The lyrics to Kelly the Boy From Killane were written by P J McCall in 1911. This is more 100 years after the events being described.
Kelly the boy from Killane
Kelly the boy from Killane local references
Kelly Battles
Kelly captured and executed
Kelly the boy from Killane Videos
Nevertheless, the song sounds like a contemporary account with McCall giving the lyrics the feel of an urgent news report. The chords are presented here in the key of C Major. Use our chord converter to play the song in other keys.
The Dubliners are the band most closely associated with this song. They usually played it in F Major. If you want to play in F using the chords listed here, then place a capo on the fifth fret.
[chordsandlyrics]
What’s [C]the news what’s the [F]news O my [C]bold Shelma[Am]lier
With your [C]long barrelled [G7]gun from the [C]sea
Say what wind from the [F]sun blows his [C]messenger [Am]here
With a [C]hymm of the [G7]dawn for the [C]free
Goodly [F]news goodly news do I [C]bring youth of Forth
Goodly [F]news shall you hear Bargy [G7]man
For the [C]boys march at [F]morn from the [C]south to the [Am]north
Led by [C]Kelly the [G7]boy from [C]Killane.
[/chordsandlyrics]
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Tell me who is the giant with the gold curling hair
He who rides at the head of the band
Seven feet is his height with some inches to spare
And he looks like a king in command
Ah me boys that’s the pride of the bold Shelmaliers
Among our greatest of heroes a man
Fling your beavers aloft and give three rousing cheers
For John Kelly the boy from Killane.
Enniscorthy’s in flames and old Wexford is won
And the Barrow tomorrow we’ll cross
On a hill ore that town we have planted a gun
That will batter the gateway at Ross
All the Forth men and Bargy men march o’er the heath
With brave Harvey to lead on the van
But the foremost of all in that grim gap of death
Will be Kelly the boy from Killane.
But the gold sun of freedom grew darkened at Ross
And is set by the Slaney’s red waves
And poor Wexford stripped naked hung high on a cross
And her heart pierced by traitors and slaves
Glory O Glory O to her brave sons who died
For the cause of long downtrodden man
Glory O to mount Leinster’s own darling and pride
Dauntless Kelly the boy from Killane.
Kelly the boy from Killane
Kelly the boy from Killane local references
Kelly Battles
Kelly captured and executed
Kelly the boy from Killane Videos
Lyrics and Chords
Kelly the Boy from Killane lyrics and chords print version
What’s [C]the news what’s the [F]news O my [C]bold Shelma[Am]lier
With your [C]long barrelled [G7]gun from the [C]sea
Say what wind from the [F]sun blows his [C]messenger [Am]here
With a [C]hymm of the [G7]dawn for the [C]free
Goodly [F]news goodly news do I [C]bring youth of Forth
Goodly [F]news shall you hear Bargy [G7]man
For the [C]boys march at [F]morn from the [C]south to the [Am]north
Led by [C]Kelly the [G7]boy from [C]Killane.
Tell me who is the giant with the gold curling hair
He who rides at the head of the band
Seven feet is his height with some inches to spare
And he looks like a king in command
Ah me boys that’s the pride of the bold Shelmaliers
Among our greatest of heroes a man
Fling your beavers aloft and give three rousing cheers
For John Kelly the boy from Killane.
Enniscorthy’s in flames and old Wexford is won
And the Barrow tomorrow we’ll cross
On a hill ore that town we have planted a gun
That will batter the gateway at Ross
All the Forth men and Bargy men march o’er the heath
With brave Harvey to lead on the van
But the foremost of all in that grim gap of death
Will be Kelly the boy from Killane.
But the gold sun of freedom grew darkened at Ross
And is set by the Slaney’s red waves
And poor Wexford stripped naked hung high on a cross
And her heart pierced by traitors and slaves
Glory O Glory O to her brave sons who died
For the cause of long downtrodden man
Glory O to mount Leinster’s own darling and pride
Dauntless Kelly the boy from Killane.
Kelly the boy from Killane
Kelly the boy from Killane local references
Kelly Battles
Kelly captured and executed
Kelly the boy from Killane Videos
Lyrics and Chords
