An Irish Blessing
Ralph McTell took the first two lines of the
chorus from a well known Irish poem. The second
two lines of the chorus are the translation back
into Gaelic of the first two. I can't transliterate
what Ralph sings and can't find it written down
so I've used a poor English substitute.
The verse needs a few chords I can't quite catch.
This approximation more or less works. The descent on
the B string (Brun in the text) is the important bit.
+ + + + G/B Am G
e :-9---------------|---------3-----3-|
B :-----9---6---5---|-3---1-------0---|
G :---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0-----|
D :-----------------|-----------------|
A :-8-------5---3---|-2---0---2-------|
E :-----------------|-----------------|
We also need something on the "walked them home"
bit, I think just adding the D# to the C works
but I'm sure Ralph did something more interesting.
Cm [x 3 2 0 4 0 ]
C G C
How my life is changing now
F C Am G
My young ones start to leave their home
C G C
I wish that their uncertain road
F C G C
Was one that I could tread with them
Cm C
As when I walked them home from school
Brun G/B Am G
Or safely caught them when they fell
C G/B C F G Am
Or chased the demons from their dreams
C G C
With jokes and stories that I could tell
C F C F
May the road rise with you and the wind be at your back
C G C F C Am G C
Go gently now into the world, close the door and don't look back
C G C
And now it's me who has to learn
F C Am G
To let you make your way alone
C G C
And try not to direct each turn
F C G C
Your triumphs and mistakes your own
Cm C
But let me see you to the corner
Brun G/B Am G
Let me watch you down the streeet
C G/B C F G Am
And may my love be your protector
C G C
And walk with you till next we meet
C F C F
May the road rise with you and the wind be at your back
C G C F C Am G C
Go gently now into the world, close the door and don't look back
C G C
I hear the calling of your heart
F C Am G
I see in your eyes that you know
C G C
To cherish it's the easy part
F C G C
The hardest task is letting go
Cm C
Your path will different be to mine
Brun G/B Am G
Tricks my trade no use to you
C G/B C F G Am
To others and yourself be kind
C G C
Your suffering would hurt me too
C F C F
May the road rise with you and the wind be at your back
C G C F C Am G C
Go gently now into the world, close the door and don't look back