Chord Req: Makem's Rape of the Gael

Subject: Chord Req: Makem's Rape of the Gael
From: maire-aine
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 09:41 AM

Good morning, all. Can anyone please help me out with chords to Tommy Makem's song "The Rape of the Gael"?

I searched the DT and only found one reference here
, but that URL is gone.

Thank you very much.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Makem's Rape of the Gael
From: maire-aine
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 03:48 PM

Refresh. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Makem's Rape of the Gael
From: GUEST,999
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 04:06 PM

Message Martin Ryan. He could likely be of help.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Makem's Rape of the Gael
From: MartinRyan
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 05:20 PM

I'm never quite sure whether I'm musically illiterate or just plain dumb - so I can be no direct help with the chords but will have a hunt and see what I can find out.

Regards

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Makem's Rape of the Gael
From: GUEST,999
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 05:47 PM

Martin, do you have any idea where I might hear it?

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Makem's Rape of the Gael
From: MartinRyan
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 06:44 PM

Lyrics to Rape Of The Gael:

Beyond the Aran Islands, ghosts of the long forgotten heroes
Come thundering down the starry velvet sky
They scream their wild frustrations to the endless listening spaces
And the stormy ocean breakers rolling by

Chorus:
And the poet sadly sings his song of bitter lamentation
And the warrior hosts take up the bitter wail
It echoes down the misty halls of countless generations
They mourn the ceaseless raping of the Gael

The mighty hordes are bowed with grief to see the devastation
The glory is all gone they had of old
A noble race betrayed, who once were valiant true and faithful
To whet a stranger's lust for power and gold

Chorus

Now evil men with evil ways set brother against brother
And foster hatred all across the land
They don't care who the victims are as long as they have power
To profit from their helpless fellow man

Chorus

The druids in their wisdom speak to men who would do evil
'What happened to the power of ancient Rome?
When men of honour once again walk hand in hand with justice
The evil you do now will come back home'

Source: Click here

Regards

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Makem's Rape of the Gael
From: meself
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 06:55 PM

Not trying to start anything here - but why would the Druids be lamenting the lost "power of ancient Rome"? Or am I misunderstanding ... ?

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Makem's Rape of the Gael
From: MartinRyan
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 07:13 PM

Hmmm... Yeah - not the most lucid of lyrics, are they? I've never heard it sung - nor do I recall seeing the text before.

Regards

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Makem's Rape of the Gael
From: maire-aine
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 08:14 PM

Hi, folks. Thanks for responding. I have the song on Tommy's "Lonesome Waters" CD (Shanachie, 1992), so I'm learning the words & melody. It's just that I'm not such a good guitar player, so I was hoping for chords or even sheet music, if it has ever been published. I thought there was a Tommy Makem songbook, but I don't have a copy. Nor do I know if the song was published in it.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Makem's Rape of the Gael
From: GUEST,999
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 08:57 PM

If I could hear the song I could put chords to it m-a. Thing is, I can't find it anywhere on the net.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Makem's Rape of the Gael
From: Jeri
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 09:20 PM

Not lamenting the power of ancient Rome.

The druids in their wisdom speak to men who would do evil
'What happened to the power of ancient Rome? Rome fell
When men of honour once again walk hand in hand with justice
The evil you do now will come back home' Just like it did in Rome

That's my take on it, anyway. I've never heard the song either.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Makem's Rape of the Gael
From: meself
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 09:40 PM

Ah! Now that makes sense.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Makem's Rape of the Gael
From: maire-aine
Date: 14 Jan 12 - 01:57 PM

One final comment: I don't know why it's different here, but in the final verse, Tommy sings "poets" not "Druids". It is also "poets" in the printed lyrics.

M