Matt, all verses are the same, so follow this and ye'll be grand.

All the best




D/ / / / /[D/C#]/Bm/ / G/ / / / /A / / / / D
I went to see a legend just the other night
Bm / / / / / / / /A / / / / / /G / / / / / / / A/
At the Yankee Stadium, underneath the lights.
Bm / / / / / // / A / / / / / / / /G/ / / / / / /A / / / / /D
I heard a man speaking after years and years in jail.
D / / / / / /[D/C#] Bm / / / / / / /G / / / / A / / / / D
His name it was Mandela and he came to tell his tale.



The crowd they cheered him loudly, ah, but then the silence fell
As he spoke about the hard years in a South African cell.

And though he was free, his heart was feelin' the pain,
For his country and his people were still a part of that shame.

He said he hoped that we would join him and walk down freedom's path,
And these roads would be the hardest, oh, but they would be the last.

And to join our hands together so that we might be as one,
And to bring ourselves to the cause so his battle could be won.

I went home to bed that evening, went to sleep and I had a dream.
I was standing in the pouring rain, in an Irish field of green.

And all around the headstones were the martyrs of the past.
I stood there in silence, and they spoke to me at last.

"Kevin Barry is my name, and I died in a cell.
They wanted the names of my comrades, oh, but this I would not tell."

"And I am Roger Casement. I was shot in London town
For bringing German rifles to the lonely Banna Strand."

"James Connolly is my name. The working people are my life.
When they shot me down in Kilmainham Gaol with strife."

"And I am Padraic Pearse. I was shot down by the foe.
I read the proclamation at the steps of the GPO."

And the last voice that I heard says, "My name is Bobby Sands,
And it's good to hear Mandela's words a-ringin' through the land.

"I want to hear them in Belfast, in Derry and Tyrone.
Maybe then those English soldiers will know it's time to go home."

I woke up in the morning. I remembered them all.
And who would believe that they'd knocked down the Berlin Wall?

And I said "Mandela, could this really be?
Maybe now we will see Ireland reunited and free.
Maybe now we will see Ireland reunited and free."l

Forgot all about this recording (http://www.geocities.com/markoneillrebpage8/index.htm) "Patriot Game". Came across it again by accident. It was never released
and is part of a recording by an old band I played in for a while called Partisan. The chord structure is
different, but I like the way it goes. I'll show you below.


Come [D] all you young [G]reb[D]els and [A]list while I [D]sing, G, D,

For [D/C#]love of one's [Bm]cou[A]ntry[G] is a ter[A]rible t[Bm]hing. ,A,G

It [A]banishes [Bm]fe[A]ar[G] with the spe[A}ed of a f[Bm]lame.A,G

And m[A]akes us all [G]part [D]of the [A]patriot [D]game.

Matt, you know the drill. Put up the words and I'll add in the chords.

Alright, I got these lyrics from Bik McFarlane, so if anyone disagrees with them, take it up with him. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)


n [F] Sackville Street the [Bb] curfew drove the [C] restless [F] out of sight,
The [Bb] Black and Tans marched [F] up and [Dm] down, the [Gm] moon shone cold and [Bb] bright,

The [F] shot was like a [Bb] whip crack � pulled the [C] first man off his [F] feet,
He [Bb] died on bloody [F] cobble[Dm]stones while his [Gm] comrades combed the [Bb] street.
They [F] called up rein[Bb]forcements, pulled the [C] people from their [F] beds,
They were [Bb] screaming �[F] Get the [Dm] bastard!�, but its [Gm] fear was in their [Bb] heads,

They found him in a cellar, he was only seventeen,
Fighting for his country: Dying for the green.
The sergeant dragged him by the hair and beat him to the ground,
Into this young mans body he emptied every round,

�Come out and take a look�, he cried as he marched his troops away,
They went in stony silence � such a prize to have today!
Some knelt and prayed beside him, ah but it�s too late anyhow,
They said he was a rebel then � and he�s a hero now,

In �66 this country sang the praises of the dead,
We didn�t call them rebels then we used �patriot� instead,
On every household TV screen we saw how hard they fought,
How they spilled their life�s blood and how freedom had been bought.

The garden gates were opened up to silent motorcades,
Cannons boomed and flags unfurled and solemn wreaths were laid,
Prayers for those departed were called for loud and clear,
For those who had been outlawed � ah but that was another year�

The veterans stood up stiff and proud, their white hair ruled the wind,
With their pride pinned to their gaberdine and thoughts upon their friends,
And bitter wounds burst open, the scars of history,
Went flying into our faces in stark reality,
Just up the road from Sackville Street ah but things are different now,
They said he was a rebel then but he�s a hero now.

Along the Falls Road soldiers push - their glances left and right,
Kids of the English working class � soldiers overnight,
Tossed into the melting pot of bloody war and strife,
Never understanding and fearing for their lives.

Outside the Glenn Road Brewery a bomb takes two away,
The bombers work is over; he�s finished for the day,
The terrorist or the dreamer: the savage or the brave?
It depends who's vote you're trying to catch, or who's face you're trying to save.

There�s tea and cakes in Downing Street, there�s whispers in the halls,
Let�s move to cure Rhodesia (?) now our backs are to the wall.
There�s panic down in Leinster House where words are seldom scarce,
�Send someone to Glasnevin quick to remember Padraig Pearse!�

Once more His crucifixion, it seems a lie somehow
They said he was a rebel then � but he�s a hero now
Once more His crucifixion, it seems a lie somehow
They said he was a rebel then � but he�s a hero now
But he�s a hero now

George I will be in the NY area this weekend, followed by Boston, the following week. Check out some of your local info sources for more details. Nobody tells me anything!

Many thanks, scottishgizmo for your kind post. I do indeed remember the Irish dancers doing their bit in the Brazen before the bands, although it seems so long ago. How long ago are we really talking here? I have the biggest holes in my memory for reasons I won't mention, but I'm thinking must be close to 10 years ago, eh?

I note you sadi in your post, your sister danced when she was younger. Does that mean she no longer does? Such a shame if thats the case, as all the dancers I remember where excellent, and you should never give up your culture a chara. It's what makes us who we are!

All the best!

You can hear songs of that exact nature being sung at Ibrox park every second weekend. Tribalism, triumphalism, sectarianism, call it what you may, but they do exist! Everyone who has ever asked me to explain why "The Troubles" are the way they are, I tell them to look at the songs of the conflict. I believe this is the best way to truly understand the nature of the conflict. With regards to Ireland, you only have to compare the songs of both sides to know who is in the right, and it certainly isn't the murdering, raping, pillaging, colonising, imperialist, capitalist f*ckpigs of the British establishment. Then again, I would say that, wouldn't I.

As far as finding these songs, you are on your own kid. I don't want to be responsible for subjecting you to such misguided hatred, and complete sectarian bile, but they are out there, although, you have been warned. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

G///////D///////G
Sinne Firnna F�il
//C//////////////G
A t� f� gheall ag �irinn,
G////////////Em
buion d�r slua
////////C/////////////////D
Thar toinn do r�inig chugainn,
G/////////D///////////G
F� mh�id bheith saor.
C /////////////////////G
Sean t�r �r sinsir feasta
D///////////////////////////////D7
N� fhagfar f�'n tior�n n� f�n tr�il
C /////////////////////////D/////////
Anocht a th�am sa bhearna bhaoil,
C//////////////////D/////////////////D7
Le gean ar Ghaeil chun b�is n� saoil
G/////////////D//////////C///////////Em
Le guna screach f� l�mhach na bpil�ar
G///////////////D/////////////////////G
Seo libh cana�dh Amhr�n na bhFiann.



This is the very basic version. I've always felt that because this song is the national anthem,
that it should be played basic and simple. no showing off or experimenting with this song. There are some who use different and certainly more chords in their versions, but as I said, I believe in keeping this one simple.

The chords sound good to me. I don't play it exactly the same, but it works just fine. I did like the way you used the minor chords, very effective. Sounds good a chara, and saves me the work.

Many thanks and Good Luck!

Gary Og

Stevie_Bhoy, my gaelic is nowhere near good enough to attempt to write out the song, but I'll make a deal. If you post up the words, I'll add in the chords.

All the best

Gary Og

Downloading from Kazaa in Canada may be legal a chara, but no matter what type of spin you put on it, it is still imho a breech of copyright,which is an illegal act. Not necessarily because it costs me money, it's not exactly lots btw, but simply because it is an infringement of the rights of the songwriter, which again, isn't me.

Part of the reason we have so many debates about who wrote what songs, is that very few people get access to the original material which usually credit the original songwriter. On this very thread we have an example of someone who doesn't know the difference between Eire Og and The Wolfetones. Apart from about 40 years, and a completley different birthplace, I would think both bands sound completely different. These mistakes are mainly due to the amount of sub standard, incorrect and innacurate songs available on these sites. The amount of times people have argued about which songs I've recorded, insisting I sing certain songs, which I don't, simply because they downloaded it and therefore assume it must be accurate.

I think it is important that people get the credit they deserve for the songs they have written, and also get the monies that they are due. They afterall took the time to learn to play and write and compose these songs. Individuals such as Paddy McGuigan and Gerry O'Glaican do not get the credit they deserve for the songs they've written, and certainly don't get the financial rewards they are due in this day and age of downloading. This is the big problem. You are getting FREE access to someone elses work.

Personally I am not completely against sharing music,I, however, did not write them, so, when you are passing around details from my cd's which contain songs by other people that I am legally bound to protect their copyright, then I must then ask the admin to discourage these links, and to discourage in general, this type of behaviour on the site altogether. To show that I am not just trying to stop you downloading my cd's, I will send you a cd free of charge a chara if you pm me. A cd on which the copyright has been acknowledged, and that the artists featured will get paid fairly. Is this a compromise?

All the best

Gary Og

I remember, we used to sing another verse of Take it Down, back in the day. I think it went like this, I don't remember too much about them days to be perfectly honest!!


Well you sold the six counties for your freedom
Whilst we gave you McCracken, and Wolfetone,
And Ulstermen fought for you in Dublin,
Yet you leave us here to fight all alone!

Just popped into my head there, and I now have a real urge to put Luke Kelly on singing it, but it's a bit late and I'd probably get shouted at!, Strong women rule us all!! The revolution will have to wait 'til the morning :)

Slan

Gary Og

Matt, many thanks for your kind compliments, and to everyone on the forum as well, who have been extremely warm in their welcomes and their words. I am just back home after playing a gig in Glasgow this eve with the Exiles, good one it was too!!

In a little while we hope to have some music available on the website for people to download on to their Ipod thingy's, so keep checking back. We want to wait however, until we are ready to launch our own original material,which will be pretty soon, rather than songs eveyone has heard before. This, I'm sure will please the guy who was having a wee dig about bands who don't write songs, whoever he was. He never did engage in debate about that topic! :)

Anyway, thanks again Matt, I hope you enjoy the website, and for those who don't have it, here's the addy. The Exile's Website

BTW, it's still being built, so ignore the fact that there's nothing there.

All the best

Gary Og

This version is by someone else,( a fella called Micheal McConnell, I think) but saves me the bother of typing it all out! :)

If it is the version that I play that you have your heart set on, then I'll try and sort something for you, but hoperfully this will suffice. In my recorded version, I play in the key of F, (I think!).

You can try this page http://rebelchords.tripod.com/pre1900.htm , and hopefully this will help with others as well.

Gary Og


ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE


When [G] apples still [D] grow in [G] November, when [C] blosoms still [G] bloom on each [D] tree,

When [C] leaves are still green in [G] December, its [D] then that our [Bm] land will be [Em] free.

I [C] wander her hills and her [G] valleys and [C] still through my sorrow I [D] see,

A [C] land that has never know [G] freedom and [D] only our [Bm] rivers run [Em] free.



I'll drink to the death of her manhood, those men who would rather have died,

Than to live in the cold chains of bondage, to bring back their rights were denied.

Were are you now when we need you, what burns were the flame used to be ?

Are you gone like the snows of last winter and only our rivers run free ?



How sweet is life but we're crying, how mellow the wine but we're dry ?

How fraquant the rose but it's dying, how gentle the wind but it sighs ?

What good is in youth when it's ageing what joy is in eyes that can't see ?

When there's sorrow in sunshine and flowers and still only our rivers run free.

It is probable that your brother and I crossed paths. I play in the Brazen most Sunday nights, so as I said, most probable.

BTW, Myself and Sean will playing in Hamburg in Jan 14th. I think it maybe a private function as the gig is a birthday party for a fella by the name of Sven Brux, a good friend of mine who works with FC St Pauli over there. You may want to check this out if it is anywhere near you in Germany. I'll let you know the name of the venue when someone tells me!!!

Again, it's up to yourselves to organise a function. There will be no problem whatsoever
convincing me to come to Sweden, Russia etc. It is certainly not the situation that I am rejecting the opportunity to come and play, it's simply that I haven't been asked. :(

Sean you set up the gigs in moscow and I'll be there. :)

Matt, keep your eyes peeled, good possibily of Nov/Dec gigs in Boston, NY, Philly, Connecticut, NJ, Ohio etc.....take your pick!

Not a problem CA. Anyway I hope the guitar chords helped whoever needeed them. That was the initial point of this post. :)

The fella's name was Ryan, mo chara. Cruncher asked us to get them while we were drinking in McGlaughlins bar in Belfast. Is this satisfactory?

What can I say, I got the verses mixed up. Sometimes I sing the wrong words altogether. :)

Nowhere tonight a chara, however, one question, why would I take the time to correct the music and words of these songs, if i was an imposter?

And for the record, I'm quite happy sitting down, thanx!

You are correct in the fact that none of the songs that we recorded were written by the band themselves. However, at no point in time did myself or any other member of the band claim to have written these songs. If people make that assumption, then the responsibility for that mistake lies on the shoulders of the individual.

During the "boom" period in rebel music (1990-2000) Eire Og were one of many bands singing great songs by individuals such as Paddy McGuigan, Gerry O'Glaican(sp), the Warfield brothers, to name just a few. We were very proud to sing such songs and to this day, I hold tremendous respect for those people willing to stand up and say/sing, publicly, what needed to be said, whether they wrote those songs or not.


Gary Og



BTW Pat you are just jealous of my youth, no need to apologise! :)

'tis the Shannon waters, although if I sing it again I'm bound to start imagining myself with my trouser legs rolled up walking along the beach now. :)

[quote=Chucky Armagh,Aug 15 2005, 09:01 PM]
In Belfast streets I've heard it said,
They're shooting little children dead,
Taking lives hardly begun,
With plastic bullets in their guns.

chorus.
We won't be kept down easily,
We will not be still,
We will not be kept down easily,
After all you maimed and killed.

Young Carol Ann, just 12 years of age,
Shot down by Brits. in bloody rage,
Wee Julie Livingstone as well,
Fell victim to their, plastic hell.

Chorus.

They tried to drag us from our streets,
By taking lives so young and sweet,
Do they not know, we'll not be beat,
And that violence is their own defeat.

Chorus

They try to make us toe their line,
By using every type of crime,
But, freedom won't be terrorised,
Nor freedom's struggle, criminalised.

Chorus


This should do the job for you.

Gary Og

Nearly, mo chara. I've ammended the chords, but bear in mind, I'm notorious for playing many different versions, so sometimes there are subtle changes. I've also left out some of the more "colourful" chords, I play a few suspended and diminished chords in there on ocassion, but you don't need them to get a good version. The core of the song is basically this. Hope it helps.

Gary Og


[Am] Try to sing some [F] songs of glory
[Am] Sing some songs of [G] peace
[Am] But in the end it's the [F] same old story
They're [G] both so hard to [E7] reach.
[Am] People tell me they're [F] sick and tired
Of [Am] seeing this place run [G] down
Well I say: [Am] Take your blindfold [F] off, you hypocrite
And [G] help us to get off the [E7] ground.

[chorus]
Please say it isn't [Am] so [G]
Why Willie and [F] Danny had to [G] go
The reason's very [Am] clear [G]
They're laying down their [F] lives for us year after [G] year.

Seventy shots between their bodies
Not one of those bullets missed
For every trigger pulled that morning
A volunteer will enlist
For five long hours they left them lying there
The priest was turned away
So another step lower for those SAS bastards
We'll never forget the day.

The funerals were to prove their worthiness
Thousands thronged the streets
While those Borstel Boys hovered helplessly overhead
The 'Ra came out to salute
They emptied their magazines over each coffin
Defiantly the crowd were sent
So another day dawns and the guns will be out again
Cause Willie and Danny had friends.[/font]

[/quote]