Evoke the Emerald Isle: A DADGAD Lesson for ‘Welcome Poor Paddy Home’

“Welcome Poor Paddy Home” is an Irish folk song that has been sung and played for over a century. The song has a rich history and a captivating melody that has made it a favourite among traditional Irish musicians.

History of the Song

Welcome Poor Paddy Home is one of those songs that might not have a clear origin story, but it perfectly captures the essence of Irish folklore, with its themes of leaving home, the search for a better life, and a longing to return. This song, like many in the Irish tradition, hints at the historic struggles and dreams of the Irish people, possibly echoing the tales of those who left during the Great Famine.

Over time, ‘Welcome Poor Paddy Home’ has nestled itself into the repertoire of countless musicians, becoming a beloved piece of the Irish music tradition. It’s been adapted here and there, but the core melody and emotion have remained untouched. I’ve performed it live countless times and it seems to strike a chord with those who hear it.

If you’re excited to bring this piece to life on your guitar, then getting to know DADGAD tuning is your next step. It’s a staple in Irish music for its ability to produce a deep, resonant sound that beautifully complements traditional melodies. DADGAD opens up a new dimension of sound, perfect for capturing the spirit and rich harmonies of ‘Welcome Poor Paddy Home.’

So, whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, learning this song in DADGAD tuning is not just about playing notes; it’s an invitation to connect with a piece of Irish heritage and add your own voice to its ongoing story.

Let’s dive in and explore the timeless charm of ‘Welcome Poor Paddy Home,’ bringing a piece of Ireland to your fingertips.

Playing Welcome Poor Paddy Home

To play the Welcome Poor Paddy Home guitar in DADGAD tuning you’ll first need to tune your guitar to the following notes: D – A – D – G – A – D (Here’s my lesson on how to tune down to DADGAD)

Once you’re tuned down, let’s get started learning this song.

Here is my full tutorial for “Welcome Poor Paddy Home” in DADGAD tuning. You can find all the chord charts below.

In this lesson, we first start off with the melody line which is repeated throughout the song.

Here are the tabs, and remember to add in the hammer-ons and pull-offs that are described in the lesson.

Moving on from there, the song is in 6/8 time, so try and play that melody line with a 6/8 strumming pattern. Go to 3.27 of the video to practice that rhythm.

Chords

Once you have that rock solid we can move on to the song’s verse chords. Here are all the shapes that I cover in the lesson, and you can follow along by going to 4.53 in the video.

Each bar either has once chord or two chords in it, indicated by the black line.

When you have all the verse chords learnt under your fingers, it’s time to move on to the chorus chords.

You can go to 7.34 of the video to follow along with these shapes:

And that’s the whole song in a nutshell. I have added the lyrics and song structure at the bottom of this page.

You can also try playing arpeggios or fingerpicking patterns to add more texture and depth to your playing instead of simply strumming the tune. It’s up to you. Try and make the song your own.

The Full Song

Below is my full performance of “Welcome Poor Paddy Home” which I recorded back in 2016, If you watch all the way through you’ll get to hear some great backing singing!..😂

After learning how to play the song in DADGAD, try and play along with me in this video:

Welcome Poor Paddy Home Lyrics

(Verse 1): I am a true born Irishman
I’ll never deny what I am
I was born in sweet Tipperary town
Ten thousand miles away

(Chorus): So hurray me boys hurray
For no more do I wish for to roam
For the sun it will shine in the harvest time
To welcome poor Paddy home

(Verse 2): Well the girls they are gay and they’re frisky
They’ll take you by the hand
Saying Jimmy mo chroi will you come with me
Into to a strangers land

(Chorus 2)

(Verse 3): Well in came the foreign nation
And scattered all over the land
The horse, the cow, the goat, sheep and sow
Came into the stranger’s hands

(Chorus 3)

(Verse 4): The Scotsman can boast of the thistle
And England can boast of the rose
But Paddy can boast of the Emerald Isle
Where the dear little shamrock grows.

(Chorus 4 & 5)

Other Song Versions

Here’s Welcome Poor Paddy Home being performed by the great Irish band, Dervish, with Cathy Jordan on vocals.

And here the absolutley brilliant version of Welcome Poor Paddy Home which inspired by DADGAD rendition.

This is Tim O’Shea on guitar and vocals playing live:

Overall, “Welcome Poor Paddy Home” is a beautiful and haunting Irish folk song with a rich history and a timeless melody. By exploring different ways of playing the song in DADGAD tuning, you can create your own unique interpretation of this beloved classic.

If you have any questions, just let me know in the comments section 👍