The Irish Rover

by Irish Folksong
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Sheet MusicBar NotationSimple SheetLead SheetKaraoke · LyricsEasy NotesFalling Notes
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 — Easy Piano Notes for Beginners

8 people have learned this song

Learn "The Irish Rover" on piano with easy notes — perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded note names show exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of C, 110 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

Try other practice modes:

Falling NotesLead SheetBar SheetSimple SheetKaraoke

About “The Irish Rover”

Can I play "The Irish Rover" without reading sheet music?
Yes — Easy Notes mode prints the letter name (C, D, E…) directly on each note in big color-coded labels, so you can match colors to your keyboard without any traditional notation. The whole arrangement of "The Irish Rover" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
What key is "The Irish Rover" by Irish Folksong played in?
The Irish Rover is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "The Irish Rover"?
The arrangement plays at 110 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "The Irish Rover" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "The Irish Rover"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "The Irish Rover"?
"The Irish Rover" was originally performed by Irish Folksong. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Irish Folksong can I play here?
Try "THE ROCKY ROAD TO DUBLIN", "Arthur McBride", "Boulavogue". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Can a complete beginner play "The Irish Rover"?
Absolutely! The Beginner mode shows large color-coded notes with letter names (C, D, E...). Just match the colors to your keyboard — no music reading needed. "The Irish Rover" is perfect for first-time players.
Do I need to read music to play "The Irish Rover"?
No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "The Irish Rover" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.