. How could people let this happen ?. They weren't asking for much, there should have been a solution. They asked for the right to wear their own clothes, to accociate with other prisoners in the same position as they wanted the right to the same polictical status of polictal prisoners. But the obstinate stubborness of Thatcher and her government refused to give an inch.   Then one by one they died unnecessarily the world watching and no one crying halt or stop. In anger I put pen to paper and continued writing for hours until the song was finished. I always feel that Joe McDonnell spoke through me on that morning, the story just flowed. I then took my guitar and composed the melody, as I did the tears ran down my face. I then put the words and melody together and when I finished I broke down and cried. There was 10 young men who died on hunger strike that year. Joe McDonnell aged 30 was the fifth man to die. Those before him were Martin Hurson 24, Kevin Lynch 25, Thomas McElwee 23 and Micky Devine 27. All brave men who deserve their place in the history of our country. Joe Mc Donnell Abc music notes for Mandolin/Banjo Whistle (Key = G) The video of the tin whistle is played by Jean-Baptiste Meynard   (Verse) F#EDDDEF#A              F#ABABD'F#     ABAGF#AGF#GF#E F#EDDDEF#A              F#ABABD'F#     ABAGF#AGF#GF#E   (Bridge) AABE'D'BAB                 E'E'E'D'BD'      ABE'D'BAD'F#GF#E F#EDDDEF#A              F#ABABD'F#     ABAGF#AGF#GF#E   (Chorus) AABE'D'BAB                  E'E'E'D'BD'     ABE'D'BAD'F#GF#E DEF#F#EDF#F#            F#F#F#EDF#        ABBAGBB     BAGBABD'E' D'E'F'#E'D'BAD'F#GF#E     Mandolin tab   //2 //0 /5 /5 /5 //0 //2 //5 //2 //5 ///0 //5 ///0 ///3 //2 //5 ///0 //5 //3 //2 //5 //3 //2 //3 //2 //2 //0 //2 //0 /5 /5 /5 //0 //2 //5 //2 //5 ///0 //5 ///0 ///3 //2 //5 ///0 //5 //3 //2 //5 //3 //2 //3 //2 //2 //0 ///0 //5 ///0 ///5 ///3 ///0 //5 ///0 ///5 ///5 ///5 ///3 ///0 ///3 ///0 //5 ///0 ///5 ///3 ///0 //5 ///3 //2 //3 //2 //2 //0 //2 //0 /5 /5 /5 //0 //2 //5 //2 //5 ///0 //5 ///0 ///3 //2 //5 ///0 //5 //3 //2 //5 //3 //2 //3 //2 //2 //0       [chorus] ///0 //5 ///0 ///5 ///3 ///0 //5 ///0 ///5 ///5 ///5 ///3 ///0 ///3 ///0 //5 ///0 ///5 ///3 ///0 //5 ///3 //2 //3 //2 //2 //0 /5 //0 //2 //2 //0 /5 //2 //2 /5 //0 //2 //2 //0 /5 //2 //5 ///0 ///0 //5 //3 ///0>///0 ///0 //5 //3 ///0 //5 ///0 ///3 ///5 ///3 ///5 ///7 ///5 ///3 ///0 //5 ///3 //2 //3 //2 //2 //0