Henrys Downfall
View chords used in this chart
Intro: G D G D C D G D Am G C D
G D
Come all you wild and wicked youths wherever you may be
G D
I pray you give attention and listen unto me
C D G
I was brought up in Warwickshire, my parents raised me well
D Am G C D
My name it is young Henry, a tale to you I'll tell
G D
I and five more went one night to Squire Dunhill's park
G D
All hoping we could get some game, the night it did prove dark
C D G
But to our great misfortune, we were trepanned with speed
D Am G C D
And sent away to Warwick gaol, which caused my heart to bleed
G D
It was at the March assizes, to the bar we did repair
G D
Like Job we stood with patience to hear our sentence there
C D G
Being caught with old offenders, our case it did go hard
D Am G C D
My sentence was for fourteen years, I was quickly sent on board
Instrumental: G D G D C D G D Am G C D
G D
The ship that bore us from the land, the Speedwell was her name
G D
For full five months and upwards, oh, we ploughed the raging Main
C D G
No land, no harbour did we see, believe me it's no lie
D Am G C D
Around us swamp black water, above is wan blue sky
G D
The very day we landed upon the fateful shore
G D
The ranchers they stood 'round us, oh, twenty score or more
C D G
They ranked us up like horses and they sold us out of hand
D Am G C D
And yoked us to the plough right there, upon Van Diemen's Land
Instrumental: G D G D C D G D Am G C D
G D
It's often when I sleep at night and have a pleasant dream
G D
My pretty girl, I rove abroad, through field and sparkling stream
C D G
Yes, in England I've been robbed of her at my right hand
D Am G C D
But I wake up broken hearted here, upon Van Diemen's Land
G D
And although the poor of England pay their end in toil
G D
Robbed of every consequence, produce of the soil
C D G
Their proud, imperious landlord, if you paid rent and then
D Am G C D
Sent you off on British hulks to foul Van Diemen's Land
OUTRO: G D G D G C D Am G C D G
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How to play Henrys Downfall
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is G. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.