Heart In Hand

[Verso 1] A A7 D G F#m Bm My name is Richard Joyce, my story I will tell D F#m G D G A In poverty I left this land in Galway I did dwell G A Bm D A Bm 14 years in slavery the Moors they held command Em G D G A Lives were cheap we were sold like sheep, in Algiers burning land [Verso 2] A A7 D G F#m Bm Well, I gave myself in servitude for 7 long years or more D F#m G D G A Bidding goodbye to kit and kin, we sailed out from the shore G A Bm D A Bm And as we took our last fond look on Ireland’s glittering strand Em G D G A To Barbados and the sugar cane, the Captain would sell all hands D F#m G D A Bm Sell all hands! Captain would sell all hands! Em G D G A To Barbados and the sugar cane, the Captain would sell all hands [Verso 3] A A7 D G F#m Bm Well, we hadn’t been on the deep, for two days but barely three D F#m G D G A When on a brisk and blowy day three distant sail did see G A Bm D A Bm They beat a course towards us and we tacked our ship about Em G D G A But they gave chase and soon gained pace and rolled their cannon out [Verso 4] A A7 D G F#m Bm And when I saw that sickle flag curling scimitar in each hand D F#m G D G A The fear it struck a heavy blow we hatched to fight or stand G A Bm D A Bm Those fearsome Janissaries, all from their native land Em G D G A Had come to pillage and plunder, and chain us in iron bands D F#m G D A Bm Iron Bands! Chain us in iron bands! Em G D G A Had come to pillage and plunder, and chain us in iron bands [Verso 5] A A7 D G F#m Bm Well broadside to broadside, soon we were engaged D F#m G D G A They grappled hooked and boarded us as the battle raged G A Bm D A Bm But we were far outnumbered and soon the flag came down Em G D G A To the beats and blows of this pirate foe we surrendered every man [Verso 6] A A7 D G F#m Bm Well, the Reis he viewed his captives and he said to Barbary we were bound D F#m G D G A Thrown into the hole, me boys, our ankles chained around G A Bm D A Bm Fed in trough with pack and slop we slept where we did stand Em G D G A And how I curse and rue the day, we left ole Ireland D F#m G D A Bm Ireland! Left ole Ireland! Em G D G A Oh how I curse and rue the day, we left ole Ireland Instrumental D F#m G G F#m A D G F#m A D G F#m A D F#m G G F#m A D G F#m A D G F#m D [Verso 7] A A7 D G F#m Bm Three months we were at sea, till we docked to yells and jeers D F#m G D G A Brought up but blinded in the light in the port of old Algiers G A Bm D A Bm First, they sold our women, to the harems they were bound Em G D G A Most men went to the salt mines and a life in hell they found [Verso 8] A A7 D G F#m Bm Now I had apprenticed as a boy, and fashioned rings of gold D F#m G D G A The Reis he told the auctioneer who had me bought and sold G A Bm D A Bm To a goldsmith for the Sultan, who needed a helping hand Em G D G A Kind Providence had saved my life in this fierce and foreign land [Verso 9] A A7 D G F#m Bm Well, he took me in and fed me, and tended to my wounds D F#m G D G A And taught me all the craft he knew of gold and precious stones G A Bm D A Bm As the weeks rolled into months, and months rolled into years Em G D G A I became a master of my trade, a goldsmith in Algiers D F#m G D A Bm In Algiers! A goldsmith in Algiers! Em G D G A I became a master of my trade, a goldsmith in Algiers A A7 D G F#m Bm Now I fashion fine things, for the Sultan to behold D F#m G D G A Challises, necklaces, rings of beaten gold G A Bm D A Bm The finest work among them all, it was a wedding band Em G D G A A golden heart held tenderly between two loving hands D F#m G D A Bm Heart in hand! Heart in loving hand! Em G D G A A golden heart held tenderly between two loving hands A A7 D G F#m Bm Well finally the news came, that I was to be free D F#m G D G A The king demanded our release, the Sultan he agreed G A Bm D A Bm My master begged me for to stay, even offered his daughter’s hand Em G D G A But I bid Algiers adieu with safe passage to Ireland A A7 D G F#m Bm And now I’m back in Claddagh, where I was born and bred D F#m G D G A With a wife and three daughters, a house and farmstead G A Bm D A Bm Still, I make rings and fine things, for the great and grand Em G D G A But my favorite is the Claddagh ring, with it’s heart and loving hand D F#m G D A Bm Heart in hand! Heart in loving hand! Em G D G A My favorite is the Claddagh ring, with it’s heart and loving hand D F#m G D A Bm Heart in hand! Heart in loving hand! Em G D G A My favorite is the Claddagh ring, with it’s heart and loving hand Outro D F#m G G F#m A D G F#m A D G F#m A D F#m G G F#m A D G F#m A D G F#m D