Traditional Irish Tune
This tune was popular among Irish troops during the
Civil War. Cowboys during the great cattle drives
after the Civil War wrote new words and the song
is famous in America as "The Streets of Laredo"
Intro – Last line of verse
E
A E
B7
Oh list to the lay of a poor Irish harper
E
B7
E B7
And scorn not the strains from his poor withered hand
E
A E
B7
But remember his fingers could once move more sharper
E
A B7
E
To raise up the strains of his poor native land
When I was a young lad, King Jamie did flourish
And I followed the wars in my brogues bound with straw
And all the fair colleens from Wexford to Durrish
Called me bold Phelim Brady , the Bard of Armagh
How I love for to muse on the days of my childhood
Tho' four score and three years have flitted since then
Still it gives sweet reflection as every young boy should
For light hearted boys make the best of old men
At pattern or fair I could twist my shillelagh
Or trip through the jig with my brogues bound with straw
Whilst all the fair maidens around me assembled
Loved bold Phelim Brady the Bard of Armagh
Although I have travelled this wide world all over
Yet Erin's my home and a mother to me
Then,oh, let the ground that my old bones shall cover
Be cut from the soil that is trod by the free
And when Sergeant Death in his cold arms shall embrace me
Oh, lull me to sleep with sweet " Erin Go Bragh"
By the side of my wife, my sweet Kathleen oh place me
Then forget Phelim Brady , the Bard of Armagh
Repeat Last Line
