George Jones - Wild Irish Rose

wild irish rose
by george jones september 12 , 1931 april 26 , 2013

this is one of my favorite songs of all time , but the only versions i found
weren’t exactly wrong , just incomplete . this song is very easy to play; you can
arpeggiate the chords if you want to make it that much better , but strumming is just fine .

“george jones has left us . we have lost one of the most individual singers of all
time . i cannot express the emptiness i feel . ” keith richards

verse 1 :
A D A
they sent him to asia to fight in a war
D A E
he came back home crazy and they asked him what for
A D A
they had him committed oh medals and all
D A E A
to a mental hospital with rubber walls

verse 2 :
A D A
they cut off the funding oh they cut of the lights
D A E
he hit the street running that cold winter night
A D A
now the streets are the only place he can call home
D A E A
he seems oh so lonely but he’s never alone

chorus :
A C#m D A
he lies there holding his wild irish rose
D A E
this crazy old fool in the smelly old clothes
A C#m D A
he could have had something much better , god knows
A D E A
than a half empty bottle of wild irish rose

verse 3 :
A D A
a baby named scarlet with laughing blue eyes
D A E A
has been in his wallet oh way back since ’65
D A
so much was forgotten oh so far back in time
D A E A
way down in the bottom of a river of wine

spoken :
D A
you know they found him on park street , west 25th
D A E
they cant even find a heart beat lord his fingers are stiff
A D A
just like their all frozen he’s holding her tight
D A E A
but the habit oh its broken this is roses last night

chorus 2
A C#m D A
he lies there holding his wild irish rose
D A E
but his soul’s in a place where a real hero goes
A C#m D A
now hes got something better , much better , god knows
no chords
than a half empty bottle of wild irish rose

outro

A , C#m , D , A , D , A , E ( x2 )