Up The Provos
View chords used in this chart
Afinação: E A D G B ECapotraste: Sem capotraste
[Intro]
D
[Verse 1]
D G D
He grew up on a farm in a troubled Irish land
Em G A
Under foreign rule and the British Crown’s command
D G D
His father fought for Ireland fifty years before
Em G A
But the Free State cut their losses and the English took it all
G D
And when internment without trial was the order of the day
Em G
When his brother was arrested and his friends blown away
A G D
When he was beaten near to death he decided come what may
Em G A
He’d throw his lot in with the Provos and he joined the IRA
[Chorus]
G D
“Up the Provos,” that’s what he said
A Bm
Three little words that filled the British Crown with dread
G Em D Bm
With a rifle on his shoulder, a timer and a fuse
G D A Bm
Long may we remember Commandante Francis Hughes
G D A D
Long may we remember Commandante Francis Hughes
[Verse 2]
D G D
In the Occupied Six Counties perhaps it never will be known
Em G A
All the foreign soldiers in Armagh and Tyrone
D G D
Who decided to head back across the Irish Sea
Em G A
So they wouldn’t have to meet the man from south of Derry
G D
He never wavered in his battle for Irish liberty
Em G A
The Crown would soon regret the day they made him enemy
G D
The Brits called it bandit country & it filled em all with fright
Em G A
In the border lands, he who walked the hills at night
[Chorus]
G D
“Up the Provos,” that’s what he said
A Bm
Three little words that filled the British Crown with dread
G Em D Bm
With a rifle on his shoulder, a timer and a fuse
G D A Bm
Long may we remember Commandante Francis Hughes
G D A D
Long may we remember Commandante Francis Hughes
[Verse 3]
D G D
Once he was surrounded by the SAS
Em G A
How he might escape was anybody’s guess
D G D
In his boots and camouflage he didn’t miss a beat
Em G A
He walked right past the soldiers and out into the street
G D
Once he came upon a checkpoint, the soldier didn’t wanna die
Em G A
He recognized our Francis and the soldier waved him by
G D
He didn’t want to find out if he could take what he could give
Em G A
He knew there’d be a shootout and the soldier chose to live
[Chorus]
G D
“Up the Provos,” that’s what he said
A Bm
Three little words that filled the British Crown with dread
G Em D Bm
With a rifle on his shoulder, a timer and a fuse
G D A Bm
Long may we remember Commandante Francis Hughes
G D A D
Long may we remember Commandante Francis Hughes
[Verse 4]
D G
He was the North’s most wanted man with his photo
D
everywhere
Em G A
But he eluded capture with his wit and dyed blond hair
D G D
For six years he was active, three times as long as most
Em G A
He became a legend, north to south and coast to coast
G D
He came upon two soldiers out one night on patrol
Em G A
They shot him in the firefight and the bullets took their toll
G D
He crawled off into the bushes but they found him the next day
Em G A
Put him on a stretcher and they carried him away
[Chorus]
G D
“Up the Provos,” that’s what he said
A Bm
Three little words that filled the British Crown with dread
G Em D Bm
With a rifle on his shoulder, a timer and a fuse
G D A Bm
Long may we remember Commandante Francis Hughes
G D A D
Long may we remember Commandante Francis Hughes
[Verse 5]
D G D
They beat him and they tortured him and they gave him eighty years
Em G A
When they brought him to the H-Blocks he was greeted there with cheers
D G D
He went right onto the blanket and when the hunger strike began
Em G A
He was the first to volunteer along with Bobby Sands
G D
He was an Irish soldier and that’s how he did his time
Em G A
He knew he was no criminal when occupation was the crime
G D
Bobby Sands had passed beyond us, where Francis soon would be
Em G A
And although he couldn’t stand and he could barely see
[Chorus outro]
G D
“Up the Provos,” that’s what he said
A Bm
Three little words that filled the British Crown with dread
G Em D Bm
With a rifle on his shoulder, a timer and a fuse
G D A Bm
Long may we remember Commandante Francis Hughes
G D
“Up the Provos,” that’s what he said
A Bm
Three little words that filled the British Crown with dread
G Em D Bm
With a rifle on his shoulder, a timer and a fuse
G D A Bm
Long may we remember Commandante Francis Hughes
G D A D
Long may we remember Commandante Francis Hughes
How to play Up The Provos
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 E. 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.