Loch Lomond Chords & Tabs
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# This song was written before copyrights were imagined. #
# So sing it in the pub, record it, whatever. #
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Loch Lomond - Traditional Scottish
Transposed by Kyle Giffin - kdgiffin@csolve.net
G C G
By yon bonnie banks, and by yon bonnie braes
G Em D
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lo-mond
G C G
There me and my true love spent mony happy days
G D G
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lo-mond.
Chorus
G C G
Oh, ye'll tak' the high road, and I'll tak' the low road
G Em D
And I'll be in Scotland before ye
G C G
But trouble it is there, and mony hearts are sair
G C D G
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lo-mond.
G C G
'Twas there that we parted in yon bonnie glen
G Em D
On the steep, steep side o' Ben Lo-mond
G C G
Where in purple hue the Highland hills we view
G D G
And the moon glints out in the gloamin'.
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/m/misc_traditional/loch_lomond_crd.html ]
G C G
There the wild flowers spring and the wee birdies sing
G Em D
And in sunshine the waters are sleep-in'
G C G
But the broken heart it kens nae second spring again
G D G
Though resigned we may be while we're greetin'.
Too high?
Key of F Chords:
(G -> F) (C -> Bb) (Em -> Dm) (D -> C)
Author's note:
I tabbed the whole song, because one thing that really annoyed me when I first started
playing was when I had to try to figure out where chord changes went. So just read it
off the sheet and enjoy the tune without any needless aggravation. Runrig does a great
version of this song, but unless you're in the UK, you'll probably never find any of
their CDs in any record stores, and get a blank stare from the clerks when you ask. I'm
also working on a tabbed version of the lead part I play. It sounds great on an electric,
or conversely, on an acoustic too. Feel free to experiment with it until you find a sound
you like. As a brief side note, the tune is based on the older song, Robin Cushie, from
around 1740. The words are generally credited to Lady John Scott (1810-1900), and first
appeared in 1876, although this version is paraphrased into a more modern vernacular.
Folklore has it that the words speak of two captured Jacobite soldiers in Carlisle Castle.
The one who lived took the high road, and the other was executed, taking the low road.
Maybe. I realise that this is quite high for someone who is not a natural tennor (unlike
me) or soprano (definately not me!). If you're a baritone or alto, drop it down into the
key of F. Enjoy it, and share it with others.
