I have been playing with this song (the melody was used by Bob Dylan for "With God On Our Side" I preferred his lyrics to the traditional lyrics.. and this is what I have come up with so far:
The * denotes the G - G6 - G7 figure that Dylan is so fond of:
G 320003
G6 322003 or 3x2003
G7 323003 or 3x3003
It can be replaced by just a G chord.
C (First measure harp only) |F |Em |G * |C
C F Em
oh my name it ain't nothin'
G * C
my age it means less
F Em G C
the country I come from
F C
it is in the west
F Em G C
we were brought up here
F C
the laws to abide
F Em
this land that we live in
G * C
has God on its side.
oh the history books tell it
they tell it so well
the Englishmen charged and
the Irishmen fell
the Englishmen charged and
the Irish they died
both countries were fighting
with God on their side.
the british sent scots to
the north of the isle
they were fond of their flag
and copied their style
but they couldn't conquer
they tried and they tried
and really believed that
they had god on their side
we waged a long war with
this strange enemy
we sang our sad songs
until we were free
we whispered and shouted
we sang and we cried
and we finally won
with god on our side
we took on the scots
the queen and the king
and then our church
kept us on a string
they tested our metal
and tested our pride
now they will know that
we had god on our side
they slowly surrendered
and stayed at home
no longer invading
they left us alone
our land is still green but
it was a rough ride
in time we'll recover
with god on our side
our island's no more
what it used to be
they've watered our blood
put up boundaries
but no need to worry
we will turn the tide
with persistence 'n patience
and god on our side
so ireland was chosen
the best of countries
of all of the places
where you'd want to be
we sang this in songs
so we're not surprised
we knew all along
we have god on our side
