The tune of the song was ‘borrowed’ from the traditional Scottish song ‘The Cobbler’

 

Intro: D-A7-D-A7-D   G-G-D-A7

                                               

Can you (D)see the (A7)scaffold (D)rising high on (A7)Dublin’s Thomas (D)Street

Where to(G)day the cars are passing by only (D)some short yards a(A7)way?

Just i(G)magine how it (A)stood there, one long (D)passed Sep(A7)tember (D)day

With its (G)dangling noose a waiting for a (D)man his fate to (A)meet. 

 

Chorus

So next (D)time you’ll (A7)walk on (D)Thomas Street you shall (A)see the gallows (D)tree

Where in (G)eighteen-three bold Emmet died for to (D)set your country (A)free *

 

And now (D)add the (A7)crowding (D)masses, let your (A7)mind drift back in (D)time

Some were (G)shouting, laughing merrily, but many (D)weeping in sad (A)grief.

All had (G)gathered here to (A)see him dying (D)like a (A7)common (D)thief,

Yet a (G)man who fought for Ireland’s sake, doomed to (D)leave life in his (A)prime.

 

Oh, and (D)listen, (A7)can you (D)hear it, how the (A7)booming sound of (D)drums

Echoes (G)back from brick stoned houses’ walls, struggling (D)with a solemn (A)bell

From the (G)church tower of St. (A)Catherine’s, clear in (D)sound- a (A7)brave man’s (D)knell.

See the (G)Redcoats fill the square then, with their (D)threatening shouldered (A)guns.

 

Chorus

 

And be(D)hind the (A7)marching (D)soldiers, can you (A7)see the cart ap(D)proach

Pulled by (G)horses down the western road, all way (D)from Kilmainham (A)Jail.

Hear the (G)fading people’s (A)voices, watch their (D)faces (A7)turning (D)pale

As they (G)spy this sad day’s casualty standing (D)proudly on the (A)coach.

 

Watch his (D)firm step (A7)and his (D)calmness, as he (A7)climbs the wooden (D)stair,

Meets his (G)hangman without trembling but with (D)fortitude so (A)keen

Like a (G)hero of old (A)legends in his (D)uni(A7)form of (D)green

Hear him (G)raise his voice in farewell then, followed (D)by a final (A)prayer.

 

Chorus

 

Then the (D)rope is (A7)stretched, he’s (D)tumbling and then (A7)given time to (D)die

Until (G)then to be beheaded yet, his head pre(D)sented to the (A)crowd

Just as (G)if he was (A)traitor,  and no (D)man who (A7)was no (D)coward

But a (G)patriot to his country dear, full of (D)love for Erin’s (A)Isle

 

And a(D)round the (A7)gallow’s (D)platfrom, comrades (A7)in immortal (D)fame

Shivering (G)ghosts of other martyrs, welcome (D)him with open (A)arms

For to (G)guide his soul to (A)heaven, out of (D)reach of (A7)earthly (D)harms

There to (G)take his place among them now, Robert (D)Emmet, blessed (A)name!

 

Chorus, finish with a D-chord

 

* Alternative: for to set old Ireland free