Liam Clancy

Im A Freeborn Man

Liam Clancy


Tom: G

[INTRO:] G    F  G

[VERSE 1:]
                          C             D
I'm a freeborn man of the travelling people 
                                     G
Got no fixed abode, with nomads I am numbered 
        D           G                C  G
Country lanes and byways were always my ways
  C     G       C     F  G       F  G
I never fancied being lumbered


[VERSE 2:]
                              C          D
Oh, we knew the woods and the resting places
                                              G
And the small bird sang when winter days were over 
D                       G             C 
Then we'd pack our load and be on the road
G          C        G     C     F G     F  G
Those were good old times for a rover


[VERSE 3:]
                                  C          D
Now I've known life hard and I've known it easy 
                                               G
And I've cursed the life when winter days were dawning 
D                         G                       C 
But I've laughed and sung through the whole night long 
G        C      G        C      F  G  
Seen the summer sun rise in the morning


[VERSE 4:]
                              C            D
There was open ground where a man could linger
                                        G
For a week or two, for time was not our master 
D                     G                   C  
Then away you'd jog a-with your horse and dog 
  G        C     G       C     F  G      F  G
A-nice and easy, no need to go faster


[VERSE 5:]
                            C             D
All you freeborn men of the travelling people 
                                      G
Every tinker, rolling stone and gypsy rover 
  D                   G                     C G
A-winds of change are blowing, old ways are going
     C          G         C       F G      F  G
Your travelling days will soon be over