[Verse 1]
Am G Am
With achin' heart and steady hand, I'm puttin pen to paper, father dear
Am G Am
I trust these words'll find you and pray that you can read 'em through your tears
Dm Am
They say a man that's born to sing can scare away his woes
G Am
And banish all his anger and his pain
Dm Am
But the screamin' in my head killed the singin' in my soul
G Em G Am
And I fear I'll never recall the tune again
[Verse 2]
Am G Am Em G Am
I've trouble with the sleepin', my shadows weight impossible to bear
Am G Am
I hear my sister weepin' and callin to me from that other where
Dm Am
The names o' them I loved are carved into my skin
G Am
The greatest crew a fighter ever had
Dm Am
They call us gypsy bastards and say it like it's sin
G Em G Am
That all our wars are merry and all our songs are sad.
[Chorus]
Am C G
Tell 'em I went out dancin', tell 'em I went to war
Dm Am G
Tell 'em whatever you want to all the same
Am C G
It's said a man dies first when he's parted wi' his soul
Dm Am G Am Em G Am
And second when folk forget to speak his na -- a -- me
[Verse 3]
Am G Am Em G Am
Derry born and barely raised, I'd hardly bear to see the place again
Am G Am
'Till in merrie bloody England I found myself a brother to the end
Dm Am
It's proper that youre grievin', yer poorer for me leavin'
G Am
The best and fairest any given day
Dm Am
Let Matty, Marco, Luke, and John bless the slab im lyin on
G Em G Am
Kiss me arse and send me on me way
[Chorus]
Am C G
Tell 'em I went out dancin' tell 'em I went to war
Dm Am G
Tell 'em whatever you want to all the same
Am C G
It's said a man dies first when he's parted wi' his soul
Dm Am G Am Em G Am
And second when folk forget to speak his na -- a -- me
[Verse 4]
Am G Am Em G Am
A half a dozen monkeys the devil sent to snap me o'er his knee
Am G Am
I slapped their filthy tongues back in their skulls and did it laughin' wickedly
Dm Am
Smash the right and fuck the left, I'll curse 'em with my dyin' breath
G Am
As bent as each to other I would say
Dm Am
The only drum I march to is me Irish bloody heart
G Em G Am
kickin' out against its brittle cage.
[Chorus]
Am C G
Tell 'em I went out dancin' tell 'em I went to war
Dm Am G
Tell 'em whatever you want to all the same
Am C G
It's said a man dies first when he's parted wi' his soul
Dm Am G Am
And second when folk forget to speak his na -- a -- me
[Chorus]
Am C G
Tell 'em I went down swingin' tell 'em I went to war
Dm Am G
Tell 'em whatever you want to all the same
Am C G
It's said a man dies first when he's parted wi' his soul
Dm Am G Am
And second when folk forget to speak his na -- a -- me
Em G Am
Speak my name (4x)