Lyrics and Chords

Rising of the Moon Lyrics and Chords

The lyrics to The Rising of the Moon were written by John Keegan Casey in or around 1865.

More on Rising of the Moon
Rising of the Moon page 1
Rising of the Moon page 2
Recordings of Rising of the Moon
Lyrics and Chords
John Keegan Casey

Most Irish performers sing it to the tune of the Wearing of The Green. That is the version given here. Some American singers, however, such as Judy Collins and Peter, Paul and Mary sing the words to an older, less well-known Irish melody. We hope to give the chords to that version soon.

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The chorus changes each time to include the final line of the previous verse.

The chords are given here in C Major – the key used for this song by Shane MacGowan and the Popes. The Clancys played the song in D Flat major, which means they almost certainly put a capo on the first fret and played the C chords shown below.

The Dubliners featuring Luke Kelly on lead vocals performed the song in D Major. Place the capo on the second fret if you want to play in D using the chords listed here.

The Rising of the Moon – lyrics and chords

 

Oh  

C 

then tell me Sean O’Farrell

 

Tell me  

G7 

why you hurry so,

F 

Hush me bhuachaill, hush and

C 

listen

 

And his  

G7 

cheeks were all a

C 

glow,

C 

I bring orders from the Captain,

 

Get you  

G7 

ready quick and soon

 

For the  

F 

pikes must be to

C 

gether

 

At the  

G7 

rising of the  

C 

moon.

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

Chorus

 

By the rising of the moon, by the  

G7 

rising of the moon

 

The  

F 

pikes must be to

C 

gether at the  

G7 

rising of the  

C 

moon.

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

Oh then tell me Sean O’Farrell

Where the gathering is to be,

At the old spot by the river

Quite well known to you and me.

And by way of signal token

Whistle up the marching tune.

With pike upon your shoulder

At the rising of the moon.

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

Chorus

At the rising of the moon, at the rising of the moon

With pike upon your shoulder at the rising of the moon.

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

From many a mud wall cabin

Eyes were watching through the night.

Many a manly heart was beating

For the blessed morning light.

Murmurs ran along the valley

Like the banshees lonely croon,

And a thousand pikes a flashing

At the rising of the moon.

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

Chorus

At the rising of the moon, at the rising of the moon

A thousand blades were flashing at the rising of the moon.

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

There beside the singing river

A black mass of men was seen,

And above their shining weapons

Hung their own beloved green.

Death to every foe and traitor,

Whistle loud the marching tune,

Hurrah! me boys for freedom,

‘Tis the rising of the moon.

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

Chorus

At the rising of the moon, at the rising of the moon

Hurrah! me boys for freedom, ’tis the rising of the moon.

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

Well they fought for poor old Ireland

And full bitter was their fate.

Oh what glorious pride and sorrow

Fills the name of 98.

Yet, thank God, while hearts are beating

In manhood’s burning noon

We will follow in the footsteps

At the rising of the moon.

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

Chorus

At the rising of the moon, at the rising of the moon

We will follow in the footsteps at the rising of the moon.

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

Both The Clancy Brothers and The Dubliners tended to omit the final verse when they sang The Rising of the Moon.

This may have been just for reasons of time, but it may also have been to avoid referring to the fact that the rebellion was defeated.

More on Rising of the Moon
Rising of the Moon page 1
Rising of the Moon page 2
Recordings of Rising of the Moon
Lyrics and Chords
John Keegan Casey