The Irish Rover Chords & Lyrics Artist: Pogues, The Dubliners

VERSE 1
 
           G                                     C
    On the Fourth of July, eighteen hundred and six
           G                           D
    We set sail from the sweet Cobh 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
    'Twas a wonderful craft
            D
    She was rigged fore and aft
        G                     D
    And oh, how the wild wind drove her
              G
    She stood several blasts
             Em           C
    She had twenty seven masts
             G                     D G
    And they called her The Irish Rover
 
 
VERSE 2
 
           G                                   C
    We had one million bags of the best Sligo rags
           G                       D
    We had two million barrels of stone
           G                                        C
    We had three million sides of old blind horses hides
           G            D          G
    We had four million barrels of bones
           G
    We had five million hogs
         D
    And six million dogs
    G                        D
    Seven million barrels of porter
           G                          Em            C
    We had eight million bails of old nanny-goats' tails
           G                  D G
    In the hold of the Irish Rover
 
 
VERSE 3
 
           G
    There was awl Mickey Coote
                             C
    Who played hard on his flute
              G                     D
    When the ladies lined up for a set
           G
    He was tootin' with skill
               C
    For each sparkling quadrille
    G                         D            G
    Though the dancers were fluther'd and bet
        G
    With his smart witty talk
             D
    He was cock of the walk
             G                         D
    And he rolled the dames under and over
             G
    They all knew at a glance
             Em           C
    When he took up his stance
              G                  D G
    That he sailed in The Irish Rover
 
 
VERSE 4
 
          G
    There was Barney McGee
                           C
    From the banks of the Lee
               G                   D
    There was Hogan from County Tyrone
                 G
    There was Johnny McGirr
                             C
    Who was scared stiff of work
            G           D             G
    And a man from Westmeath called Malone
        G
    There was Slugger O'Toole
              D
    Who was drunk as a rule
             G                     D
    And Fighting Bill Treacy from Dover
             G
    And your man, Mick MacCann
             Em            C
    From the banks of the Bann
             G                    D G
    Was the skipper of the Irish Rover
 
 
VERSE 5
 
           G                              C
    For a sailor it's always a bother in life
           G                       D
    It's so lonesome by night and day
           G
    That he longs for the shore
                           C
    And a charming young whore
             G              D         G
    Who will melt all his troubles away
            G
    Oh, the noise and the rout
              D
    Swillin' poitin and stout
         G                      D
    For him soon the torment's over
             G
    Of the love of a maid
           Em      C
    He is never afraid
            G                   D G
    An old salt from the Irish Rover
 
 
VERSE 6
 
           G
    We had sailed seven years
                            C
    When the measles broke out
           G                          D
    And the ship lost its way in the fog
           G
    And that whale of a crew
           C
    Was reduced down to two
            G               D          G
    Just myself and the Captain's old dog
              G
    Then the ship struck a rock
        D
    Oh Lord what a shock
         G                        D
    The bulkhead was turned right over
             G
    Turned nine times around
              Em               C
    And the poor old dog was drowned
              G                D G
    I'm the last of The Irish Rover