The Irish Rover

by Irish Folksong
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Lyrics

In the (C)year of our Lord, eight een hun dred and (F)six, we set (C)sail from the Coal Quay of (G)Cork.

We were (C)sail ing a way with a car go of (F)bricks, for the (C)grand cit y hall (G7)in New (C)York.

We’d an el e gant craft, it was (G)rigged fore and aft, and (C)how ing the trade winds from (G)drove her.

She had (C)twen ty three masts and she stood sev ’ral (F)blasts, and they (C)called per her the I rish (G)Rov (C)er.

There was (C)Bar ney Ma gee from the banks of the (F)Lee.

There was (C)Ho gan from Coun ty Ty (G)rone.

There was (C)John ny Mc Gurk, who was scared stiff of (F)work, and a (C)chap from West meath (G7)named Ma (C)lone.

There was Slug ger O’ Toole, who was (G)drunk as a rule, and (C)fight ing Bill Tra cy from (G)Do ver.

And your (C)man Mick Mc Cann, from the banks of the (F)Bann, was the (C)skip per on the I rish (G)Rov (C)er.

There was (G)Rov (C)er.

The Irish Rover by Irish Folksong

Easy piano arrangement in the key of C at 110 BPM. Difficulty: easy. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.

About “The Irish Rover”

What key is "The Irish Rover" in?
"The Irish Rover" by Irish Folksong is in the key of C with a tempo of 110 BPM. Difficulty: easy.
Is "The Irish Rover" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this arrangement is rated easy, meaning it uses simple chord patterns and a manageable tempo. Most beginners can play through it in 1-3 practice sessions using our color-coded notes.
Can I play "The Irish Rover" without reading sheet music?
Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.
How long does it take to learn "The Irish Rover" on piano?
1–3 short practice sessions for the basics; 2–3 weeks to perform confidently with both hands.
What other songs by Irish Folksong can I play here?
Try "THE ROCKY ROAD TO DUBLIN", "Arthur McBride", "Boulavogue". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.

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