Ireland's Call chords

by Celtic Thunder
  • Ireland's Call was composed in 1995 by Irish songwriter, musician and record producer - Phil Coulter.
  • This version by Celtic Thunder is featured on their album, The Very Best of Celtic Thunder.
  • Music: D Major with a key change to E♭ in 12/8 time at 92 bpm (♩.)
  • Chords: D, Dsus4, G, Bm, A → key change → E♭, A♭, Cm, B♭
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
D Major Dsus4 G Major A Major Bm Ab Major Eb Major Bb Major Cm Cm
D Major Dsus4 G Major A Major Bm Ab Major Eb Major Bb Major Cm Cm

Ireland's Call

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key
              
Intro: 12/8 Ireland, Ireland...

   D                G          D    
1. Side by side, we stand like bro-thers
   D       Bm             G  A    
   One for all and all to-ge-ther
           Bm     G              D       G    
   We will stay u-ni-ted through dark-er days
             G     A               D   Dsus4  D 
   And we'll be un-beat-able for - e - ver

        D         G            
Chorus: Ire-land, Ire-land  
           D        Bm        A    
        To-ge-ther, stand-ing tall  
        D            G        
        Shoul-der to shoul-der    
              D       A          D      G     D 
        We'll an-swer Ire-land's call |    -     | 

   D                 G        D    
2. Come the day, and come the hour
   D         Bm               G   A    
   Some will live in song and sto-ry
           Bm      G           D        G    
   We were born to fol-low our guid-ing star
          G        A              D   Dsus4  D 
   And to meet our des-ti-ny with glo-ry

        D         G            
Chorus: Ire-land, Ire-land  
           D        Bm            
        To-ge-ther, stand-ing tall  
        D            G        
        Shoul-der to shoul-der    
              D       A          D       G     D
        We'll an-swer Ire-land's call |     -     | 

   D                   G        D    
3. Hearts of steel and heads un-bow-ing
   D       Bm           G   A  
   Vow-ing ne-ver to be bro-ken
           Bm       G          D        G   
   We will fight un-til we can fight no more
            G      A            D     Dsus4  D 
   Till our fi-nal re-qui-em is spo - ken

        D         G            
Chorus: Ire-land, Ire-land  
           D        Bm        A    
        To-ge-ther, stand-ing tall  
        D            G        
        Shoul-der to shoul-der    
              D       A          D 
        We'll an-swer Ire-land's call

Instrumental:|(call)    |        |        |   (key change)|

        Eb        Ab            
Chorus: Ire-land, Ire-land  
           Eb       Cm        Bb    
        To-ge-ther, stand-ing tall  
        Eb           Ab        
        Shoul-der to shoul-der    
              Eb      Bb           Eb      Ab 
        We'll an-swer Ire-land's | call -     |
              Eb      Bb         Eb 
        We'll an-swer Ire-land's call...

Notes:

  • The key change only comes into play if you are playing with the video... otherwise just play the last chorus the same as the others.
  • If you do play the key change you will need to play some barre chords which are all fairy easy. The E♭, B♭, and A♭are probably best played in the 2nd position around frets 4-8 where movement from 1 barre chord to the next is within close reach. You will find 2 options for Cm - the first is a little closer to Eb & Bb, but you may prefer the alternative option.
  • 12/8 time signifies 12 beats to the bar with each beat having a value of an eighth-note or quaver. This beat is commonly seen in marching tunes. If you were counting each bar, you could count it as | 1 2 3 4 | where each beat is equal to 3 eighth-notes (4x3=12), in which case you would count each bar as |1&& 2&& 3&& 4&&| where each of the 12 beats is taken into account... | 123 456 789 10-11-12|
  • Tempo: 92 bpm (♩.) means the metronome sounds on every dotted quarter-note which is equal to 3 eighth-notes i.e., beats 1, 4, 7, 10 of the 12 eighth-notes, otherwise the metronome would be flying out the door!
  • Song Key: D Major - 2 sharps (F#, C#)
  • Key Change: E♭ Major - 3 flats ( B♭, E ♭, A♭)
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