Erin-Go-Bragh
Six Mile Bridge did a good rendition of this one.

  Dm                             Am                          C           Dm
My name's Duncan Campbell from the shire of Argyll
        Dm                                  C               Dm
I've travelled this country for many's the mile
        Dm                                                  C
I've travelled through Ireland, through Scotland and a'
                  Bb           C                 Am         Dm
And the name I go under's bold Erin-go-bragh

  Dm                        Am                 C                          Dm
One night in Auld Reekie as I walked down the street
    Dm                          C                   Dm
A saucy big polis I chanced for to meet
        Dm                                           C
He glowered in my face and he gi'ed me some jaw
                 Bb                  C               Am         Dm
Sayin' "When cam' ye over, bold Erin-go-bragh?"

  Dm                   Am                    C              Dm
"Well I am not a Pat though in Ireland I've been
       Dm                               C               Dm
Nor am I a Paddy though Ireland I've seen
       Dm                            C
But were I a Pat, now, what's that at a'?
                      Bb                      C              Am         Dm
For there's many's the bold hero from Erin-go-bragh"

  Dm                           Am               C              Dm
"Well I know you're a Pat by the cut of your hair
       Dm                                           C                    Dm
But you all turn to Scotsmen as soon as you're here
       Dm                                   C
You left your ain country for breaking the law
                   Bb                 C                    Am         Dm
And we're seizing all stragglers from Erin-go-bragh"

  Dm         Am                   C              Dm
"Were I a Pat and you knew it were true
      Dm                               C              Dm
Or were I the devil, then what's it to you?
             Dm                                     C
Were it not for the stick that you hold in your paw
         Bb               C                        Am         Dm
I'd show you a game played in Erin-go-bragh"

            Dm                Am              C             Dm
And a lump of blackthorn that I held in my fist
      Dm                             C           Dm
Around his big body I made it to twist
                Dm                                    C
And the blood from his napper I quickly did draw
                  Bb                        C              Am         Dm
And paid him stock-and-interest for Erin-go-bragh

                  Dm                   Am               C                 Dm
Then the people came 'round like a flock of wild geese
                Dm                                        C               Dm
Crying "Catch that daft rascal, he's killed the police"
              Dm                               C
And for every friend I had I'll swear he had twa
            Bb           C                    Am         Dm
It was terrible hard times for Erin-go-bragh

         Dm          Am                      C                Dm
But I cam' to a wee boat that sailed in the Forth
            Dm                                         C                 Dm
And I packed up my gear and I steered for the North
        Dm                                        C
Fareweel to Auld Reekie, your polis and a'
               Bb             C                    Am         Dm
And the divil gang with you, says Erin-go-bragh

      Dm                             Am               C                 Dm
So come all you young people, wherever you're from
   Dm                                        C               Dm
I don't give a damn to what place you belong
    Dm                                 C
I come from Argyll in the Hielands sae braw
           Bb             C                       Am         Dm
But I ne'er took it ill being called Erin-go-bragh
 

Return to the Irish Songs
Return to Siobhan's Bard Book
Return to Dreamspinners Guild