Chords Req: O'Hara, Hughes, McCreesh and Sands

Subject: O'Hara, Hughes. McCreesh and Sands
From: Monny
Date: 08 May 01 - 08:38 AM

Looking for the chords to "O'Hara, Hughes,McCreesh and Sands". I know it from a recording by Maloney, O'Connell and Keane. Cheers, Monny

Subject: RE: O'Hara, Hughes. McCreesh and Sands
From: Big Tim
Date: 08 May 01 - 09:15 AM

Can't help with this one but do you know "The Boy From Tamlaghtduff" by Christy Moore about IRA man Francis Hughes, age 27, who died on hunger strike May 12 1981. The tune seems to be "Valley of Knockanure" (thanks to Dita for the tape of it and more). Tamlaghtduff is just north of Bellaghy in Co Derry. The security forces reckon that FH was responsible for killing around 12 of their number. See "Lost Lives" by David McKittrick and others, 1999.

Subject: RE: O'Hara, Hughes. McCreesh and Sands
From: InOBU
Date: 08 May 01 - 12:15 PM

Lets see if we can do it from the combined memory, if one can't find it...
Please correct my memory if anyone else knows the song...
Come Irish men
I pray attend
Unto these words I now shall tell
I sing no lay
from a bye gone day
but of brave young men, we all knew well
Young men who died,
that freedoms light
may shine and burn,
throughout the land
and in freedoms days, we will sing the praise
Of Ohara Hughs, McCreash and Sands

Young Irish men,>In Ulster born
Deprived of freedom
work and hope
oppressed by ruthless racist laws
that dragged me down benieth the yoke
and when the bloodhounds came at night
to terror strike through out the land
the volunteers
without dread or fear
Where O'Hara, Hughs , McCreash and Sands
And in the hell of a H block cell
where .... grinds men down ....
and boots and bars leave life long scares
these brave young men, they ner did yeald
the words of Christ then came to mind
who would give up his life for his fellow man
and the volunteers without dreed or fear were O'Hara Hughs McCreash and Sands...
Sorry for the holes in the song, but hopefully it will spark the memory of any of you who know the rest, it may be a bit out of order some places as well... Larry

Subject: RE: O'Hara, Hughes. McCreesh and Sands
From: InOBU
Date: 08 May 01 - 12:19 PM

Whoops... just noticed you wanted the cords... I will call my pal, Mary, who likely has them... Cheers, Larry

Subject: RE: O'Hara, Hughes. McCreesh and Sands
From: Monny
Date: 12 May 01 - 08:08 AM

THanks Tim for the tip on "The Boy from Tamlaghtduff". I have it in an old songbook of Christy Moore's but didn't know the tune. I'll give it a try. Cheers

Subject: RE: O'Hara, Hughes. McCreesh and Sands
From: paddymac
Date: 12 May 01 - 09:56 AM

Powerful and evocative stuff, especially this May.

Subject: RE: O'Hara, Hughes. McCreesh and Sands
From: Finn McCool
Date: 12 May 01 - 12:56 PM

Speaking of powerful songs about the Hunger Strikers, let's not forget Joe McDonnell by the Wolfetones.

"And you dare to call me a terrorist while you look down your gun".

Here's to a lasting peace in the North, with equal justice and empowerment for all.

--Finn

Subject: RE: O'Hara, Hughes. McCreesh and Sands
From: Big Tim
Date: 13 May 01 - 09:53 AM

Monny: if you can't get "Tamlaghtduff" to work, PM an address and I'll forward you a tape, no problem. I honestly don't think it's a great song but CM's moving singing is well worth hearing on this. All the best.

Subject: Lyr Add: O'HARA, HUGHES, MCCREESH AND SANDS
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 12:24 AM

I suspect the following lyrics contain some errors, but I have left them uncorrected, since I'm not familiar with the song.

Lyrics copied from http://rebelchords.tripod.com/songs1969-present/O'HaraHughesMcCreeshSands.htm

O'HARA, HUGHES, MCCREESH AND SANDS
(Seamus MacMathuna)

Come, Irish men, I pray tend
And listen to these words I tell,
For I sing of they from a bygone day –
For the brave young lads we all knew well.
Young lads who died that freedom's light
Might shine so bright across the land,
For no braver men has Ireland seen,
Than O'Hara, Hughes, McCreesh and Sands.

Young Irishmen in Ulster born,
Deprived of freedom, work and hope,
Oppressed by brutal racist laws
That grind men down beneath the yoke.
And when the bloodhound comes at night
To terror strike across the land,
With their tanks and guns and poor man's sons,
O'Hara, Hughes, McCreesh and Sands.

And in the hell of an H-block cell,
Where tyrants try to break men's wills,
And boots and bars leave life-long scars,
Those brave men's spirits ne'er did yield.
The words of Christ then came to mind,
Who'd give up his life for his fellow man?
And the volunteers without dread or fear
Were O'Hara, Hughes, McCreesh and Sands.

For three-score days those men they lay
Under Margaret Thatcher's tyranny,
And British churchmen came to say
That no clergyman theirs souls could free.
But far and wide with tears and pride,
Their story was told in distant lands,
So your voices raise; we will sing in praise
Of O'Hara, Hughes, McCreesh and Sands.

Now brave men die and sick men lie
And weak men turn their heads away,
But short is the hour of those in power
Who truth and the rights of man betray.
But the fight will go on and we'll not be done
While man is unfree in this fair land,
And in freedom's day we will sing in praise
Of O'Hara, Hughes, McCreesh and Sands.

[And here are the chords:]

Come, [Am] Irish [G] men, I [C] pray [Am] tend
And [C] listen [G] to these [F] words I [G] tell,
For [Am] I sing of [G] they from a [C] bygone [Am] day –
For the [C] brave young [G] lads we [F] all knew [Am] well.
Young [C] lads who [F] died that [G] freedom's [C] light
Might [Am] shine so [G] bright [F] across the [G] land,
For no [Am] braver [G] men has [C] Ireland [Am] seen,
Than [C] O'Hara, [G] Hughes, [F] McCreesh and [Am] Sands.

[Recorded by Mick Moloney on "Uncommon Bonds," 1984; and on "The Rights of Man: Concert for Joe Doherty," 1990.]

Subject: RE: Chords Req: O'Hara, Hughes, McCreesh and Sands
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Nov 23 - 04:33 PM

Song written and composed by Séamus MacMhathuna, but he rarely gets the credit..