FAREWELL TO TARWATHIE Lyrics And Guitar Chords
/4 (Scottish Song by George Scroggie)
Lyrics and chords as used by the Ian Campbell Folk Group on the sampler album Borderlands- The Best of Scottish Folk (use capo on 3rd fret for a key of Fmajor) Farewell to Tarwathie guitar tab in CGDA added.
For YouTube-version by Zekley & Hubert use capo on 5th fret or change chords to G. This song was worked out on guitar by Marc Farabach. This has a beautiful haunting melody and sounds like another song that I just can't think of,,,,,,,The sheet music with tin whistle notes are included plus the guitar and mandolin tabs. Also recorded by Judy Collins.
Intro: D-Bm-G-D-Dsus4-D (Dsus4 = XX0233, this chord is optional!)
Lyrics and chords as used by the Ian Campbell Folk Group on the sampler album Borderlands- The Best of Scottish Folk (use capo on 3rd fret for a key of Fmajor) Farewell to Tarwathie guitar tab in CGDA added.
For YouTube-version by Zekley & Hubert use capo on 5th fret or change chords to G. This song was worked out on guitar by Marc Farabach. This has a beautiful haunting melody and sounds like another song that I just can't think of,,,,,,,The sheet music with tin whistle notes are included plus the guitar and mandolin tabs. Also recorded by Judy Collins.
Intro: D-Bm-G-D-Dsus4-D (Dsus4 = XX0233, this chord is optional!)
Fare(D)well tae (Bm)Tarwathie, a(G)dieu Mormond (D)Hill
And the fair land of (Bm)Crimond, I’ll (G)think of you (D)still
I'm bound out for (Bm)Greenland and (A)ready to (D)sail
In the hopes to find (Bm)riches in (G)hunting the (D)whale -G-D-Dsus4-D
A(D)dieu to my (Bm)comrades, for a (G)while we must (D)part
And likewise the (Bm)dear lass who (G)first won my (D)heart
The cold coast of (Bm)Greenland my (A)love will not (D)chill
And the longer my (Bm)absence, more (G)loving she'll (D)feel -G-D-Dsus4-D
Our (D)ship is well (Bm)rigged and she's (G)ready to (D)sail
Our crew they are (Bm)anxious to (G)follow the (D)whale
Where the icebergs do (Bm)float and the (A)stormy winds (D)blow
Where the land and the (Bm)ocean are (G)covered in (D)snow -G-D-Dsus4-D
The (D)cold coast of (Bm)Greenland is (G)barren and (D)bare
No seed-time nor (Bm)harvest is (G)ever known (D)there
And the birds here sing (Bm)sweetly in (A)mountain and (D)dale
But there isn't a (Bm)bird that can (G)sing to the (D)whale -G-D-Dsus4-D
There is (D)no habi(Bm)tation for a (G)man to live (D)there
And the king of that (Bm)country is the (G)fierce Greenland (D)bear
And there'll be no temp(Bm)tation to(A)tarry long (D)there
With our ship bumper (Bm)full we will (G)homeward re(D)pair -G-D-Dsus4
And the fair land of (Bm)Crimond, I’ll (G)think of you (D)still
I'm bound out for (Bm)Greenland and (A)ready to (D)sail
In the hopes to find (Bm)riches in (G)hunting the (D)whale -G-D-Dsus4-D
A(D)dieu to my (Bm)comrades, for a (G)while we must (D)part
And likewise the (Bm)dear lass who (G)first won my (D)heart
The cold coast of (Bm)Greenland my (A)love will not (D)chill
And the longer my (Bm)absence, more (G)loving she'll (D)feel -G-D-Dsus4-D
Our (D)ship is well (Bm)rigged and she's (G)ready to (D)sail
Our crew they are (Bm)anxious to (G)follow the (D)whale
Where the icebergs do (Bm)float and the (A)stormy winds (D)blow
Where the land and the (Bm)ocean are (G)covered in (D)snow -G-D-Dsus4-D
The (D)cold coast of (Bm)Greenland is (G)barren and (D)bare
No seed-time nor (Bm)harvest is (G)ever known (D)there
And the birds here sing (Bm)sweetly in (A)mountain and (D)dale
But there isn't a (Bm)bird that can (G)sing to the (D)whale -G-D-Dsus4-D
There is (D)no habi(Bm)tation for a (G)man to live (D)there
And the king of that (Bm)country is the (G)fierce Greenland (D)bear
And there'll be no temp(Bm)tation to(A)tarry long (D)there
With our ship bumper (Bm)full we will (G)homeward re(D)pair -G-D-Dsus4
Farewell to Tarwathie guitar tab
The mandolin tab
Judy Collins Song Farewell to Tarwathie
Farewell to Tarwathie guitar tab in CGDA
🎵 Farewell to Tarwathie
Key: G Major
Tempo: ~72–78 bpm (slow, wistful)
Time: 3/4 (Scottish waltz feel)
🎸 STRUMMING PATTERN (3/4 Waltz Feel)
For that lilting folk rhythm:
👉 Bass ↓ ↓
(Count: 1 2 3)
Or slightly fuller:
👉 ↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑
(Count: 1 2-and 3-and)
🎧 Tip:
On beat 1, pluck or strum only the bass note (lowest string of the chord).
On beats 2 and 3, lightly strum the higher strings for a rolling “boat sway” effect — perfect for this sea ballad.
🎶 CHORDS (First Verse)
Fare [G]well tae [Em]Tarwathie, a [C]dieu Mormond [G]Hill,
And the fair land of [Em]Crimond, I’ll [C]think of you [G]still.
I'm bound out for [Em]Greenland and [D]ready to [G]sail,
In the hopes to find [Em]riches in [C]hunting the [G]whale.
🪕 FINGERPICKING TAB – First Verse (3/4 Feel)
This song sounds beautiful with gentle, arpeggiated fingerpicking.
Use:
T (thumb): Bass (E, A, or D strings)
I (index): G string
M (middle): B string
Pattern (one measure of 3/4):
T I M T I M
(1) (2) (3)
🎸 TAB (Verse 1)
[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---------------|
Fare-well tae Tarwathie, a-
[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|----------------|----------------|----------------|
dieu Mormond Hill
[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 the fair land of Crimond, I’ll think of you still
[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'm bound out for Greenland...
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
...and ready to sail
[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|----------------|----------------|----------------|
In the hopes to find riches in...
[C] [G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--2-------2-----|----------------|----------------|
A|3---------------|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
E|----------------|3---------------|3---------------|
...hunting the whale.
Key: G Major
Tempo: ~72–78 bpm (slow, wistful)
Time: 3/4 (Scottish waltz feel)
🎸 STRUMMING PATTERN (3/4 Waltz Feel)
For that lilting folk rhythm:
👉 Bass ↓ ↓
(Count: 1 2 3)
Or slightly fuller:
👉 ↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑
(Count: 1 2-and 3-and)
🎧 Tip:
On beat 1, pluck or strum only the bass note (lowest string of the chord).
On beats 2 and 3, lightly strum the higher strings for a rolling “boat sway” effect — perfect for this sea ballad.
🎶 CHORDS (First Verse)
Fare [G]well tae [Em]Tarwathie, a [C]dieu Mormond [G]Hill,
And the fair land of [Em]Crimond, I’ll [C]think of you [G]still.
I'm bound out for [Em]Greenland and [D]ready to [G]sail,
In the hopes to find [Em]riches in [C]hunting the [G]whale.
🪕 FINGERPICKING TAB – First Verse (3/4 Feel)
This song sounds beautiful with gentle, arpeggiated fingerpicking.
Use:
T (thumb): Bass (E, A, or D strings)
I (index): G string
M (middle): B string
Pattern (one measure of 3/4):
T I M T I M
(1) (2) (3)
🎸 TAB (Verse 1)
[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---------------|
Fare-well tae Tarwathie, a-
[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|----------------|----------------|----------------|
dieu Mormond Hill
[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 the fair land of Crimond, I’ll think of you still
[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'm bound out for Greenland...
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
...and ready to sail
[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|----------------|----------------|----------------|
In the hopes to find riches in...
[C] [G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--2-------2-----|----------------|----------------|
A|3---------------|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
E|----------------|3---------------|3---------------|
...hunting the whale.
Here's an alternative version of the guitar chords for the key of G.
Fare(G)well tae (Em)Tarwathie, a(C)dieu Mormond (G)Hill
And the fair land of (Em)Crimond, I’ll (C)think of you (G)still
I'm bound out for (Em)Greenland and (D)ready to (G)sail
In the hopes to find (Em)riches in (C)hunting the (G)whale
A(G)dieu to my (Em)comrades, for a (C)while we must (G)part
And likewise the (Em)dear lass who (C)first won my (G)heart
The cold coast of (Em)Greenland my (D)love will not (G)chill
And the longer my (Em)absence, more (C)loving she'll (G)feel
Our (G)ship is well (Em)rigged and she's (C)ready to (G)sail
Our crew they are (Em)anxious to (C)follow the (G)whale
Where the icebergs do (Em)float and the (D)stormy winds (G)blow
Where the land and the (Em)ocean are (C)covered in (G)snow
The (G)cold coast of (Em)Greenland is (C)barren and (G)bare
No seed-time nor (Em)harvest is (C)ever known (G)there
And the birds here sing (Em)sweetly in (D)mountain and (G)dale
But there isn't a (Em)bird that can (C)sing to the (G)whale
There is (G)no habi(Em)tation for a (C)man to live (G)there
And the king of that (Em)country is the (C)fierce Greenland (G)bear
And there'll be no temp(Em)tation to(D)tarry long (G)there
With our ship bumper (Em)full we will (C)homeward re(G)pair
Fare(G)well tae (Em)Tarwathie, a(C)dieu Mormond (G)Hill
And the fair land of (Em)Crimond, I’ll (C)think of you (G)still
I'm bound out for (Em)Greenland and (D)ready to (G)sail
In the hopes to find (Em)riches in (C)hunting the (G)whale
A(G)dieu to my (Em)comrades, for a (C)while we must (G)part
And likewise the (Em)dear lass who (C)first won my (G)heart
The cold coast of (Em)Greenland my (D)love will not (G)chill
And the longer my (Em)absence, more (C)loving she'll (G)feel
Our (G)ship is well (Em)rigged and she's (C)ready to (G)sail
Our crew they are (Em)anxious to (C)follow the (G)whale
Where the icebergs do (Em)float and the (D)stormy winds (G)blow
Where the land and the (Em)ocean are (C)covered in (G)snow
The (G)cold coast of (Em)Greenland is (C)barren and (G)bare
No seed-time nor (Em)harvest is (C)ever known (G)there
And the birds here sing (Em)sweetly in (D)mountain and (G)dale
But there isn't a (Em)bird that can (C)sing to the (G)whale
There is (G)no habi(Em)tation for a (C)man to live (G)there
And the king of that (Em)country is the (C)fierce Greenland (G)bear
And there'll be no temp(Em)tation to(D)tarry long (G)there
With our ship bumper (Em)full we will (C)homeward re(G)pair
