The Minstrel Boy

Here it is, in all its glory.

THE MINSTREL BOY TO THE WAR HAS GONE

(Traditional)

Note: the tuning of the guitar is Dropped-D! (DADGBE)

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D:-----|-0----------2-------4---2---0---|-4------2-------4-------2---4---|

A:-0---|--------------------------------|--------0-----------------------|

D:-----|-0--------------0---------------|-0--------------0---------------|

The Min- strel bo-oy to the war has gone. In the

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ranks of de-ath you will fi- i-ind him. His

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fa - ther'sswo-ord he has gir- ded on and his

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-0-------0-------4------------4---|-2-------2h4p2p0-0---------------|

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Wild harp slu-u- ung be- hi- i - ind him.

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-----------------5---------------|-5---------------0---------------|

"Land of song," saidthe war- ior bard, "Though

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all the world be- tra- a- ays thee, One

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sword at lea- ea-eastthy roads shall guard. One

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-0-------0-------4------------4---|-2-------2h4p2p0-0---------------|

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faith- ful hea-ea- eart shall prai- ai-aise thee."

Verse 1:

The minstrel boy to the war has gone.

In the ranks of death you will find him.

His father's sword he has girded on

And his wild harp slung behind him.

"Land of song," said the warrior bard,

"Though all the world betray thee,

One sword at least thy roads shall guard,

One faithful heart shall praise thee."

Verse 2:

The minstrel fell, but the foeman's chain

Could not bring that proud soul under.

The harp he loved never spoke again,

For he tore its cords asunder,

And said, "No chain shall sully thee

Thou soul of love and bravery.

My songs remain for the pure and free.

They shall never sound in slavery."

Arrangement by John Lumsdaine

Put into tablature by Alan Bostick, using Ofir Zwebnir's TAB MASTER program.

--

| ELYOT: Nasty insistent little tune.

-- Alan Bostick | AMANDA: Extraordinary how potent cheap music is.

abostick@netcom.com | Noel Coward, PRIVATE LIVES

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