Geordie lyric And Guitar Chords
A Traditional Scottish song, recorded by Joan Baez and by Lindsay Straw. who sings it with slightly different lyrics. The sheet music notes are included plus the mandolin and tin whistle tabs.
As (Am)I walked (G)out over (F)Mary's (C-Em-Am)bridge,
one misty morning (G)early,
(Am)I overheard a (G)fair pretty (Em)maid was la(Am)menting
(Em)for her (Am)Geordie. (C-Em-Am)
Ah, my (Am)Geordie will be (G)hanged in a (F)golden (C-Em-Am)chain, 'tis not the chain of (G)many,
(Am)He was born of (G)high English (Em)breed,
and (Am)lost to a (Em)poor Irish (Am)cailín. (C-Em-Am)
(Am)Go bridle (G)me my (F)milk white (C-Em-Am)steed,
go bridle me my (G)pony.
(Am)That I may (G)ride to the (Em)Englishmen's court to (Am)plead for the (Em)life of (Am)Geordie. (C-Em-Am)
(Am)Oh, my Geordie never (G)stole nor (F)cow nor (C-Em-Am)calf,
he never hurted (G)any.
(Am)To feed my (G)babes he stole two royal (Em)deer,
and he (Am)sold them (Em)in Dro(Am)gheda. (C-Em-Am)
(Am)Two pretty (G)babies (F)have I (C-Em-Am)born,
the third lies in my (G)body.
(Am)I'd freely part with (G)them every (Em)one,
if you'd (Am)spare the (Em)life of (Am)Geordie. (C-Em-Am)
(Am)But the judge looked (G)over his (F)left shoul(C-Em-Am)der,
he said, "Fair maid, I'm (G)sorry.
(Am)I cannot pardon the (G)one you (Em)love, for (Am)he has been (Em)hanged al(Am)ready." (C-Em-Am)
(Am)Ah, my Geordie has been (G)hanged in a (F)golden (C-Em-Am)chain, ‘tis not the chain of (G)many.
(Am)To feed the babes he (G)stole royal (Em)deer,
and (Am)sold them (Em)in Dro(Am)gheda. (C-Em-Am)
one misty morning (G)early,
(Am)I overheard a (G)fair pretty (Em)maid was la(Am)menting
(Em)for her (Am)Geordie. (C-Em-Am)
Ah, my (Am)Geordie will be (G)hanged in a (F)golden (C-Em-Am)chain, 'tis not the chain of (G)many,
(Am)He was born of (G)high English (Em)breed,
and (Am)lost to a (Em)poor Irish (Am)cailín. (C-Em-Am)
(Am)Go bridle (G)me my (F)milk white (C-Em-Am)steed,
go bridle me my (G)pony.
(Am)That I may (G)ride to the (Em)Englishmen's court to (Am)plead for the (Em)life of (Am)Geordie. (C-Em-Am)
(Am)Oh, my Geordie never (G)stole nor (F)cow nor (C-Em-Am)calf,
he never hurted (G)any.
(Am)To feed my (G)babes he stole two royal (Em)deer,
and he (Am)sold them (Em)in Dro(Am)gheda. (C-Em-Am)
(Am)Two pretty (G)babies (F)have I (C-Em-Am)born,
the third lies in my (G)body.
(Am)I'd freely part with (G)them every (Em)one,
if you'd (Am)spare the (Em)life of (Am)Geordie. (C-Em-Am)
(Am)But the judge looked (G)over his (F)left shoul(C-Em-Am)der,
he said, "Fair maid, I'm (G)sorry.
(Am)I cannot pardon the (G)one you (Em)love, for (Am)he has been (Em)hanged al(Am)ready." (C-Em-Am)
(Am)Ah, my Geordie has been (G)hanged in a (F)golden (C-Em-Am)chain, ‘tis not the chain of (G)many.
(Am)To feed the babes he (G)stole royal (Em)deer,
and (Am)sold them (Em)in Dro(Am)gheda. (C-Em-Am)
Key: A minor
Time Signature: 2/4 (folk march)
Tempo: ~90–100 bpm (steady but gentle)
Mood: plaintive and storytelling
🎸 STRUMMING PATTERN (2/4 time)
In 2/4, you get two beats per bar — a “ONE–two” feel.
Pattern (simple):
👉 ↓ ↓
(count: 1 2)
Pattern (folk flow):
👉 ↓ ↓ ↑
(count: 1 2-&)
🎧 Tip:
On beat 1, emphasize the bass note (lowest string of the chord).
On beat 2, strum gently downward or add a soft upstroke for texture.
Keep your motion small and fluid — think of a slow walk.
🎶 CHORDS (First Verse)
As [Am]I walked [G]out over [F]Mary’s [C-Em-Am]bridge,
One misty morning [G]early,
[Am]I overheard a [G]fair pretty [Em]maid
Was la[Am]menting [Em]for her [Am]Geordie. [C-Em-Am]
Ah, my [Am]Geordie will be [G]hanged in a [F]golden [C-Em-Am]chain,
’Tis not the chain of [G]many,
[Am]He was born of [G]high English [Em]breed,
And [Am]lost to a [Em]poor Irish [Am]cailín. [C-Em-Am]
🪕 FINGERPICKING TAB – First Verse (2/4 Feel)
For 2/4, aim for a “bass + treble” feel — alternating thumb and fingers steadily.
Right-hand pattern:
T I–M
(1) (2)
T (thumb) → plays the bass (E, A, or D string)
I (index) → G string
M (middle) → B string
🎸 TAB (Verse 1)
[Am]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
As I walked out over...
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|----------------|----------------|
A|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
E|3---------------|3---------------|
Mary’s bridge...
[F]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--3-------3-----|--3-------3-----|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|1---------------|1---------------|
One misty morning early...
[C]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|3---------------|3---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
[Em]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
[Am]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
...for her Geordie.
Time Signature: 2/4 (folk march)
Tempo: ~90–100 bpm (steady but gentle)
Mood: plaintive and storytelling
🎸 STRUMMING PATTERN (2/4 time)
In 2/4, you get two beats per bar — a “ONE–two” feel.
Pattern (simple):
👉 ↓ ↓
(count: 1 2)
Pattern (folk flow):
👉 ↓ ↓ ↑
(count: 1 2-&)
🎧 Tip:
On beat 1, emphasize the bass note (lowest string of the chord).
On beat 2, strum gently downward or add a soft upstroke for texture.
Keep your motion small and fluid — think of a slow walk.
🎶 CHORDS (First Verse)
As [Am]I walked [G]out over [F]Mary’s [C-Em-Am]bridge,
One misty morning [G]early,
[Am]I overheard a [G]fair pretty [Em]maid
Was la[Am]menting [Em]for her [Am]Geordie. [C-Em-Am]
Ah, my [Am]Geordie will be [G]hanged in a [F]golden [C-Em-Am]chain,
’Tis not the chain of [G]many,
[Am]He was born of [G]high English [Em]breed,
And [Am]lost to a [Em]poor Irish [Am]cailín. [C-Em-Am]
🪕 FINGERPICKING TAB – First Verse (2/4 Feel)
For 2/4, aim for a “bass + treble” feel — alternating thumb and fingers steadily.
Right-hand pattern:
T I–M
(1) (2)
T (thumb) → plays the bass (E, A, or D string)
I (index) → G string
M (middle) → B string
🎸 TAB (Verse 1)
[Am]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
As I walked out over...
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|----------------|----------------|
A|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
E|3---------------|3---------------|
Mary’s bridge...
[F]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--3-------3-----|--3-------3-----|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|1---------------|1---------------|
One misty morning early...
[C]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|3---------------|3---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
[Em]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
[Am]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
...for her Geordie.
Lindsay Straw Singer of Geordie song
Geordie tin whistle notes
Geordie mandolin / tenor banjo tab
Alternative chords.
As (Em)I walked (D)out over (C)Mary's (G-Bm-Em)bridge,
one misty morning (D)early,
(Em)I overheard a (D)fair pretty (Bm)maid was la(Em)menting
(Bm)for her (Em)Geordie. (G-Bm-Em)
Ah, my (Em)Geordie will be (D)hanged in a (C)golden (G-Bm-Em)chain, 'tis not the chain of (D)many,
(Em)He was born of (D)high English (Bm)breed,
and (Em)lost to a (Bm)poor Irish (Em)cailín. (G-Bm-Em)
(Em)Go bridle (D)me my (C)milk white (G-Bm-Em)steed,
go bridle me my (D)pony.
(Em)That I may (D)ride to the (Bm)Englishmen's court to (Em)plead for the (Bm)life of (Em)Geordie. (G-Bm-Em)
(Em)Oh, my Geordie never (D)stole nor (C)cow nor (G-Bm-Em)calf,
he never hurted (D)any.
(Em)To feed my (D)babes he stole two royal (Bm)deer,
and he (Em)sold them (Bm)in Dro(Em)gheda. (G-Bm-Em)
(Em)Two pretty (D)babies (C)have I (G-Bm-Em)born,
the third lies in my (D)body.
(Em)I'd freely part with (D)them every (Bm)one,
if you'd (Em)spare the (Bm)life of (Em)Geordie. (G-Bm-Em)
(Em)But the judge looked (D)over his (C)left shoul(G-Bm-Em)der,
he said, "Fair maid, I'm (D)sorry.
(Em)I cannot pardon the (D)one you (Bm)love, for (Em)he has been (Bm)hanged al(Em)ready." (G-Bm-Em)
(Em)Ah, my Geordie has been (D)hanged in a (C)golden (G-Bm-Em)chain, ‘tis not the chain of (D)many.
(Em)To feed the babes he (D)stole royal (Bm)deer,
and (Em)sold them (Bm)in Dro(Em)gheda. (G-Bm-Em)
As (Em)I walked (D)out over (C)Mary's (G-Bm-Em)bridge,
one misty morning (D)early,
(Em)I overheard a (D)fair pretty (Bm)maid was la(Em)menting
(Bm)for her (Em)Geordie. (G-Bm-Em)
Ah, my (Em)Geordie will be (D)hanged in a (C)golden (G-Bm-Em)chain, 'tis not the chain of (D)many,
(Em)He was born of (D)high English (Bm)breed,
and (Em)lost to a (Bm)poor Irish (Em)cailín. (G-Bm-Em)
(Em)Go bridle (D)me my (C)milk white (G-Bm-Em)steed,
go bridle me my (D)pony.
(Em)That I may (D)ride to the (Bm)Englishmen's court to (Em)plead for the (Bm)life of (Em)Geordie. (G-Bm-Em)
(Em)Oh, my Geordie never (D)stole nor (C)cow nor (G-Bm-Em)calf,
he never hurted (D)any.
(Em)To feed my (D)babes he stole two royal (Bm)deer,
and he (Em)sold them (Bm)in Dro(Em)gheda. (G-Bm-Em)
(Em)Two pretty (D)babies (C)have I (G-Bm-Em)born,
the third lies in my (D)body.
(Em)I'd freely part with (D)them every (Bm)one,
if you'd (Em)spare the (Bm)life of (Em)Geordie. (G-Bm-Em)
(Em)But the judge looked (D)over his (C)left shoul(G-Bm-Em)der,
he said, "Fair maid, I'm (D)sorry.
(Em)I cannot pardon the (D)one you (Bm)love, for (Em)he has been (Bm)hanged al(Em)ready." (G-Bm-Em)
(Em)Ah, my Geordie has been (D)hanged in a (C)golden (G-Bm-Em)chain, ‘tis not the chain of (D)many.
(Em)To feed the babes he (D)stole royal (Bm)deer,
and (Em)sold them (Bm)in Dro(Em)gheda. (G-Bm-Em)
