The Skye Boat Song chords

by The Corries

Song Key: Eb Major

Original Key: G Major (free pdf download)

Time Signature: 3/4

Tempo: 140 bpm


Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e

Skill Level: Beginner

Guitar Chords in D Major: D, Bm, Em, A, A7

Capo: 1st fret (to play along with the video in Eb Major)

Chord Chart Legend
D Major Em Bm barre chord Bm A Major A7 D7 Am C Major G Major
Lefties Chord Chart Legend
D Major-LH Em-LH Bm barre chord-LH Bm-LH A Major A7-LH D7-LH Am-LH C Major-LH G Major-LH

The Skye Boat Song

Song Key is D Major - Transpose to any other key
               D
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... |   %   |       |   %  |      |   %  |      |   %  | 

Song Details:

The Skye Boat Song" is based on a traditional Scottish air, and it's often credited to Anne Campbelle MacLeod, who collected and adapted the melody. The tune itself may have originated as a rowing or boat song.

Sir Harold Edwin Boulton, 2nd Baronet, wrote the now-famous lyrics in the late 19th century, with the song being first published in 1884. His version of the lyrics reflects the romanticized escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie (Charles Edward Stuart) after the Jacobite defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. The prince was famously aided by Flora MacDonald in his escape to the Isle of Skye.

Album Cover
Album Cover
  • Lyrics Begin: Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing, onward the sailors cry.
  • Genre: Traditional Scottish Folk Song
  • Featured Artists: The Corries
  • Album: Scottish Love Songs
    Released: May 9, 1970
    Country: UK
    Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Black Label, Gatefold
    Label: Fontana

The Corries

The Corries
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

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