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Pogues - The Irish Rover Ukulele Chords

ChordsG, C, D, Em
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

  • Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram
  • Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
  • Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram
  • Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram


On the [G]Fourth of July, eighteen hundred and [C]six, we set [G]sail from the sweet Cobh of [D]Cork
We were [G]sailing away with a cargo of [C]bricks, for the [G]Grand City [D]Hall in New [G]York
‘Twas a [G]wonderful craft, she was [D]rigged fore and aft
And [G]oh, how the wild wind [D]drove her, she stood [G]several blasts
She had [Em]twenty seven [C]masts, and they [G]called her The Irish [D] [G]Rover


We had [G]one million bags of the best Sligo [C]rags, we had [G]two million barrels of [D]stone
We had [G]three million sides of old blind horses [C]hides, we had [G]four million [D]barrels of [G]bones
We had [G]five million hogs, and [D]six million dogs, [G]seven million barrels of [D]porter
We had [G]eight million bails of old [Em]nanny-goats’ [C]tails, in the [G]hold of the Irish [D] [G]Rover


There [G]was awl Mickey Coote, who played hard on his [C]flute, when the [G]ladies lined up for a [D]set
He was [G]tooting with skill, for each [C]sparkling quadrille, [G]though the dancers were [D]fluthered and [G]bet
With [G]his smart witty talk, he was [D]cock of the walk, and he [G]rolled the dames under and [D]over
They all [G]knew at a glance, when he [Em]took up his [C]stance, that he [G]sailed in The Irish [D] [G]Rover


There [G]was Barney McGee, from the banks of the [C]Lee, there was [G]Hogan from County [D]Tyrone
There was [G]Johnny McGirr, who was scared stiff of [C]work, and a [G]man from West[D]meath called [G]Malone
There [G]was Slugger O’Toole, who was [D]drunk as a rule, and Fighting [G]Bill Treacy from [D]Dover
And your [G]man, Mick MacCann, from the [Em]banks of the [C]Bann, was the [G]skipper of the Irish [D] [G]Rover


For a [G]sailor it’s always a bother in [C]life, it’s so [G]lonesome by night and [D]day
That he [G]longs for the shore, and a charming young [C]whore, who will [G]melt all his [D]troubles [G]away
Oh, the [G]noise and the rout, swilling [D]poiting and stout, for [G]him soon the torment’s [D]over
Of the [G]love of a maid, he is [Em]never [C]afraid, an old [G]salt from the Irish [D] [G]Rover


We had [G]sailed seven years, when the measles broke [C]out, and the [G]ship lost its way in the [D]fog
And [G]that whale of a crew, was [C]reduced down to two, just [G]myself and the [D]Captain’s old [G]dog
Then the [G]ship struck a rock, oh [D]Lord what a shock, the [G]bulkhead was turned right [D]over
Turned [G]nine times around, and the [Em]poor old dog was [C]drowned, I’m the [G]last of The Irish [D] [G]Rover

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AlbumThe Irish Rover
GenresPop
Year1987
KeyG

How to play The Irish Rover on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

The Pogues - The Irish Rover on ukulele requires 4 chords and 4 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.

The Irish Rover uses these transitions most often: D → G (30), G → D (30), and C → G (18). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with G - C chord transition.

1. G → C chord transition

To move from G to C;

  1. While playing G, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
G to C

2. G → D chord transition

To move from G to D;

  1. Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 2.
G to D

3. G → Em chord transition

To move from G to Em;

  1. Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on C string fret 4.
G to Em

4. Em → C chord transition

To move from Em to C;

  1. While playing Em, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Lift your ring finger from C string fret 4 and place it on A string fret 3.
Em to C

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Irish Rover.

  • The Irish Rover includes 102 chord transitions, 4 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • The Irish Rover contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how The Irish Rover connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → D: 24%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 29%