The Skye Boat Song chords
by The Corries
- Lyrics to The Skye Boat Song were written by Sir Harold Edwin Boulton, 2nd Baronet, and the music was written to an Air collected by Anne Campbelle McLeod which was first Published in 1884.
- This version by The Corries is featured on their album - Scottish Love Songs.
- Music: Key of Eb Major in 3/4 time at ~ 140 bpm (♩)
- Easier in D Major with chords: D, Bm, Em, A, A7
- We have also included the traditional version in the original published key of G major.
- Chords in G Major: G, Em, Am, D, D7, C
Chart Legend
Numbered Circles: Fingers used to play chords O: Optional Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open X: Don't play string B: Bass Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open X: Don't play string B: Bass Note
The Skye Boat Song
Capo on 1st fret if playing with the video Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other keyD Intro: 3/4 | |... x 4 D A D G D A ‖: Mm... | 𝄎 | | 𝄎 | | | | :‖ D A Chorus: Speed bon-nie boat like a bird on the wing D G D A On-ward the sail-ors cry. | | D A Car-ry the lad that's born to be king D G D A O-ver the sea to Skye. | | D A 1. Loud the wind howls Loud the waves roar G Bm Thun-der-claps rend the air | 𝄎 | D A Baf-fled our foes Stand by the shore G Bm A7 Fol-low they will not dare | | D A Chorus: Speed bon-nie boat like a bird on the wing D G D A On-ward the sail-ors cry. | | D A Car-ry the lad that's born to be king D G D A O-ver the sea to Skye. | | D A 2. Ma-ny's the lad Fought on that day G Bm Well the clay-more did wield | 𝄎 | D A When the night came Si-lent-ly lay G Bm A7 Dead on Cul-lo-den field | | D A Chorus: Speed bon-nie boat like a bird on the wing D G D A On-ward the sail-ors cry. | | D A Car-ry the lad that's born to be king D G D A O-ver the sea to Skye. | | D A 3. Though the waves leap Soft will he sleep G Bm O-cean's a ro-yal bed | 𝄎 | D A Rocked in the deep Flo-ra will keep G Bm A7 Watch by your wea-ry head | | D A Chorus: Speed bon-nie boat like a bird on the wing D G D A On-ward the sail-ors cry. | | D A Car-ry the lad that's born to be king D G D A O-ver the sea to Skye. | | D A G Outro: | Mm... | 𝄎 | | 𝄎 | | 𝄎 | 𝄎 | 𝄎 | D A G D Outro: | Mm... | 𝄎 | | 𝄎 | | 𝄎 | | 𝄎 |
The Skye Boat Song - Traditional
G Em Am D7
Chorus: Speed bon-nie boat like a bird on the wing,
G C G | D7 |
On-ward, the sail-ors cry.
G Em Am D7
Car-ry the lad that's born to be king
G C G | G |
O-ver the sea to Skye.
Em Am
1. Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,
Em C Em | D |
Thun-der-claps rend the air,
Em Am
Baf-fled, our foes stand by the shore,
Em C Em | D7 |
Fol-low they will not dare.
G Em Am D7
Chorus: Speed bon-nie boat like a bird on the wing,
G C G | D7 |
On-ward, the sail-ors cry.
G Em Am D7
Car-ry the lad that's born to be king
G C G | G |
O-ver the sea to Skye.
Em Am
2. Ma-ny's the lad fought on that day,
Em C Em | D |
Well the clay-more could wield,
Em Am
When the night came, si-lent-ly lay
Em C Em | D7 |
Dead in Cul-lo-den's field.
G Em Am D7
Chorus: Speed bon-nie boat like a bird on the wing,
G C G | D7 |
On-ward, the sail-ors cry.
G Em Am D7
Car-ry the lad that's born to be king
G C G | G |
O-ver the sea to Skye.
Em Am
3. Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep,
Em C Em | D |
O-cean's a ro-yal bed.
Em Am
Rock'd in the deep Flo-ra will keep
Em C Em | D7 |
Watch o'er your wea-ry head.
G Em Am D7
Chorus: Speed bon-nie boat like a bird on the wing,
G C G | D7 |
On-ward, the sail-ors cry.
G Em Am D7
Car-ry the lad that's born to be king
G C G | G |
O-ver the sea to Skye.
Em Am
4. Burned are our homes, ex-ile and death,
Em C Em | D |
Scat-tered the lo-yal men.
Em Am
Yet ere the sword cool in the sheath,
Em C Em | D7 |
Char-lie will come a-gain.
G Em Am D7
Chorus: Speed bon-nie boat like a bird on the wing,
G C G | D7 |
On-ward, the sail-ors cry.
G Em Am D7
Car-ry the lad that's born to be king
G C G | G |
O-ver the sea to Skye. - Free Music Transposition Simply highlight & copy the entire song chart above - then click on the link... more
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The Corries
Band Origin: Scotland
Past members: Roy Williamson (1936-1990), Ronnie Brown, Bill Smith, Paddie Bell (1931-2005)
Associations: The Corrie Folk Trio, The Corrie Folk Trio & Paddie Bell
Instruments: guitar, banjo, mandolin, bodhrán, combolin (invented by Roy Williamson), harmonica, tin whistle, bouzouki, concertina, Northumbrian smallpipes, banduria, psaltery, flute
Active Years: 1962–1990
Music Styles: Scottish folk
