Lyrics and Chords

Kelly the Boy From Killane

The lyrics to Kelly the Boy From Killane were written by P J McCall in 1911 – more 100 years after the events being described.

Kelly from Killane page 1
Kelly from Killane page 2
Kelly’s Battles page 1
Kelly’s Battles page 2
Lyrics and Chords
Lyrics and Chords Print Version

Nevertheless, the song sounds like a contemporary account with McCall giving the lyrics the feel of an urgent news report.

The chords are presented here in the key of C Major.

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The Dubliners are the band most closely associated with this song. They usually played it in F Major.

If you want to play in F using the chords listed here, then place a capo on the fifth fret.

Kelly the Boy From Killane Lyrics and Chords

 

What’s  

C 

the news what’s the  

F 

news O my  

C 

bold 

 

Shelma

Am 

lier

 

With your  

C 

long barrelled  

G7 

gun from the  

C 

sea

 

Say what wind from the  

F 

sun blows his  

C 

messenger 

 

 

Am 

here

 

With a  

C 

hymm of the  

G7 

dawn for the  

C 

free

 

”Goodly  

F 

news ”goodly news do I  

C 

bring youth of Forth

 

Goodly  

F 

news shall you hear Bargy  

G7 

man

 

For the  

C 

boys march at  

F 

morn from the  

C 

south to the  

Am 

north

 

Led by  

C 

Kelly the  

G7 

boy from  

C 

Killane.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tell me who is the giant with the gold curling hair

He who rides at the head of the band

Seven feet is his height with some inches to spare

And he looks like a king in command

”Ah me boys that’s the pride of the bold Shelmaliers

Among our greatest of heroes a man

Fling your beavers aloft and give three rousing cheers

For John Kelly the boy from Killane.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enniscorthy’s in flames and old Wexford is won

And the Barrow tomorrow we’ll cross

On a hill ore that town we have planted a gun

That will batter the gateway at Ross

All the Forth men and Bargy men march o’er the heath

With brave Harvey to lead on the van

But the foremost of all in that grim gap of death

Will be Kelly the boy from Killane.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

But the gold sun of freedom grew darkened at Ross

And is set by the Slaney’s red waves

And poor Wexford stripped naked hung high on a cross

And her heart pierced by traitors and slaves

Glory O Glory O to her brave sons who died

For the cause of long downtrodden man

Glory O to mount Leinster’s own darling and pride

Dauntless Kelly the boy from Killane.

More Kelly from Killane
Kelly from Killane page 1
Kelly from Killane page 2
Kelly’s Battles page 1
Kelly’s Battles page 2
Lyrics and Chords
Lyrics and Chords Print Version