Down By The Glenside - Irish Folk Ballad - Guitar and Vocal

Down by the Glenside, also known as, The Bold Finian Men was written by, Peadar Kearney in 1916 around the time of the Easter Rebellion which happen in April of 1916, when the Irish attempted another overthrow of British rule in Ireland. I sing and play it on guitar with a simple arpeggio fingerpicking pattern.Show more

Down by the Glenside - The Bold Fenian Men
Written by Peadar Kearney
Performed by Dan D. Dirges
Guitar in standard tuning: 3/4 time, basic fingerpicking arpeggio straight rolls. Or T I M I M I

'Twas down by the glenside, I met an old woman
A-plucking young nettles, she ne’er saw me coming
I listened a while to the song she was humming
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men

'Tis fifty long years since I saw the moon beaming
On strong manly forms, on eyes with hope gleaming
I see them again, sure, in all my sad dreaming
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men.

When I was a young girl, their marching and drilling
Awoke in the glenside sounds awesome and thrilling
They loved dear old Ireland, to die they were willing
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men.

Some died by the glenside, some died near a stranger
And wise men have told us their cause was a failure
But they stood by old Ireland and never feared danger
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men

I passed on my way, God be praised that I met her
Be life long or short, sure I'll never forget her
We may have brave men, but we'll never have better
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men

'Twas down by the glenside, I met an old woman
A-plucking young nettles, she ne’er saw me coming
I listened a while to the song she was humming
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men

#Down By The Glenside
#Irish Folk Ballads