The Irish Volunteer

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[Verse 1]
G              C                
Me name is Tim   McDonnell, I’m 
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 from the Emerald  Isle,
G             C                   
I was born in  Ireland’s bogs and 
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 left when  but a  child.
                    C         
Me father fought in  ’98, for   
G            D
liberty so  dear;
   G              C               
He  fell upon old   Vinegar Hill, 
        G      D       G
like an  Irish   volun  teer.

[Chorus]
G                                 
Then raise the harp of Erin, boys,
     C            G
 the  flag we all   revere,
                     C             
We’ll fight and fall   beneath the 
           G      D       G
folds like  Irish   volun   teers!
G                                 
Then raise the harp of Erin, boys,
     C            G
 the  flag we all   revere,
                     C             
We’ll fight and fall   beneath the 
           G      D       G
folds like  Irish   volun   teers!

[Verse 2]
G                 C               
When I was driven from me home by 
 G            D
an oppressor’s hand,
G                   C       
I cut me sticks and greased me 
                G         D      G
brogues, and came over to this land.
                   C               
I found a home and many friends, 
  G                D
and some that I love dear;
   G                    C         
I’ll stick to them like bricks and
               G     D       G
 glue says the Irish   Volun   teer.

[Chorus]
G                                 
Then raise the harp of Erin, boys,
     C            G
 the  flag we all   revere,
                     C             
We’ll fight and fall   beneath the 
           G      D       G
folds like  Irish   volun   teers!
G                                 
Then raise the harp of Erin, boys,
     C            G
 the  flag we all   revere,
                     C             
We’ll fight and fall   beneath the 
           G      D       G
folds like  Irish   volun   teers!

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[Verse 3]
G                     C          
Now when the traitors of the 
      G                  D
south commence their warlike raid,
G                      C          
I quickly laid down my hod, to the
 G      D      G
 devil went me spade!
                   C         
To a recruiting office , that 
 G             D
happened to be near,
   G                    C         
And joined the good old 
          G     D     G
sixty-ninth like an Irish Volun  
teer.

[Chorus 2]
G                                 
Then fill the ranks, and march 
     C                G
away! No traitor’s do we fear;
                        C          
We’ll drive them all to blazes, 
      G     D     G
says the Irish Volun  teer.
G                                 
Then fill the ranks, and march 
     C                G
away! No traitor’s do we fear;
                        C          
We’ll drive them all to blazes, 
      G     D     G
says the Irish Volun  teer.

[Verse 4]
G                  C             
When the Prince of Wales came 
       G             D
o’er, and made a hullaba  loo,
G             C                 
Oh, everybody was turned-out in 
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gold and tinsel too;
                      C          
But then the good old sixty-ninth 
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they didn’t like lords or peers,
     G              C             
They wouldn’t give a damn for 
      G     D     G
Kings, the Irish volun  teers!

[Chorus]
G                                
We love the land of liberty, it’s
C                G
 laws we will revere,
                        C          
“But the devil take the nobility!” 
         G     D     G
says the Irish volun  teer.
G                                
We love the land of liberty, it’s
C                G
 laws we will revere,
                        C          
“But the devil take the nobility!” 
         G     D     G
says the Irish volun  teer.

[Verse 5]
G                  C             
Now if the traitors in the south 
       G              D
should ever cross our roads,
G                       C        
We’ll drive them all to blazes, 
        G       D       G
as Saint Patrick did the toads,
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Well give them all short nooses 
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that come just below the ears
     G                    C   
Made strong and good from Irish 
           G     D     G
hemp, by Irish volun  teers.

[Chorus]
G                                 
Then here’s to brave McClellan, 
       C          G
whom the army now reveres,
                        C          
He’ll lead us on to victory, say 
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the Irish volun  teers.
G                                 
Then here’s to brave McClellan, 
       C          G
whom the army now reveres,
                        C          
He’ll lead us on to victory, say 
  G     D     G
the Irish volun  teers.

[Verse 6]
G                     C          
Now fill your glasses up, me 
    G                    D
boys, a toast come drink with me,
G                   C           
May Erin’s harp and Starry Flag 
G      D    G
united ever be;
                         C    
May traitors quake, and rebels 
            G                D
shake, and tremble in their fears,
     G                C           
When next we meet the Yankee boys,
     G     D     G
 the Irish volun  teers.

[Chorus]
G                                 
God bless the name of Washington, 
     C              G
that name this land reveres,
                       C         
Success to Meagher and Nugent and 
     G     D     G
the Irish volun  teers.
G                                 
God bless the name of Washington, 
     C              G
that name this land reveres,
                       C         
Success to Meagher and Nugent and 
     G     D     G
the Irish volun  teers.