Bonny Mary Of Argyle Scottish Lyrics And Guitar Chords
The sheet music for Bonny Mary Of Argyle is now included and can be downloaded as a PDF file. Recorded by John McCormack and later by The Wolfe Tones-Also recorded by Cliff Richard. The ukulele chords are included.
Return to the lyrics of Scottish songs .
Return to the lyrics of Scottish songs .
I[G] have heard the mavis [C]singing
His [D7]love song to the [G]morn
I have seen the dew-drop[C] clinging
To the [G]rose just [D7]newly [G]born
But a [Em]sweeter song has[B7] cheer'd me
At the ev'ning's gentle[Em] close
And I've [A7]seen an eye still[D] brighter
Than the [A]dew-drop on the]D] rose
[D7]Twas thy [G]voice, my gentle[C] Mary
And thine [Am]artless, [D]winning [G]smile
That [G]made this world an [C]Eden
Bonnie[G] Mary [D7]of Ar[G]gyll.
Tho' thy voice may lose its sweetness
And thine eye its brightness too
Tho' thy step may lack its fleetness
And thy hair its sunny hue
Still to me wilt thou be dearer
Than all the world shall own
I have loved thee for thy beauty
But not for that alone
I have watched thy heart, dear Mary
And its goodness was the wile
That has made thee mine forever
Bonnie Mary of Argyll.
I have heard the mavis singing
His love song to the morn
I have seen the dew-drop clinging
To the rose just newly born
But a sweeter song has cheer'd me
At the ev'ning's gentle close
And I've seen an eye still brighter
Than the dew-drop on the rose
'Twas thy voice, my gentle Mary
And thine artless, winning smile
That made this world an Eden
Bonnie Mary of Argyll.
His [D7]love song to the [G]morn
I have seen the dew-drop[C] clinging
To the [G]rose just [D7]newly [G]born
But a [Em]sweeter song has[B7] cheer'd me
At the ev'ning's gentle[Em] close
And I've [A7]seen an eye still[D] brighter
Than the [A]dew-drop on the]D] rose
[D7]Twas thy [G]voice, my gentle[C] Mary
And thine [Am]artless, [D]winning [G]smile
That [G]made this world an [C]Eden
Bonnie[G] Mary [D7]of Ar[G]gyll.
Tho' thy voice may lose its sweetness
And thine eye its brightness too
Tho' thy step may lack its fleetness
And thy hair its sunny hue
Still to me wilt thou be dearer
Than all the world shall own
I have loved thee for thy beauty
But not for that alone
I have watched thy heart, dear Mary
And its goodness was the wile
That has made thee mine forever
Bonnie Mary of Argyll.
I have heard the mavis singing
His love song to the morn
I have seen the dew-drop clinging
To the rose just newly born
But a sweeter song has cheer'd me
At the ev'ning's gentle close
And I've seen an eye still brighter
Than the dew-drop on the rose
'Twas thy voice, my gentle Mary
And thine artless, winning smile
That made this world an Eden
Bonnie Mary of Argyll.
🎵 Bonnie Mary of Argyll
Key: G Major
Time: 3/4 (waltz)
Tempo: ~70 bpm (gentle and flowing)
Mood: Romantic, sentimental, traditional
🎸 STRUMMING PATTERN (3/4 Time)
For a simple, lilting waltz feel:
👉 ↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑
(count: 1 2-and 3-and)
Or a gentler “bass + sweep” pattern:
👉 Bass ↓ ↓
(1 2 3)
🎧 Tips:
Hit the bass note (lowest string of the chord) on beat 1.
Use light downward strums or down-up motions on beats 2 and 3.
Keep your motion small and even, like a heartbeat — gentle and warm.
🎶 CHORDS – First Verse
I [G]have heard the mavis [C]singing,
His [D7]love song to the [G]morn;
I have seen the dew-drop [C]clinging
To the [G]rose just [D7]newly [G]born.
But a [Em]sweeter song has [B7]cheer’d me,
At the ev’ning’s gentle [Em]close;
And I’ve [A7]seen an eye still [D]brighter
Than the [A]dew-drop on the [D]rose.
[D7]’Twas thy [G]voice, my gentle [C]Mary,
And thine [Am]artless, [D]winning [G]smile,
That [G]made this world an [C]Eden,
Bonnie [G]Mary [D7]of Ar[G]gyll.
🪕 FINGERPICKING TAB (First Verse)
This piece sounds beautiful with a 3/4 arpeggio fingerpicking pattern.
Right-hand pattern:
T I M T I M
(Thumb – Index – Middle, repeated)
T (thumb): Bass strings (E, A, or D)
I (index): G string
M (middle): B string
Keep the rhythm consistent — one cycle per beat of the waltz.
🎸 TAB – First Verse
[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---------------|
I have heard the mavis singing...
[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|----------------|----------------|----------------|
His love song to the morn...
[D7]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
To the rose just newly born...
[Em]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
But a sweeter song has cheer’d me...
[B7]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--1-------1-----|--1-------1-----|--1-------1-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
At the ev’ning’s gentle close...
[A7]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
A|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
And I’ve seen an eye still brighter...
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Than the dew-drop on the rose...
[D7]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
’Twas thy voice, my gentle Mary...
[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|----------------|----------------|----------------|
And thine artless, winning smile...
[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---------------|
That made this world an Eden...
[D7]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Bonnie Mary of Argyll...
✅ Playing Tips
Emphasize beat 1 with the thumb for the waltz pulse.
Let the melody ring naturally — avoid staccato or muting.
On “Bonnie Mary of Argyll,” slow slightly and let the final G chord ring warmly.
Optional: add a soft harmonic (12th fret, 3rd string) at the end for a bell-like finish.
Key: G Major
Time: 3/4 (waltz)
Tempo: ~70 bpm (gentle and flowing)
Mood: Romantic, sentimental, traditional
🎸 STRUMMING PATTERN (3/4 Time)
For a simple, lilting waltz feel:
👉 ↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑
(count: 1 2-and 3-and)
Or a gentler “bass + sweep” pattern:
👉 Bass ↓ ↓
(1 2 3)
🎧 Tips:
Hit the bass note (lowest string of the chord) on beat 1.
Use light downward strums or down-up motions on beats 2 and 3.
Keep your motion small and even, like a heartbeat — gentle and warm.
🎶 CHORDS – First Verse
I [G]have heard the mavis [C]singing,
His [D7]love song to the [G]morn;
I have seen the dew-drop [C]clinging
To the [G]rose just [D7]newly [G]born.
But a [Em]sweeter song has [B7]cheer’d me,
At the ev’ning’s gentle [Em]close;
And I’ve [A7]seen an eye still [D]brighter
Than the [A]dew-drop on the [D]rose.
[D7]’Twas thy [G]voice, my gentle [C]Mary,
And thine [Am]artless, [D]winning [G]smile,
That [G]made this world an [C]Eden,
Bonnie [G]Mary [D7]of Ar[G]gyll.
🪕 FINGERPICKING TAB (First Verse)
This piece sounds beautiful with a 3/4 arpeggio fingerpicking pattern.
Right-hand pattern:
T I M T I M
(Thumb – Index – Middle, repeated)
T (thumb): Bass strings (E, A, or D)
I (index): G string
M (middle): B string
Keep the rhythm consistent — one cycle per beat of the waltz.
🎸 TAB – First Verse
[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---------------|
I have heard the mavis singing...
[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|----------------|----------------|----------------|
His love song to the morn...
[D7]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
To the rose just newly born...
[Em]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
But a sweeter song has cheer’d me...
[B7]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--1-------1-----|--1-------1-----|--1-------1-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
At the ev’ning’s gentle close...
[A7]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
A|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
And I’ve seen an eye still brighter...
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Than the dew-drop on the rose...
[D7]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
’Twas thy voice, my gentle Mary...
[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|----------------|----------------|----------------|
And thine artless, winning smile...
[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---------------|
That made this world an Eden...
[D7]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Bonnie Mary of Argyll...
✅ Playing Tips
Emphasize beat 1 with the thumb for the waltz pulse.
Let the melody ring naturally — avoid staccato or muting.
On “Bonnie Mary of Argyll,” slow slightly and let the final G chord ring warmly.
Optional: add a soft harmonic (12th fret, 3rd string) at the end for a bell-like finish.
Alternative version of the chords.
I[D] have heard the mavis [G]singing
His [A7]love song to the [D]morn
I have seen the dew-drop[G] clinging
To the [D]rose just [A7]newly [D]born
But a [Bm]sweeter song has[F#7] cheer'd me
At the ev'ning's gentle[Bm] close
And I've [E7]seen an eye still[A] brighter
Than the [E]dew drop on the[A] rose
[A7]Twas thy [D]voice, my gentle[G] Mary
And thine [Em]artless, [A]winning [D]smile
That [D]made this world an [G]Eden
Bonnie[D] Mary [A7]of Ar[D]gyll.
I[D] have heard the mavis [G]singing
His [A7]love song to the [D]morn
I have seen the dew-drop[G] clinging
To the [D]rose just [A7]newly [D]born
But a [Bm]sweeter song has[F#7] cheer'd me
At the ev'ning's gentle[Bm] close
And I've [E7]seen an eye still[A] brighter
Than the [E]dew drop on the[A] rose
[A7]Twas thy [D]voice, my gentle[G] Mary
And thine [Em]artless, [A]winning [D]smile
That [D]made this world an [G]Eden
Bonnie[D] Mary [A7]of Ar[D]gyll.
Bonnie Mary Sheet Music In D Major
| bonny_mary_of_argyle.pdf |
