A Nation Once Again lyrics
The Wolfe Tones 🎸When boyhood's fire was in my blood
I read of ancient freemen,
For Greece and Rome who bravely stood,
Three hundred men and three men;
And there I prayed I yet might see
Our fetters rent in twain,
And Ireland, long a province, be.
A Nation once again!
Chorus:
A Nation once again,
A Nation once again,
And lreland, long a province, be
A Nation once again!
And from that time, through wildest woe,
That hope has shone a far light,
Nor could love's brightest summer glow
Outshine that solemn starlight;
It seemed to watch above my head
In forum, field and fane,
Its angel voice sang round my bed,
A Nation once again!
Chorus:
It whisper'd too, that freedom's ark
And service high and holy,
Would be prepared by feelings dark
And passions vain or lowly;
For, Freedom comes from God's right hand,
And needs a Godly train;
And righteous men must make our land
A Nation once again!
Chorus:
So, as I grew from boy to man,
I bent me to that bidding
My spirit of each selfish plan
And cruel passion ridding;
For, thus I hoped some day to aid,
Oh, can such hope be vain?
When my dear country should be made
A Nation once again!
Chorus:
Song Details
Composer: Thomas Osborne Davis (early 1840's) - Founder of the Irish Movement. Their aim was to have an Independant Ireland free of British Rule... more
Published: 13th July, 1844
Brief: The narrator dreams of a time when Ireland will be a free land; where the people raise up and fight for their land and make Ireland a 'Nation Once Again'.
References:
fetters: something that serves to restrict; a restraint:
twain: an archaic word for two
fane: church
ark: a place or thing offering shelter or protection
ridding: to cause (someone) to be free from something; relieve or disencumber
Category: Irish Rebel Song
Covers: The Wolfe Tones (featured), The Dubliners, John McCormack, The Clancy Brothers, The Irish Tenors, Poxy Boggards, Sean Conway...
Album: The Greatest Hits.
A Nation Once Again Chords
Key: G majorTime Signature: 4/4
Tempo: 104 bpm (♩)
The song key is highlighted. Transpose to any other key.
Intro: 4/4 [G] [G]
1. When [G]boyhood's fire was [Em]in my blood
I [C]read of [D7]ancient [G]freemen,
For [G]Greece and Rome who [Em]bravely stood,
Three [C]hundred [Am]men and [D7]three men;
And [D]there I prayed I [D7]yet might see
Our [C]fetters [Am]rent in [B7]twain,
And [G]Ireland, long a [G]province, [D7]be.
A [G]Nation [D]once [G]again!
Chorus: A [G]Nation once a-[C]gain,
A [C]Nation once a-[D]gain,
And [G]lreland, long a [C]province, [D]be
A [G]Nation [D]once a-[G]gain!
2. It [G]whisper'd too, that [Em]freedom's ark
And [C]service [D7]high and [G]holy,
Would [G]be prepared by [Em]feelings dark
And [C]passions [Am]vain or [D7]lowly;
For, [D]Freedom comes from [D7]God's right hand,
And [C]needs a [Am]Godly [B7]train;
And [C]righteous men must [G]make our [D7]land
A [G]Nation [D]once a-[G]gain!
Chorus: A [G]Nation once a-[C]gain,
A [C]Nation once a-[D]gain,
And [G]lreland, long a [C]province, [D]be
A [G]Nation [D]once a-[G]gain!
3. So,[G] as I grew from [Em]boy to man,
I [C]bent me [D7]to that [G]bidding
My [G]spirit of each [Em]selfish plan
And [C]cruel [Am]passion [D7]ridding;
For, [D]thus I hoped some [D7]day to aid,
Oh, [C]can such [Am]hope be [B7]vain?
When [C]my dear country [G]should be [D7]made
A [G]Nation [D]once a-[G]gain!
Chorus: A [G]Nation once a-[C]gain,
A [C]Nation once a-[D]gain,
And [G]lreland, long a [C]province, [D]be
A [G]Nation [D]once a-[G]gain!
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