Hawks And Eagles Lyrics And Chords By The McCalmans
The guitar work is by Marc Fahrbach. (I. Walker/MCPS & PRS) For The McCalmans’ version from their album ‘Flames On The Water’ use capo on 2nd fret.
As (G)I was walking down the road,
I (D)met my brother with a (D7)heavy (G)load
I said to him what have you seen,
He (D)said to me ‘I (D7)have a (G)dream’.
In (D)1960, I thought I'd died
Iin Sharpeville's bloody (D7)town,
But (D)I got up I walked on tall
Nobody's goin' to put me (D7)down.
Chorus
(G)Hawks and eagles fly like doves
(D)Hawks and eagles (D7)fly like (G)doves
(G)Hawks and eagles fly like doves
(D)Hawks and eagles (D7)fly like (G)doves
As (G)I walked out along the way
I (D)saw my sister (D7)bend and (G)pray,
I said to her why do you kneel,
She (D)says ‘You don't know (D7)how I (G)feel’.
I (D)had a little boy and a little girl,
I loved to watch them (D7)grow.
But (D)they were butchered on the streets
In the blood of Sowe(D7)tto.
Chorus
It's (G)'85 and I'm walking still,
A(D)cross Uiten(D7)haage (G)Hill,
Saw a crowd set off at the dawn of day,
The (D)soldiers said don't (D7)come this (G)way.
(D)Then somebody threw a stone
As they walked up the (D7)track
A (D)boy on a bike was the first to fall
With a bullet in his (D7)back.
Chorus
It's been a (G)long, long hard road,
Three (D)hundred years since the (D7)settlers (G)strode
Into that Southern land,
(D)Now they rule with an (D7)iron (G)hand.
Low (D)pay, no vote and passbook laws,
Don't talk back they (D7)say.
But the (D)hawks and the eagles will fly like doves,
When the people rise one (D7)day.
I (D)met my brother with a (D7)heavy (G)load
I said to him what have you seen,
He (D)said to me ‘I (D7)have a (G)dream’.
In (D)1960, I thought I'd died
Iin Sharpeville's bloody (D7)town,
But (D)I got up I walked on tall
Nobody's goin' to put me (D7)down.
Chorus
(G)Hawks and eagles fly like doves
(D)Hawks and eagles (D7)fly like (G)doves
(G)Hawks and eagles fly like doves
(D)Hawks and eagles (D7)fly like (G)doves
As (G)I walked out along the way
I (D)saw my sister (D7)bend and (G)pray,
I said to her why do you kneel,
She (D)says ‘You don't know (D7)how I (G)feel’.
I (D)had a little boy and a little girl,
I loved to watch them (D7)grow.
But (D)they were butchered on the streets
In the blood of Sowe(D7)tto.
Chorus
It's (G)'85 and I'm walking still,
A(D)cross Uiten(D7)haage (G)Hill,
Saw a crowd set off at the dawn of day,
The (D)soldiers said don't (D7)come this (G)way.
(D)Then somebody threw a stone
As they walked up the (D7)track
A (D)boy on a bike was the first to fall
With a bullet in his (D7)back.
Chorus
It's been a (G)long, long hard road,
Three (D)hundred years since the (D7)settlers (G)strode
Into that Southern land,
(D)Now they rule with an (D7)iron (G)hand.
Low (D)pay, no vote and passbook laws,
Don't talk back they (D7)say.
But the (D)hawks and the eagles will fly like doves,
When the people rise one (D7)day.
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (4/4 Folk Pulse)
This tune works best with a steady “walking” strum, warm and rhythmic — not too busy.
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Count: 1 2& 3& 4&
✅ Tips:
Keep the first downstroke (beat 1) strong — it’s your walking step.
Use light brushes on 2&3& for a swaying groove.
Optional accent on the last ↓↑ to lift into the next line.
Alternate simpler pattern (for quiet verses):
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↓↑ (slow and gentle)
Chorus (to add energy):
↓ ↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↑ — more drive, slightly more percussive.
🎸 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (Steady Folk Arpeggio – 4/4)
If you want a fingerpicked storytelling style, this pattern works beautifully.
Pattern (per bar):
T – I – M – A – M – I – M – A
Thumb (T) = bass string
Index (I) = G string
Middle (M) = B string
Ring (A) = high E string
🎶 Tabs for Each Chord
G Major
e|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
D Major
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
D7
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
💡 Example Verse (Fingerpicked)
G D7
e|--------3-----------3----------|--------2-----------2--------|
B|------0---0-------0---0--------|------1---1-------1---1------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0------|----2-------2---2-------2----|
D|--0-----------0----------------|--0-----------0--------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
As I was walking down the road, I met my brother with a heavy load
💡 Example Chorus (Fingerpicked)
G D7
e|--------3-----------3----------|--------2-----------2--------|
B|------0---0-------0---0--------|------1---1-------1---1------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0------|----2-------2---2-------2----|
D|--0-----------0----------------|--0-----------0--------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
Hawks and eagles fly like doves...
⚙️ Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Think “walking and singing through struggle” — not rushed, just steady.
Keep the beat even; let the words carry the emotion.
For verses: fingerpick or lightly strum.
For chorus: switch to full strumming for lift.
🎵 Dynamics:
Verses → gentle, conversational.
Chorus → brighter, broader.
On final “fly like doves,” slow slightly and let the G chord ring.
🎵 Bass Alternation (for movement):
G: alternate 6th → 4th string
D / D7: alternate 4th → 3rd
🎵 Optional Ending:
Arpeggiate the final G for a calm, reflective close:
e|--3-----------|
B|----0---------|
G|------0-------|
D|--0-----------|
A|--2-----------|
E|--3-----------|
This tune works best with a steady “walking” strum, warm and rhythmic — not too busy.
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Count: 1 2& 3& 4&
✅ Tips:
Keep the first downstroke (beat 1) strong — it’s your walking step.
Use light brushes on 2&3& for a swaying groove.
Optional accent on the last ↓↑ to lift into the next line.
Alternate simpler pattern (for quiet verses):
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↓↑ (slow and gentle)
Chorus (to add energy):
↓ ↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↑ — more drive, slightly more percussive.
🎸 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (Steady Folk Arpeggio – 4/4)
If you want a fingerpicked storytelling style, this pattern works beautifully.
Pattern (per bar):
T – I – M – A – M – I – M – A
Thumb (T) = bass string
Index (I) = G string
Middle (M) = B string
Ring (A) = high E string
🎶 Tabs for Each Chord
G Major
e|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
D Major
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
D7
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
💡 Example Verse (Fingerpicked)
G D7
e|--------3-----------3----------|--------2-----------2--------|
B|------0---0-------0---0--------|------1---1-------1---1------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0------|----2-------2---2-------2----|
D|--0-----------0----------------|--0-----------0--------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
As I was walking down the road, I met my brother with a heavy load
💡 Example Chorus (Fingerpicked)
G D7
e|--------3-----------3----------|--------2-----------2--------|
B|------0---0-------0---0--------|------1---1-------1---1------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0------|----2-------2---2-------2----|
D|--0-----------0----------------|--0-----------0--------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
Hawks and eagles fly like doves...
⚙️ Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Think “walking and singing through struggle” — not rushed, just steady.
Keep the beat even; let the words carry the emotion.
For verses: fingerpick or lightly strum.
For chorus: switch to full strumming for lift.
🎵 Dynamics:
Verses → gentle, conversational.
Chorus → brighter, broader.
On final “fly like doves,” slow slightly and let the G chord ring.
🎵 Bass Alternation (for movement):
G: alternate 6th → 4th string
D / D7: alternate 4th → 3rd
🎵 Optional Ending:
Arpeggiate the final G for a calm, reflective close:
e|--3-----------|
B|----0---------|
G|------0-------|
D|--0-----------|
A|--2-----------|
E|--3-----------|
