That's An Irish Lullaby

by John Gary

Song Keys: C Major → Db Major → D Major

Time Signature: 2/4

Tempo:  Varied due to the expressive nature of the song


Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e

Skill Level: Intermediate

Chords in C Major: C, Am, G, D7, G7, F, G7#5, C7, F#dim7, Am7, A7

Chords in D♭ Major: A♭7, D♭, B ♭m, A♭, E♭7

Chords in D Major: A7, D, Bm, A, E7, G, A7#5, D7, G#dim7, Bm7, B7

Chord Chart Legend
C Major C7 D Major D7 A7 A7-V2 E7 F Major F Major barre chord G Major G7 G7#5 barre chord B7 Am7 Bm7 F#dim7 G#dim7 G7#5 A7#5 Db Major-barre chord Ab Major Ab7 barre chord Ab7 Eb7 barre chord Bbm
Lefties Chord Chart Legend
C Major-LH C7-LH D Major-LH D7-LH A7-LH A7-V2-LH E7-LH F Major-LH F Major barre chord-LH G Major-LH G7-LH G7#5 barre chord-LH B7-LH Am7-LH Bm7-LH F#dim7-LH G#dim7-LH G7#5-LH A7#5-LH Db Major-barre chord-LH Ab Major-LH Ab7 barre chord-LH Ab7-LH Eb7 barre chord-LH Bbm-LH

That's An Irish Lullaby

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key 
  
Time Signature: 2/4 Played smoothly with much expression in time.

   C                       Am            G
1. O-ver in Kil-lar-ney    Ma-ny years a-go
      C              Am               D7                 G
   My mo-ther sang a song to me    In tones so sweet and low
          C                                Am              G
   Just a sim-ple lit-tle dit-ty    In her good old I-rish way
           F                 C        Am           D7               G   G7#5
   And I'd give the world if she could sing    That song to me this day

        C             C7         F                     F#dim7
Chorus: Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral    Too - ra - loo - ra - li
        C      F      C      Am7   D7                  G    G7
        Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral      Hush, now don't you cry
        C             C7         F                     F#dim7
        Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral    Too - ra - loo - ra - li
        C      F      C      A7            D7     G      C        Ab7
        Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral    That's an I-rish lul-la-by... (key change)

   Db                          Bbm            Ab   
2. Oft, in dreams I wan-der    To that cot a-gain
     Db              Bbm               Eb7              Ab7         A7
   I feel her arms a hug-gin' me    As when she held me then... (key change)
         D                                  Bm            D 
   And I hear her voice a hum-min' to me    As in days of yore
            G               D      Bm           E7             A7     A7#5 
   When she used to rock me fast a-sleep    Out-side the cabin door

        D             D7         G                     G#dim7
Chorus: Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral    Too - ra - loo - ra - li
        D      G      D      Bm7   E7                  A    A7
        Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral      Hush, now don't you cry
        D             D7         G                     G#dim7
        Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral    Too - ra - loo - ra - li
        D      G      D      B7            E7     A          D    G#dim7   D
        Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral    That's an I-rish lul - la - by...

Arrangement Details & Playing Tips:

  • Strum Pattern: This version of the song is a little difficult to play along with, but if you listen to the guitar in the video, you will notice it is being played using one down stroke at the start of each bar during the verses. This is because the timing of the song is so diverse. An emotional song such as this one gives the singer 'poetic licence'. This means that he sings the song as he feels it, speeding up and slowing down wherever the mood takes him. This makes it very difficult for a rhythm guitarist to strum along, so the safest way is to do what this guitarist is doing, and play a down stroke at the start of each bar.
  • You will notice that in the choruses, the timing is more stable, and the guitarist becomes a little more adventurous!
  • There are 2 key changes; one going into the second verse and the other half-way through the second verse.
  • Song Keys: C Major with the first key change to D♭ Major and the second key change to D Major. It is very unusual having 2 key changes in a song, but John handles it beautifully... a great singer and a great talent.
  • 2/4 time: 2 beats per bar with a quarter-note value for each beat. The count would be | 1 2 |, | 1& 2& | or | ♩ ♩ | etc.
  • Tempo: Played smoothly with expression..
  • Metronome: With this version, it is difficult to set the metronome due to the nature of the performance.
  • We have tried to keep the song as simple as possible, however with 2 key changes, we get in some murky territory with the first key change to Db Major. This is where barre chords come in very handy. The next key change gets you back to 'safer waters'! 🥳💚
  • The diminished 7th chords are actually quite easy once you get used to the basic shape of the chord. In this song, we use F#dim7 (same notes as Cdim7), and G#dim7 (same notes as Ddim7). Please persevere... a great exercise in broadening your chord repertoire.
  • If you find the dim7 chords (1 - b3 - b5 - bb7) too hard to play, just continue on with the previous chord - F Major in the first chorus and G Major in the second chorus.
  • 7#5 is a seventh augmented fifth chord with a formula: 1 - 3 - #5 - b7. It can also be referred to as a 7+5 or +7 chord. In this song we have a G7#5 and A7#5. They are both easy to play and sound great going into each respective chorus.

Song Details:

Album Cover
Album Cover
  • Songwriter: John Royce Shannon - Irish-American composer and lyricist
  • Date: 1913
  • Other title: Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral
  • Lyrics Begin: Over in Killarney, many years ago, my mother sang a song to me In tones so sweet and low.
  • Genre: Irish lullaby
  • Featured Artist: John Gary
  • Album: A Little Bit Of Heaven
    Released: 1965
    Country: US
    Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
    Label: RCA Victor
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