Green Grow The Rushes chords

by Celtic Woman

Song Key: F Major → G Major

Time Signature: 4/4

Tempo: 100 bpm


Standard Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e

Skill Level: Beginner 🟢

Guitar Chords: F, Gm, Bb, C → G, Am, C, D, A

Play-Along Video
R-H Chord Charts Chord Chart Legend
F Major Gm Gm-V2 Bb Major Bb Major barre chord C Major G Major Am D Major A Major
L-H Chord Charts Lefties Chord Chart Legend
F Major-LH Gm-LH Gm-V2-LH Bb Major-LH Bb Major barre chord-LH C Major-LH G Major-LH Am-LH D Major-LH A Major-LH
Speed: x0.1

Green Grow The Rushes

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key
              F
Intro: 4/4 |     |  %  |

  F
1. There's naught but care on ev'-ry han'
 Gm
   In ev'-ry hour that pas-ses O
 Bb                     F
   What sig-ni-fies the life of man
 Gm               F       Bb
   If it were not for the las-ses O

      F
Chorus: Green grow the rush-es O  
      Gm
        Green grow the rush-es O
      Bb                         F
        The sweet-est hours that e'er are spent
      Gm            F        Bb
        Are spent a-mong the las-ses O |  %  |

  F
2. The world-ly race may rich-es chase
 Gm
   And rich-es still may fly them, O
 Bb                        F
   And though at last they catch them fast
 Gm                 F        Bb
   Their hearts can ne'er en-joy them, O


      F
Chorus: Green grow the rush-es O  
      Gm
        Green grow the rush-es O
      Bb                         F
        The sweet-est hours that e'er are spent
      Gm            F        Bb             C
        Are spent a-mong the las-ses O | (Key Change) |

          D           A
Instr: |     |  %  |     |  %  |

 C                          G
** The sweet-est hours that e'er I spent
 C             G        C
   Are spent a-mong the las-ses, O

      G
Chorus: Green grow the rush-es O  
      Am
        Green grow the rush-es O
       C                         G
        The sweet-est hours that e'er are spent
      Am            G        C
        Are spent a-mong the las-ses O |  %  |

 G
3. Old na-ture swears the love-ly dears
 Am
   Her nob-lest work she clas-ses, O
 C                           G
   Her ap-pren-tice hand she tried on man
 Am             G        C
   And then she made the las-ses, O... |  %  |

      G
Chorus: Green grow the rush-es O  
      Am
        Green grow the rush-es O
      C                          G
        The sweet-est hours that e'er are spent
      Am            G        C       
        Are spent a-mong the las-ses O

      G
Chorus: Green grow the rush-es O  
      Am
        Green grow the rush-es O
      C                          G
        The sweet-est hours that e'er are spent
      Am            G        C
        Are spent a-mong the las-ses O |  %  |
      Am            G        C               G
        Are spent a-mong the las-ses, O...|  𝄑  |

Arrangement Details:

  • Song Keys: F Major → G Major
  • Key Signature: F Major - 1 flats (Bb)
  • Key Signature: G Major - 1 sharp (F#)
  • Time Signature: 4/4 — Four quarter-note beats per measure
  • Tempo: Moderately
  • Metronome: ♩ = 100
  • Voice Range: G3 - Bb4
  • Beginner Guitarists:
    You'll find open chord voicings for Bb and Gm in the charts above. The Gm can be played using a small barre with the first finger, or plyed like an 'A' chord using 3 fingers.

    The easiest key for beginners is C Major → D Major with chords: C, Dm, F, G → D, Em, G, A - capo on the 5th fret if playing along with the video.

Song Details:

Believe Album Cover
Album Cover
  • Songwriter: Robert Burns - Scottish poet and lyricist (1759 – 1796). The song by Burns is actually titled, Green Grow the Rashes, O'
  • Published: 1787 - The Scots Musical Museum
  • Lyrics Begin: There's naught but care on ev'ry han' In ev'ry hour that passes, O'
  • Featured Artists: Celtic Woman
  • Genre: Scottish folk song
  • Album: Believe
    Recorded: 2010–2011
    Released: 25 May 2011 (Japan), 24 January 2012 (worldwide), 27 April 2012 (Australia)
Other songs by Celtic Woman on this site:
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