Chords for 1848. The Boyne Water (Traditional Irish - Protestant)

_ _ _ _ _ [Dm] _ _ _
_ _ July the [C] 1st in Old [Dm] Bridgetown there was a grievous battle,
Where many a man [C] lay on the ground [Dm] by the cannons that did rattle.
King James he pitched his tents between the lines for to retire,
[Cm] But King William threw his bomb [Dm]-balls in [A] and he set [Dm] them all on fire.
_ [Cm] _ [Dm] _ _
There at [Cm] enrage they vowed revenge [Dm] upon King William's forces,
And often did [C] cry vehemently that they [Dm] would stop their courses.
A bullet from the Irish came and grazed King William's arm,
[Cm] They thought his majesty [Dm] was slain, yet it did [Cm] him [Dm] little harm.
_ _ [Cm] _ [Dm] Duke [C] Shopberg then in friendly care [Dm] his king would often caution,
To shun the spot [Cm] where bullets hot [Dm] retained their rapid motion.
But William said he don't deserve the name of Faith's defender,
[C] Who would not venture life and [Dm] limb to [Cm] make a [Dm] foe surrender.
_ _ [Cm] _
[Dm] _ _ When we the boing [C] began to cross [Dm] the enemy descended,
A few of our [Cm] brave men were lost so [Dm] stoutly we defended.
The horse it was that first marched over the foots and followed after,
[Cm] But brave Duke Shopberg was [Dm] no more by [C] venturing [Dm] over the water.
_ _ [C] _ [Dm] _ _
_ When [C] valiant [Dm] Shopberg he was slain, King William thus accosted,
His warlike [C] men fought to march [Dm] on and he would be the foremost.
Brave boys he cried be not dismayed for the loss of one [Cm] commander,
For God shall be our king [Dm] this day [C] and I'll be [Dm] general on earth.
_ _ [Cm] _ _
[Dm] _ _ But [C] stoutly we the boing [Dm] did cross to give the enemy's battle,
Our cannon to [C] our foes great [Dm] cost like thundering claps did rattle.
In majestic mean our Prince rode o'er, his men soon followed [A] after,
With blow and shout [Dm] put our foe to the rout the day [C] we crossed [Dm] the water.
_ _ [C] _ [Dm]
The Protestants [Cm] of Drogheda [Dm] have reason to be thankful,
They were [C] not to bondage brought, they [Dm] being but a handful.
First in the Folsom they were brought and tried at Millmount [Cm] after,
But brave King [Dm] William set them free [C] by [Dm] venturing over the water.
_ [C] _ [Dm] _ The cunning [Cm] French near Tuduleak [Am] had [Dm] taken up their quarters,
And fenced themselves [C] on every side [Dm] still waiting for new orders.
But in the dead time of the night they set the fields on fire,
[Cm] And long before the morning [Dm] light to [C] Dublin [Dm] did retire.
_ _ [Cm] _
[Dm] Then [C] said King William to his [Dm] men after the French departed,
I'm glad, said [C] he, that none of ye [Dm] seem to be faint-hearted,
So sheathe your swords and rest a while, in time we'll follow [Cm] after.
These words he [Dm] uttered with a smile the [C] day he [Dm] crossed the water.
_ _ [Cm] _ _ [Dm] _ _
_ Come let [C] us all with heart and voice [Dm] applaud our faith's defender,
Who at the [C] Boyne his valour [Dm] showed and made his foe surrender.
To God above the praise we'll give both now and ever after,
[C] And bless the glorious memory of King William that [Dm] crossed the Boyne water.
_ _ _ [Cm] _ _ [Dm] _ _ _ _ _ _ [N] _