Bonney on the isle of Saint Helena Lyrics and guitar chords
Traditional song from Scotland. This song was requested by Stew McGregor from Scotland but now lives in Canada. --------After his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon gave himself up to the British. He was exiled to the remote Atlantic island of Saint Helena, where he died. The ukulele chord shapes are included. Scottish song lyrics and chords .
Now (G)Boney’s a(C)way from his (D)warring and (G)fighting. -C-D-C-Am-G
He has (G)gone (D)to a (C)place where (D)nought can de(G)light him. -C
He may (G)sit (D)now and (C)tell of the (G)sites he has (D)seen, oh,
While for(G)lorn (D)he does (C)mourn on the (D)Isle of St. He(G)lena. -C-D-C-Am-G
G-C-D-C-Am-G
No (G)more in St. (C)Claude will he a(D)ppear in great (G)splendor -C-D-C-Am-G
Nor step (G)forth (D)from the (C)crowd like the (D)great Ale(G)xander -C
He may (G)look (D)to the (C)east while he (G)thinks on Lu(D)cana
With his (G)heart (D)full of (C)woe on the (D)Isle of St. He(G)lena -C-D-C-Am-G
G-C-D-C-Am-G
The (G)wild, rushing (C)waves 'round our (D)shores, they're a-(G)washing -C-D-C-Am-G
And the (G)white (D)billows (C)heave on our (D)rocks, they're a-(G)lashing -C
He may (G)look (D)o'er the (C)main to the (G)great Mount Di(D)ana
With his (G)eyes (D)on the (C)waves that sur(D)round St. He(G)lena -C-D-C-Am-G
G-C-D-C-Am-G
Instrumental verse
Louise (G)as she (C)weeps, from her (D)husband is (G)parted -C-D-C-Am-G
And she (G)dreams (D)while she (C)sleeps and a(D)wakes broken-(G)hearted -C
There is (G)none (D)to con(C)sole her, though there's (G)many would be (D)with her
While a(G)lone (D)she does (C)mourn when she (D)thinks of St. He(G)lena -C-D-C-Am-G
G-C-D-C-Am-G
So all (G)you that have (C)wealth, be(D)ware of am(G)bition -C-D-C-Am-G
For there's (G)some (D)twist of (C)fate could soon (D)change your con(G)dition -C
Be (G)stead(D)fast in (C)time, what's to (G)come, change you (D)cannot
For (G)maybe your (D)race will (C)end on the (D)Isle of St. He(G)lena -C-D-C-Am-G
G-C-D-C-Am-G
Instrumental verse
G-C-D-C-Am-G
He has (G)gone (D)to a (C)place where (D)nought can de(G)light him. -C
He may (G)sit (D)now and (C)tell of the (G)sites he has (D)seen, oh,
While for(G)lorn (D)he does (C)mourn on the (D)Isle of St. He(G)lena. -C-D-C-Am-G
G-C-D-C-Am-G
No (G)more in St. (C)Claude will he a(D)ppear in great (G)splendor -C-D-C-Am-G
Nor step (G)forth (D)from the (C)crowd like the (D)great Ale(G)xander -C
He may (G)look (D)to the (C)east while he (G)thinks on Lu(D)cana
With his (G)heart (D)full of (C)woe on the (D)Isle of St. He(G)lena -C-D-C-Am-G
G-C-D-C-Am-G
The (G)wild, rushing (C)waves 'round our (D)shores, they're a-(G)washing -C-D-C-Am-G
And the (G)white (D)billows (C)heave on our (D)rocks, they're a-(G)lashing -C
He may (G)look (D)o'er the (C)main to the (G)great Mount Di(D)ana
With his (G)eyes (D)on the (C)waves that sur(D)round St. He(G)lena -C-D-C-Am-G
G-C-D-C-Am-G
Instrumental verse
Louise (G)as she (C)weeps, from her (D)husband is (G)parted -C-D-C-Am-G
And she (G)dreams (D)while she (C)sleeps and a(D)wakes broken-(G)hearted -C
There is (G)none (D)to con(C)sole her, though there's (G)many would be (D)with her
While a(G)lone (D)she does (C)mourn when she (D)thinks of St. He(G)lena -C-D-C-Am-G
G-C-D-C-Am-G
So all (G)you that have (C)wealth, be(D)ware of am(G)bition -C-D-C-Am-G
For there's (G)some (D)twist of (C)fate could soon (D)change your con(G)dition -C
Be (G)stead(D)fast in (C)time, what's to (G)come, change you (D)cannot
For (G)maybe your (D)race will (C)end on the (D)Isle of St. He(G)lena -C-D-C-Am-G
G-C-D-C-Am-G
Instrumental verse
G-C-D-C-Am-G
“Boney’s Away (The Isle of St. Helena)” is a classic old Napoleonic folk ballad.
It’s traditionally played in a slow 3/4 or 6/8 time, depending on the singer’s phrasing.
Below you’ll find a natural strumming pattern and a fingerpicking tab for the first verse in G major.
🎵 Boney’s Away (Isle of St. Helena)
Key: G Major
Time: 3/4 (slow waltz)
Tempo: ~70 bpm (gentle, storytelling pace)
Mood: Reflective, maritime
🎸 STRUMMING PATTERN
For a slow waltz feel:
👉 ↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑
(count: 1 2-and 3-and)
or, a simpler folk feel:
👉 Bass ↓ ↓
(1 2 3)
🎧 Tips:
• On beat 1, play the bass note of the chord.
• On beats 2–3, strum lightly across the higher strings.
• Keep your motion circular and smooth — like a boat on calm water.
🎶 CHORDS – Verse
Now (G)Boney’s a(C)way from his (D)warring and (G)fighting,
He has (G)gone (D)to a (C)place where (D)nought can de(G)light him.
He may (G)sit (D)now and (C)tell of the (G)sights he has (D)seen, oh,
While for(G)lorn (D)he does (C)mourn on the (D)Isle of St. He(G)lena.
🪕 FINGERPICKING TAB – First Verse
Use a 3/4 arpeggio pattern:
T I M T I M
(Thumb – Index – Middle, repeat)
T (thumb): plays bass (E/A/D strings)
I (index): plays G string
M (middle): plays B string
🎸 TAB
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
Now Boney’s away from his warring and fighting...
[C]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
He has gone to a place where nought can delight him...
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
He may sit now and tell of the sights he has seen...
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
While forlorn he does mourn on the Isle of St Helena.
✅ Playing Tips
Let the bass notes ring into the treble notes for a harp-like sound.
Lightly accent beat 1 for that rolling waltz sway.
Keep the tone gentle and resonant — think “story by the fireside.”
On the final “Isle of St. Helena,” slow down and let the G chord ring.
“Boney’s Away (The Isle of St. Helena)” is a classic old Napoleonic folk ballad.
It’s traditionally played in a slow 3/4 or 6/8 time, depending on the singer’s phrasing.
Below you’ll find a natural strumming pattern and a fingerpicking tab for the first verse in G major.
🎵 Boney’s Away (Isle of St. Helena)
Key: G Major
Time: 3/4 (slow waltz)
Tempo: ~70 bpm (gentle, storytelling pace)
Mood: Reflective, maritime
🎸 STRUMMING PATTERN
For a slow waltz feel:
👉 ↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑
(count: 1 2-and 3-and)
or, a simpler folk feel:
👉 Bass ↓ ↓
(1 2 3)
🎧 Tips:
• On beat 1, play the bass note of the chord.
• On beats 2–3, strum lightly across the higher strings.
• Keep your motion circular and smooth — like a boat on calm water.
🎶 CHORDS – Verse
Now (G)Boney’s a(C)way from his (D)warring and (G)fighting,
He has (G)gone (D)to a (C)place where (D)nought can de(G)light him.
He may (G)sit (D)now and (C)tell of the (G)sights he has (D)seen, oh,
While for(G)lorn (D)he does (C)mourn on the (D)Isle of St. He(G)lena.
🪕 FINGERPICKING TAB – First Verse
Use a 3/4 arpeggio pattern:
T I M T I M
(Thumb – Index – Middle, repeat)
T (thumb): plays bass (E/A/D strings)
I (index): plays G string
M (middle): plays B string
🎸 TAB
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
Now Boney’s away from his warring and fighting...
[C]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
He has gone to a place where nought can delight him...
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
He may sit now and tell of the sights he has seen...
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
While forlorn he does mourn on the Isle of St Helena.
✅ Playing Tips
Let the bass notes ring into the treble notes for a harp-like sound.
Lightly accent beat 1 for that rolling waltz sway.
Keep the tone gentle and resonant — think “story by the fireside.”
On the final “Isle of St. Helena,” slow down and let the G chord ring.
The Isle Of Helana Key Of A Major
[A]Oh, Bon[E]ey's a[D]way from his [E]wars and his f[A]ightings,
He has [A]gone [E]to a [D]land where [E]naught can de[A]light him.
And [A]there he [E]may sit [A]down and tell the [E]scenes he's seen, o,
While a[A]lone [E]he does [D]mourn on the [E]isle of Saint He[A]lena.
Oh, Louisa she weeps for her husband's departing.
She dreams when she sleeps, and she wakes broken-hearted.
Not a friend to console her, though there's many would be with her,
And she mourns when she thinks on the isle of Saint Helena.
Oh, the rude, rushing waves o'er the oceans are fleeting,
And the loud billows' roar on the shore's rocks are beating.
He may look to the moon o'er the great Mount Diana,
With his eyes o'er the waves that roll round Saint Helena.
No more in Saint Cloud he'll be seen in such splendour,
Or go on with his wars like the great Alexander,
For the young King of Rome and the prince of Gehenna
Have caused him to die on the isle of Saint Helena.
Oh, you parliament of England and you Holy Alliance,
To a prisoner of war, you may now bid defiance.
For your base intrigues and your base misdemeanors
Have caused him to die on the isle of Saint Helena.
All you who have wealth, beware of ambition,
For a small twist of fate could soon change your condition.
Be steadfast in time, for what's to come you know not,
Or your days they may end, like his, on Saint Helena
[A]Oh, Bon[E]ey's a[D]way from his [E]wars and his f[A]ightings,
He has [A]gone [E]to a [D]land where [E]naught can de[A]light him.
And [A]there he [E]may sit [A]down and tell the [E]scenes he's seen, o,
While a[A]lone [E]he does [D]mourn on the [E]isle of Saint He[A]lena.
Oh, Louisa she weeps for her husband's departing.
She dreams when she sleeps, and she wakes broken-hearted.
Not a friend to console her, though there's many would be with her,
And she mourns when she thinks on the isle of Saint Helena.
Oh, the rude, rushing waves o'er the oceans are fleeting,
And the loud billows' roar on the shore's rocks are beating.
He may look to the moon o'er the great Mount Diana,
With his eyes o'er the waves that roll round Saint Helena.
No more in Saint Cloud he'll be seen in such splendour,
Or go on with his wars like the great Alexander,
For the young King of Rome and the prince of Gehenna
Have caused him to die on the isle of Saint Helena.
Oh, you parliament of England and you Holy Alliance,
To a prisoner of war, you may now bid defiance.
For your base intrigues and your base misdemeanors
Have caused him to die on the isle of Saint Helena.
All you who have wealth, beware of ambition,
For a small twist of fate could soon change your condition.
Be steadfast in time, for what's to come you know not,
Or your days they may end, like his, on Saint Helena
Mary Black Bonny On The Isle Of St. Helena
