The Minstrel Boy Chords

Standard (EADGBE)

 The DMinstrel GBoy to the Dwar is Ggone

 In the ranks of Ddeath you will Afind Dhim;

 His Dfather's Gsword he hath Dgirded Gon,

 And his wild harp Dslung beAhind Dhim;"

BmLand of GSong!" said the Awarrior Dbard,

 "Tho' Gall the world beAtrays Dthee,

 One sword, at Gleast, thy Drights shall Gguard,

 One Dfaithful harp shall Apraise Dthee!"

 The DMinstrel Gfell! But the Dfoeman's Gchain

 Could not Dbring that proud soul AundeDr;

 The Dharp he Glov'd ne'er Dspoke aGgain,

 For he Dtore its chords AasunDder;

 And Bmsaid "No Gchains shall Asully Dthee,

 Thou Gsoul of love and Abrav'Dry!

 Thy songs were Gmade for the Dpure and Gfree,

 They shall Dnever sound in AslaveDry!"

American Civil War verses added later:

The Minstrel Boy will return we pray

When we hear the news we all will cheer it,

The minstrel boy will return one day,

Torn perhaps in body, not in spirit.

Then may he play on his harp in peace,

In a world such as Heaven intended,

For all the bitterness of man must cease,

And ev'ry battle must be ended.