WOLFE TONES - "sean south of garryowen" Tablature

Submitted by Dotsey

THE WOLFE TONES
SEAN SOUTH OF GARRYOWEN

This song is about Sean South who was shot dead, along with Fergal O'Hanlon, during
a daring raid on an R.U.C. base during the I.R.A.'s border campaign of 1956-1962.


(spoken)
Sad are the homes 'round Garryowen
Since lost their giant pride
And the banshee cry links every vale
Around the Shannon side
that city of the ancient walls
Unbroken Treaty Stone, undying fame
Surrounds your name, Sean South of Garryowen

Verse 1
G
T'was on a dreary New Year's Eve
C G
As the shades of night came down
C G
A lorry load of volunteers
C Am D7
Approached the border town
G C G
There were men from Dublin and from Cork
C Am D7
Fermanagh and Tyrone
G
And the leader was a Limerick man-
C G
Sean South from Garryowen

Verse 2
As they moved along the street
Up to the barracks door
They scorned the danger they might face
Their fate that lay in store
They were fighting for old Ireland's cause
To claim their very own
And the foremost of that gallant band
Was South from Garryowen

Verse 3
But the sergeant spied their daring plan
He spied them through the door
The Sten guns and the rifles
A hail of death did pour
And when that awful night was passed
Two men lay as cold as stone
There was one from near the border
And one from Garryowen

Verse 4
No more will he hear the seagull's cry
Over the murmuring Shannon tide
For he fell beneath a northern sky
Brave Hanlon by his side
They had gone to join that gallant band
Of Plunkett, Pearse and Tone
A martyr for old Ireland
Sean South from Garryowen