Killieburn Braes Guitar Chords And Lyrics

The Original version is by Robert Burns and probably started off as a poem as most of Robert Burns songs did. Guitar chords in D Major and in chordpro. The lyrics got changed over the years to make the song relivant. This version is by The Dubliners with Jim McCann singing. Jim as most people was the man who brought the Ballad Of Grace Gifford to the fore. Also recorded by Tommy Makem. A Scottish folk song with 12 verses, wow.  I wouldn't fancy learning this ballad.

(D)There was an old man down by Killieburn Braes 
(A) Ri-ful, ri-ful, ti-di-fol-dey 
(D)There was an old man down by Killieburn Braes 
Had a (A) curse of a wife for the (D) most of his days 
With me (A) ri-ful dol-dol, (D) 'ti-di fol-lol 
(A) Fol-a-dol-dol, da dol-da- (D) dol-dey 
  
One day as this man he walked out in the glen 
Ri-ful, ri-ful, ti-di-fol-dey 
One day as this man he walked out in the glen 
Well he met with the devil, says how are ye then 
With me ri-ful dol-dol, 'ti-di fol-lol 
Fol-a-dol-dol, da dol-da-dol-dey 
  
The devil he says I have come for your wife 
Ri-ful, ri-ful, ti-di-fol-dey 
The devil he says I have come for your wife 
For I hear she's the curse and the bane of your life 
With me ri-ful dol-dol, 'ti-di fol-lol 
Fol-a-dol-dol, da dol-da-dol-dey 
  
So the devil he hoisted her up on his back 
Ri-ful, ri-ful, ti-di-fol-dey 
So the devil he hoisted her up on his back 
And away off to hell, with her he did whack 
With me ri-ful dol-dol, 'ti-di fol-lol 
Fol-a-dol-dol, da dol-da-dol-dey
 
And when at last they came to hell's gates 
Ri-ful, ri-ful, ti-di-fol-dey 
And when at last they came to hell's gates 
Well she lifted her stick and she battered his pate 
With me ri-ful dol-dol, 'ti-di fol-lol 
Fol-a-dol-dol, da dol-da-dol-dey 
  
There were two little devils there tied up in chains 
Ri-ful, ri-ful, ti-di-fol-dey 
(There were) two little devils there tied up in chains 
Well she lifted her stick and she scattered their brains 
With me ri-ful dol-dol, 'ti-di fol-lol 
Fol-a-dol-dol, da dol-da-dol-dey
 
There were two other devils there roaring like bulls
Ri-ful, ri-ful, ti-di-fol-dey
(There were) two other devils there roaring like bulls
And she lifted her stick and she battered their skulls
With me ri-ful dol-dol, 'ti-di fol-lol
Fol-a-dol-dol, da dol-da-dol-dey
 
There were two other devils there playing at ball
Ri-ful, ri-ful, ti-di-fol-dey
(There were) two other devils there playing at ball
So she lifted her stick and she battered them all
With me ri-ful dol-dol, 'ti-di fol-lol
Fol-a-dol-dol, da dol-da-dol-dey

So the devil he hoisted her up on his back
Ri-ful, ri-ful, ti-di-fol-dey
So the devil he hoisted her up on his back
They were seven years coming and days going back
With me ri-ful dol-dol, 'ti-di fol-lol
Fol-a-dol-dol, da dol-da-dol-dey
 
And when they came back to Killieburn Braes
Ri-ful, ri-ful, ti-di-fol-dey
And when they came back to Killieburn Braes
Well the devil he cried and he shouted hooray
With me ri-ful dol-dol, 'ti-di fol-lol
Fol-a-dol-dol, da dol-da-dol-dey
 
Says he, my good man, here's your wife safe and well
Ri-ful, ri-ful, ti-di-fol-dey
Says he, my good man, here's your wife safe and well
For the likes of herself we would not have in hell
With me ri-ful dol-dol, 'ti-di fol-lol
Fol-a-dol-dol, da dol-da-dol-dey
 
Which proves that the women are worse than the men
Ri-ful, ri-ful, ti-di-fol-dey
Which proves that the women are worse than the men
When they go down to hell they are thrown out again
With me ri-ful dol-dol, 'ti-di fol-lol
Fol-a-dol-dol, da dol-da-dol-dey

The Dubliners wasn't so much a band as a group of four or five individuals who each did his own thing and was accompanied by the rest. I didn't think we were ever a band as such. 

We never sang songs together or rehearsed together. We just played together that's all, an as we learned a song we'd introduce it into the set. Even for a big gig like The Royal Albert Hall, we'd more or less agree in advance.

 ''We'll have the top lively, then quiet down in the middle and then at the end bring it up again. That was about the size of it, there  were no real rehearsals or anything. Barney as far as I can see never suffered from nerves. 

I was terrible nervous about going on stage but I just had to live with it until I went on and then try to brazen it out. Once you got into the swing of things you were grand.
Ronnie Drew

The Dubliners Sheet Music / Tin Whistle Notes Ebook

​Guitar chords for the key of G

(G)There was an old man down by Killieburn Braes 
(D) Ri-ful, ri-ful, ti-di-fol-dey 
(G)There was an old man down by Killieburn Braes 
Had a (D) curse of a wife for the (G) most of his days 
With me (D) ri-ful dol-dol, (G) 'ti-di fol-lol 
(D) Fol-a-dol-dol, da dol-da- (G) dol-dey