CAM’ YE BY ATHOLL The Corries Lyrics And Guitar Chords

2/4  (traditional Scottish song) Corries’ live version on YouTube in B major with capo on the 4th fret. Lyrics written by James Hogg with the music by Neil Gow, the guitar work is by Marc. The list of Corries Songs included here . The sheet music and tin whistle notes are included

[G)Follow ye, (D7)follow ye, (G)whae wadnae (Em)follow (C)ye?
(G)King o' the Highland (D7)hearts, (G)Bonnie Prince (D7)Char(G)lie.
 
(G)Cam' ye by (Em)Atholl, (G)lad wi' the philabeg,
(Am)Down by the Tummel, or (C)banks o' the (Am)Ga(G)ry?
Saw ye the (D)lads, wi' their (C)bonnets an' (G)white co(Em)ckades,
(G)Down from their (C)mountains to (G)follow Prince (D7)Char(G)lie?
 
Chorus
(G)Follow ye, (D7)follow ye, (G)whae wadnae (Em)follow (C)ye?
(G)Lang hae ye (Em)loved us and (G)trusted us (D7)fair(G)ly!
Charlie, (D7)Char(C)lie, (G)whae wadnae (Em)follow (C)ye?
(G)King o' the hielan’ (D7)hearts, (G)Bonnie Prince (D7)Char(G)lie.
 
(G)I hae but (Em)one son, my (G)gallant young Donald;
(Am)But had I ten, they would (C)follow Prince (Am)Char(G)lie;
Health to Mc(D)Donald, and (C)gallant Clan-(G)Ro(Em)nald,
(G)These are the (C)men I can (G)trust wi' my (D7)Char(G)lie.
 
Chorus
 
(G)I'll go to (Em)Lochiel and (G)Appin, and kneel to them;
(Am)Down by Lord Murray and (C)Roy of Kil(Am)dar(G)lie;
Brave Macki(D)tosh, he will (C)fly to the (G)field wi' (Em)them;
(G)These are the (C)men that will (G)die for their (D7)Char(G)lie.
 
Chorus
 
(G)Down thro' the (Em)Lowlands, (G)down wi' the whigamore,
(Am)Loyal true Highlanders, (C)down wi' them (Am)rare(G)ly;
Ronald and (D)Donald drive (C)on wi' the (G)broad clay(Em)more,
(G)Over the (C)necks of the (G)foes o' Prince (D7)Char(G)lie.

​Bonnie Prince Charlie — in G Major

Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~84 BPM
Time Signature: 6/8 (counted “ONE-two-three, FOUR-five-six”)

🎸 1. Lyrics with Chords
Verse 1
[G]Follow ye, [D7]follow ye, [G]whae wadnae [Em]follow [C]ye?  
[G]King o' the Highland [D7]hearts, [G]Bonnie Prince [D7]Char[G]lie.  

Verse 2
[G]Cam' ye by [Em]Atholl, [G]lad wi' the philabeg,  
(Am)Down by the Tummel, or [C]banks o' the [Am]Ga[G]ry?  
Saw ye the [D]lads, wi' their [C]bonnets an' [G]white co(Em)ckades,  
[G]Down from their [C]mountains to [G]follow Prince [D7]Char[G]lie?  

Chorus
[G]Follow ye, [D7]follow ye, [G]whae wadnae [Em]follow [C]ye?  
[G]Lang hae ye [Em]loved us and [G]trusted us [D7]fair[G]ly!  
Charlie, [D7]Char[C]lie, [G]whae wadnae [Em]follow [C]ye?  
[G]King o' the hielan’ [D7]hearts, [G]Bonnie Prince [D7]Char[G]lie.  

🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (6/8 Folk March Feel)

Think of this as a rolling waltz:

↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Beat 1: bass note (thumb)

Beats 2–3 & 5–6: light down-up motion with fingers or pick

Keep a lilting swing—it should “flow” rather than pulse strictly.

Example:

(Bass) ↓↑ ↓↑ → ONE-two-three, FOUR-five-six

🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)

We’ll use a rolling arpeggio style in 6/8:

T – I – M – T – I – M
(Thumb plays bass, Index on G string, Middle on B string)

Let notes ring together for that Celtic harp-like sound.

Verse 1 Fingerpicking Example
   G
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
 Follow ye, follow ye, whae wadnae follow ye?

   D7                              G
e|------2---2-----|------2---2-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
B|----1---1---1---|----1---1---1---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
G|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|----------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
 King o' the Highland hearts, Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Verse 2 Fingerpicking Example
   G               Em              G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|--2-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
 Cam' ye by Atholl, lad wi' the philabeg?

   Am              C               Am              G
e|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
B|----1---1---1---|----1---1---1---|----1---1---1---|----0---0---0---|
G|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|--------0-------|
A|--0-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|
 Down by the Tummel, or banks o’ the Gary?

   D               C               G               Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---3-----|------1---1-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----2---2---2---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|
A|--0-------------|--3-------------|----------------|--2-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|----------------|
 Saw ye the lads wi’ their bonnets and white cockades?

   G               C               G               D7              G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------1---1-----|------0---0-----|------1---1-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----2---2---2---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--0-------------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|----------------|--3-------------|----------------|--3-------------|
 Down from their mountains to follow Prince Charlie.

💡 Performance Tips

🎵 Tempo & Feel:

Keep it lilting and smooth — like a march heard from the Highlands.

Count “ONE-two-three, FOUR-five-six” softly in your head.

🎵 Dynamics:

Start quietly (like a storyteller beginning a tale).

Build on the chorus with fuller strums or alternating bass notes.

End softly, letting the final G chord ring.

🎵 Bass Alternation:

G: 6th → 4th string

C: 5th → 4th string

D7: 4th → 5th string

Am/Em: 5th → 4th

🎵 Ornaments (Scottish Style):

Hammer-on A string 0→2 (in G or Em)

Slide A string 2→3 into C chord

Light pull-off on G string 2→0 for phrasing

🎵 Ending Idea:

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

​CAM’ YE BY ATHOLL Sheet Music And Tin Whistle Notes