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Guitar: Jackets Green (Including lyrics and chords)

2,895 views · Published 24 April 2010 · 5:39 · Indexed 25 September 2026

Channel: threelegsoman · 2010 · Education

This request is for Shaun, (rebelbhoy1888), who asks for Jacket Green, a song written by William Scanlon. The Sarsfield mentioned in the song was Patrick Sarsfield, 1st Earl of Lucan who had supported the Catholic King James II and fought against King William. It was not until after the Battle of the Boyne (1 July 1690), and during the Siege of Limerick (1690), that Sarsfield became prominent as a leader. His capture of a convoy of military stores and artillery at Ballyneety, near Pallasgreen between Limerick and Tipperary, in a raid apparently guided by a rapparee known as "Galloping" O'Hogan, delayed the siege of the town until the winter rains forced the English to retire.
This achievement made him the popular hero of the war with the Irish. His generosity, his courage and his commanding height, had already commended him to the affection of the Irish. When the cause of King James was ruined in Ireland, Sarsfield arranged the Treaty of Limerick and sailed to France on 22 December 1691, with many of his countrymen who entered the French service in what is known as the Flight of the Wild Geese.

Jackets Green
Michael Scanlan
Capo at 5th fret, so I am really playing and singing in the key of C

G D C Am
When I was a maiden fair and young, on the pleasant banks of the Lee,
G Em Am C Em
No bird that in the greenwood sung, was half so blithe and free.
G D C Am
My heart ne'er beat with flying feet, no love sang me his queen,
G Em Am C Em
Till down the glen rode Sarsfield's men, and they wore the jackets green.

Young Donal sat on his gallant grey like a king on a royal seat,
And my heart leaped out on his regal way to worship at his feet.
O Love, had you come in those colours dressed, and wooed with a soldier's mien,
I'd have laid my head on your throbbing breast for the sake of your jacket green.

No hoarded wealth did my love own, save the good sword that he bore,
But I loved him for himself alone and the colour bright he wore.
For had he come in England's red to make me England's queen,
I'd rove the high green hills instead for the sake of the Irish green.

When William stormed with shot and shell at the walls of Garryowen,
In the breach of death my Donal fell, and he sleeps near the Treaty Stone.
That breach the foeman never crossed while he swung his broadsword keen,
But I do not weep my darling lost, for he fell in his jacket green.

When Sarsfield sailed away, I wept as I heard the wild ochone.
I felt, then dead as the men who slept 'neath the fields of Garryowen.
While Ireland held my Donal blessed, no wild sea rolled between,
Till I would fold him to my breast all robed in his Irish green.

My soul has sobbed like waves of woe, that sad o'er tombstones break,
For I buried my heart in his grave below, for his and for Ireland's sake.
And I cry. "Make way for the soldier's bride in your halls of death, sad queen,
For I long to rest by my true love's side and wrapped in the folds of green."

I saw the Shannon's purple tide roll by the Irish town,
As I stood in the breach by Donal's side when England's flag went down.
And now it lowers when I seek the skies, like a blood red curse between.
I weep, but 'tis not women's sighs will raise our Irish green.

Oh, Ireland, sad is thy lonely soul, and loud beats the winter sea,
But sadder and higher the wild waves roll o'er the hearts that break for thee.
Yet grief shall come to our heartless foes, and their thrones in the dust be seen,
So, Irish Maids, love none but those who wear the jackets green.

I have just produced a book of songs under the title "50 Songs from the 'threelegsoman' collection". It is available as a printed book or as an eBook and can be found at:

http://store.blurb.com/ebooks/316519-50-songs-from-the-threelegsoman-collection

Guitar: Jackets Green (Including lyrics and chords)

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