Lyrics and Chords

A Nation Once Again

The lyrics to A Nation Once Again have been an inspiration to Irish nationalists for nearly 200 years.

A Nation Once Again
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The words were written by Thomas Davis, who lived in Dublin and was a prominent figure in the nationalist movement in the 1840s.

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The opening lines of the song with their reference to ancient Greece and Rome reflect Davis’ classical education at Trinity College, Dublin.

Davis composed many other songs and lyrics but sadly died in 1845, aged 30.

A nation once again lyrics and chords

 

G 

When boyhood’s  

Em 

fire was  

G 

in my  

G7 

blood,

 

I  

Am 

read of  

D7 

ancient 

 

 

G 

freemen.

 

For Greece and  

Em 

Rome who  

G 

bravely 

 

 

G7 

stood

 

Three  

Am 

hundred 

 

 

D7 

men and three men.

 

And then I  

Bm 

prayed I  

Am 

yet might  

D7 

 

See our  

Em 

fetters rent in twain

 

And  

C 

Ireland 

 

 

Am 

long a  

D7 

province,

 

Be a  

G 

nation 

 

 

D7 

once 

 

 

G 

again.

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Chorus

 

A nation  

D7 

once 

 

 

C 

again,

 

A  

Am 

nation once  

D7 

again,

 

And  

G 

Ireland 

 

 

Em 

long a  

Am 

province 

 

 

D7 

be

 

A  

G 

nation 

 

 

D7 

once 

 

 

G 

again.

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And from that time, through wildest woe,

That hope has shone a far light

Nor could love’s brightest summer glow

Outshine that solemn starlight

It seemed to watch above my head

In forum, field and fane

Its angel voice sang round my bed:

A nation once again!

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Chorus

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It whisper’d, too, that freedom’s ark

And service high and holy

Would be profaned by feelings dark

And passion vain or lowly,

For Freedom comes from God’s right hand

And needs a godly train,

And righteous men must make our land

A nation once again!

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Chorus

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So as I grew from boy to man

I bent me to that bidding.

My spirit of each selfish plan

And cruel passion ridding

For thus I hoped someday to aid,

Oh can such hope be vain

When my dear country shall be made

A nation once again!

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Chorus

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A Nation Once Again
Videos
Lyrics and Chords
Lyrics and chords print version