Skye Boat Song

Words & Music:

Traditional Scottish

(arr: Kevin Woodgate)

This song was long ascribed to Sir Harold Heath Boulton. He was, however, only the publisher/editor of "Songs Of The North" (1884) and not the composer of this song. It is a traditional Scottish song about the Jacobite Rebellion.

Easy melody Version

Chorus:

6/8 C Am G C F C

e|--------------------------|-----0------3---|-0---------0-------------|-----

B|--------------1-----1---1-|-3------3-------|------3------------------|-----

G|-0----2---0---------------|----------------|---------------2------2--|-0---

D|--------------------------|----------------|-------------------------|-----

A|--------------------------|----------------|-------------------------|-----

E|--------------------------|----------------|-------------------------|-----

Speed bon-nie boat, like a bird on the wing. On - ward the sail - ors cry!_

C Am G C F C

e|--------------------------|-----0------3---|-0---------0-------------|-----

B|--------------1-----1---1-|-3------3-------|------3------------------|-----

G|-0----2---0---------------|----------------|---------------2------2--|-0---

D|--------------------------|----------------|-------------------------|-----

A|--------------------------|----------------|-------------------------|-----

E|--------------------------|----------------|-------------------------|-----

Car-ry the lad that is born to be king. O - ver the sea to Skye!

Verse:

Am Dm Am

e|-0--------0-----0--|---------------------|-------------------------|-------

B|------1------------|--3--------3-----3---|-1----------1-----1---1--|-------

G|-------------------|-------2-------------|--------2----------------|-2-----

D|-------------------|---------------------|-------------------------|-------

A|-------------------|---------------------|-------------------------|-------

E|-------------------|---------------------|-------------------------|-------

1 Loud the winds howl, Loud the waves roar, thun - der claps rend the air,_

2 Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep, Ocean's a royal bed;

3 Many's the lad fought on that day, Well the claymore could wield

4 Burned are our homes, exile and death Scat - ter the loyal men;

Am Dm Am G7

e|-0--------0-----0--|---------------------|-------------------------|------|

B|------1------------|--3--------3-----3---|-1----------1-----1---1--|------|

G|-------------------|-------2-------------|--------2----------------|-2--0-|

D|-------------------|---------------------|-------------------------|------|

A|-------------------|---------------------|-------------------------|------|

E|-------------------|---------------------|-------------------------|------|

1 Baf - fled our foes stand on the shore, Fol - low they will not dare,_

2 Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep Watch by your wea - ry head.

3 When the night came, silently lay Dead on Cull o den's field

4 Yet, e'er the sword cool in the sheath, Char - lie will come a - gain