The Patriot Game chords
by The Wolfe Tones- The Patriot Game is an Irish Rebel Song written by Dominic Behan. He set the lyrics to the tune of an earlier folk song titled, The Merry Month of May.
- This version by The Wolfe Tones is featured on their albums, Celtic Symphony and The Anthology of Irish Song.
- Music: Key of A Major in 4/4 time at 160 bpm (♩)
- Chords: A, D, E, F#m
- Capo: 1st fret if playing with the video (Bb Major)
- Beginners: Play in G Major with chords - G, C, D, Em (capo on 3 if playing with video)
The Patriot Game
Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key A D A E A D A
Intro: 3/4 ‖ | | | | | | | 𝄎 ‖
D A E A D A
1. Come all you young re-bels And list while I | sing | | |
E A D A F#m D
For the love of one's coun-try Is a ter-ri-ble thing | 𝄎 | |
E A D A F#m D
It ban-ish-es fear with The speed of a flame | 𝄎 | |
A D A E A D A
And it makes us all part of The pa-tri-ot | game | | |
A D A E A D A
2. My name is O'-Han-lon And I've just gone six-teen | | |
E A D A F#m D
My home is in Mon-a-ghan Where I was weaned | 𝄎 | |
E A D A F#m D
I’ve learned all my life Cru-el En-gland to blame | 𝄎 | |
A D A E A D A
And so I'm a part of The pa-tri-ot game | | |
A D A E A D A
3. 'Tis bare-ly two years since I wan-dered a-way | | |
E A D A F#m D
With the lo-cal bat-ta-lion Of the bold I-R-A. | 𝄎 | |
E A D A F#m D
I read of our her-oes And wan-ted the same | 𝄎 | |
A D A E A
To play up my part in The pa-tri-ot game
A D A E A D A
‖(game)| | | | | | ‖
A D A E A D A
4. This is-land of ours has For long been half free | | |
E A D A F#m D
Six count-ies are un-der John Bull's tyr-an-ny | 𝄎 | |
E A D A F#m D
So I gave up my boy-hood To drill and to train | 𝄎 | |
A D A E A D A
And to play my own part in The pa-tri-ot game | | |
A D A E A D A
5. And now as I lie here My bo-dy all holes | | |
E A D A F#m D
I think of those trai-tors Who bar-gained and sold | 𝄎 | |
E A D A F#m D
And I wish that my ri-fle Had giv-en the same | 𝄎 | |
A D A E A D A
With those quis-lings who sold out The pa-tri-ot game | | |
A D A E A | D | A |
6. So come all you young re-bels And list while I sing
E A D A F#m D
For the love of one's coun-try Is a ter-ri-ble thing | 𝄎 | |
E A D A F#m D
It ban-ish-es fear with The speed of a flame | 𝄎 | |
A D A E A D A E A
And it makes us all part of The pa-tri-ot game | | | | |...
Notes:
- Level Of Ease: Easy with a capo
- Song Key: B♭ major - 2 flats (B♭, E♭)
- Song Key with capo: A Major - 3 sharps ( F#, C#, G#)
- 3/4 time: This means there are 3 quarter-note beats per bar, therefore the count is
| 1 2 3 | or | 1& 2& 3& | etc. - Tempo: 53 bpm (𝅗𝅥.) This sets the metronome or click track to sound on the first beat of each bar,
or 160 bpm (𝅘𝅥) to sound the metronome on every beat of each bar. - The Wolfe Tones use a capo on the 1st fret, and play in the key of A major which audibly, is still the Key of Bb Major. A major + 1 semitones (capo on 1st fret)= Bb major.
- A capo was most likely used because the chords are easier to play and cleaner sounding especially for finger-picking.
- If you are not playing along with the video, you don't have to use a capo. You can play in any key you like.
- Use the Transposer for any key changes
The Wolfe Tones
Origin: Inchicore, County Dublin, Ireland
Active Years: 1963 – present
Music Styles: Irish rebel music, Irish folk, Pan-Celticism
Song by The Wolfe Tones on this site:- A Nation Once Again
- The Foggy Dew
- The Patriot Game
Dominic Behan
Born: 22nd October 1928, in Dublin, Ireland
Died: 3rd August 1989 (aged 60), in Glasgow, Scotland
Occupation: Writer
Active Years: 1959 – 1989
Genre: Songwriter, short story writer, novelist, playwright
Subjects: Irish Republican struggle, Irish culture