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Guitar: Bold Robert Emmet (Including lyrics and chords)

1,428 views · Published 28 April 2009 · 4:23 · Indexed 2 October 2026

Channel: threelegsoman · 2009 · Music

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'Ireland, land of happy wars and sad love songs'. So said Tommy Makem in introducing some of the songs he sang. This song is one of many such telling the story of an Irish patriot who led a rebellion against the British Crown. This was treason in the eyes of the British, so Emmet was sentenced to die by being hung, drawn and quartered. To be hanged, drawn and quartered was the penalty once ordained in England for the crime of high treason. It is considered by many to be the epitome of cruel punishment, and was reserved only for this most serious crime, which was deemed more heinous than murder and other capital offences. It was applied only to male criminals, except on the Isle of Man. 
On 20 September 1803, Robert Emmet, patriot, was hanged, drawn and quartered in Thomas Street, Dublin. He was the last person to receive this barbaric sentence from a British court.
The song was written by Tom MacGuire. The tune is so similar to that of 'The Bard of Armagh' that the Wolftones sing it to that tune in their version.

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