The Bold Fenian Men chords

'Down by the Glenside'
  • The Bold Fenian Men was written by Peadar Kearney, an Irish Republican and composer of many rebel songs.
  • This version is by The Clancy Brothers from the album Wrap The Green Flag.
  • Music: Key of A minor in 3/4 time at ~ 110 bpm (♩)
  • Song Chords: Am, Em, C, G
  • Ideal for beginners with very easy chords.
Chart Legend
Numbered Circles: Fingers used to play chords   O: Optional Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings   R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open   X: Don't play string    B: Bass Note
Am Em C Major G major
Am Em C Major G major

The Bold Fenian Men

Intro: 3/4 |𝄽 𝄽 𝅘𝅥𝅮 𝅘𝅥𝅮|  Am  |  C  |  Am  /A  /G  |  Am  |  Am  |
                
           Am                       C          Em
1.  It was down by the glen-side, I met an old wo-man
      Am                               C            Em
    A-pick-in' young net-tles, and she ne’er saw me com-in'
      Am                       C            G
    I lis-tened a while to the song she was hum-ming'
           Am         C          Am    /A    /G  | Am   |
    Glo-ry O,  Glo-ry O,  to the bold  Fen - ian   men

Instr: |  Am  |  C  |  Am  /A  /G  |  Am  |  Am  |  

         Am                        C            Em
2.  It's fif-ty long years since I saw the moon beam-in'
       Am                      C              Em
    On strong man-ly forms, on eyes with hope gleam-in'
      Am                  C          G  
    I see them a-gain, in all my sad dream-in'
           Am         C          Am    /A    /G  | Am   |
    Glo-ry O,  Glo-ry O,  to the bold  Fen - ian   men

    
Instr: Play Verse 2 
    
         Am                        C             Em  
3.  When I was a young girl, their march-in' and dril-lin'
      Am                           C            Em  
    A-woke in the glen-side sounds awe-some and thril-lin'
         Am                              C             G    
    They loved dear old Ire-land, and to die they were wil-lin'
           Am         C          Am    /A    /G  | Am   | Am   | Am   |
    Glo-ry O,  Glo-ry O,  to the bold  Fen - ian   men
    
         Am                          C           Em  
4.  Some died by the glen-side, some died near a stran-ger
        Am                          C           Em  
    And wise men have told us their cause was a fail-ure
         Am                            C             G    
    They loved dear old Ire-land, they ne-ver feared dan-ger
           Am         C          Am    /A    /G  | Am   | Am   |
    Glo-ry O,  Glo-ry O,  to the bold  Fen - ian   men
    
      Am                     C              Em  
5.  I went on my way, God be praised that I met her
       Am                            C          Em  
    Be life long or short, sure I'll ne-ver for-get her
       Am                           C           G        
    We may have good men, but we'll ne-ver have bet-ter
           Am         C          Am    /A    /G  | Am   |
    Glo-ry O,  Glo-ry O,  to the bold  Fen - ian   men

Outro: 
    |  Am  |  C  |  Am  /A  /G  |  Am ... |
    

 Chord and Bass Run:         Am  /A   /G 
                         e|--0------------|
 0: play open string     B|--1------------| 
 x: don't play string    G|--2------------| 
 Numbers: Fret Numbers   D|--2------------|
                         A|--0----0-------|
                         E|--x---------3--|  
                         
P.S. You don't have to play the bass notes /A  & /G with the Am 
but it does sound good, especially if you are fingerpicking. If 
you omit the bass notes, just continue playing the Am chord.

The Clancy Brothers

Wrap The Green Flag album
The Clancy Brothers

Origins: County Tipperary & County Armagh, Ireland

Active Years: 1956–1998

Music Styles: Traditional Irish, Folk, Celtic

Associations: Makem and Clancy, The Clancys and Eddie Dillon, The Fureys, Clancy, O'Connell & Clancy, Cherish the Ladies, The High Kings, Danú, The Makem Brothers, Barley Bree, The Clancy Legacy

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