The Skye Boat Song

Chorus

D A D G A D A D G A

e|-----------0-2-p0---5----2-0-2---------|-------------0-2-p0---5---2-0-2----------|
B|---0---3-3--------3----3-------0-0-----|-----0---3-3--------3---3-------0-0------|
G|-2---2-----------------------------2-2-|---2---2----------------------------2-2--|
D|-0-----0---2-------------0---------2---|---0-----0---2------------0---------2----|
A|---------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------3-------|--------------------------------3--------|

Verse

Bm Em Bm G A Bm Em Bm G A

e|-2---2-2--0---0-0-------------------2---2-2--0---0-0------------------|
B|-3-3------0-0-----0-3---3-3-3-0--2--3-3------0-0-----0-3---3-3-3-0--2-|
G|--------------------4-4-------0--2---------------------4-4-------0--2-|
D|-4--------2-------------------------4--------2------------------------|
A|--------------------2----------------------------------2--------------|
E|------------------------------3----------------------------------3----|

Pre-chorus

D A

e|-2---2-0---0-|
B|-3-3---2-2---|
G|-------------|
D|-0-----2-----|
A|-------------|
E|-------------|

p = pull-off

Then repeat all 4X for the original lyrics below and for the Stevenson lyrics repeat 3x and

do the chorus at the end.

Original Lyrics

Chorus

Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,

Onward! the sailors cry;

Carry the lad that's born to be king

Over the sea to Skye.

Verse 1

Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,

Thunderclaps rend the air;

Baffled, our foes stand by the shore,

Follow they will not dare.

Chorus

Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,

Onward! the sailors cry;

Carry the lad that's born to be king

Over the sea to Skye.

Verse 2

Many's the lad, fought on that day

Well the claymore did wield;

When the night came, silently lay

Dead on Culloden's field.

Chorus

Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,

Onward! the sailors cry;

Carry the lad that's born to be king

Over the sea to Skye.

Verse 3

Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep,

Ocean's a royal bed.

Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep

Watch by your weary head.

Chorus

Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,

Onward! the sailors cry;

Carry the lad that's born to be king

Over the sea to Skye.

Verse 4

Burned are their homes, exile and death

Scatter the loyal men;

Yet ere the sword cool in the sheath

Charlie will come again.

Robert Louis Stevenson Lyrics

Chorus

Sing me a song of a lad that is gone,

Say, could that lad be I?

Merry of soul he sailed on a day

Over the sea to Skye.

Verse 1

Mull was astern, Rum on the port,

Eigg on the starboard bow;

Glory of youth glowed in his soul;

Where is that glory now?

Chorus

Sing me a song of a lad that is gone,

Say, could that lad be I?

Merry of soul he sailed on a day

Over the sea to Skye.

Verse 2

Give me again all that was there,

Give me the sun that shone!

Give me the eyes, give me the soul,

Give me the lad that's gone!

Chorus

Sing me a song of a lad that is gone,

Say, could that lad be I?

Merry of soul he sailed on a day

Over the sea to Skye.

Verse 3

Billow and breeze, islands and seas,

Mountains of rain and sun,

All that was good, all that was fair,

All that was me is gone.

Chorus

Sing me a song of a lad that is gone,

Say, could that lad be I?

Merry of soul he sailed on a day

Over the sea to Skye.