Leather Wing Bat Lyrics And Guitar Chords

[Traditional English Folk Song)
There exist different versions of this lively song, varying in the number of verses and the types of birds involved. Among others, this song was recorded by Tommy Makem on his album ‚The Bard of Armagh’. Tommy’s version uses different words than the one’s below and requires a capo on the 4th fret to play along. Chords by Marc. Sheet music tab for the tin whistle included plus the mandolin, guitar and Irish bouzouki tabs.

Intro: (Am-G)-Am

(Am)"Hi" said the little (G)leather wing bat
(Am)"I'll tell you the reason (C)that
The reason that I (Am)fly by night
Is because I've lost my (Em)heart's de(Am)light."

Chorus
(Am)Howdy dowdy (G)diddle-umm day
(Am)Howdy dowdy diddle-umm (C)day
Howdy dowdy (Am)diddle-umm day
Hey le lee (long note!) -lee (Em)lie-lee (Am)low
Repeat Intro

(Am)"Hi" said the blackbird (G)sittin' on a chair
(Am)"Once I loved a lady, (C)fair.
She proved fickle and (Am)turned her back
And ever since then I've (Em)dressed in (Am)black."
Chorus + Intro

(Am)"Hi" said the woodpecker (G)sittin' on a fence
(Am)"Once I loved a handsome (C)wench
She got scared and (Am)from me fled
And ever since then my (Em)head's been (Am)red."
Chorus + Intro

(Am)"Hi" said the little (G)turtle dove
(Am)"I'll tell you how to win her (C)love
Court her night and (Am)court her day
Never give her time to (Em)say oh (Am)nay!"

Chorus + Intro
(Am)"Hi" said the bluejay and a(G)way he flew
"If (Am)I were a young man I'd have (C)two
If one were faithless and (Am)chanced to go
I'd add the other string (Em)to my (Am)bow"
Chorus twice

​“Leatherwing Bat” is a classic Appalachian folk song (often done by Peter, Paul & Mary or Burl Ives). The Am–G–C–Em progression gives it a rich minor flavor with a lilting, circular feel — perfect for a gentle, swinging strum or fingerpicked pattern.

Here’s a detailed guitar guide:

🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4 time)

You want a light folk bounce — think wings fluttering or a riverboat rhythm.

Pattern 1 (steady folk feel):
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
(count 1 2 & & 4 &)

Pattern 2 (simpler, lilting):
Bass ↓ Up ↓ Up

On Am, hit the open A string (root) for the bass.

On G, hit the low E (3rd fret).

On C, hit the A (3rd fret).

On Em, hit the low E (open).

Keep it soft and flowing — around 90–100 bpm, letting the last “lee lie-lee low” stretch out.

🎶 Fingerpicking Tab — First Verse & Chorus

Here’s a Travis-style (alternating bass) fingerpicking pattern for one verse and the chorus.
Use your thumb for the bass (E/A/D strings) and index/middle for treble (G/B/E strings).

Verse
[Am]
e|-------0---------0-|-------0---------0-|
B|-----1---1-----1---|-----1---1-----1---|
G|---2-------2-------|---2-------2-------|
D|-2-------2---------|-2-------2---------|
A|0-------------------|0------------------|
E|--------------------|------------------|

[G]
e|-------3---------3-|-------3---------3-|
B|-----0---0-----0---|-----0---0-----0---|
G|---0-------0-------|---0-------0-------|
D|-------------------|-------------------|
A|-------------------|-------------------|
E|-3-------2---------|-3-------2---------|

[Am]
e|-------0---------0-|-------0---------0-|
B|-----1---1-----1---|-----1---1-----1---|
G|---2-------2-------|---2-------2-------|
D|-2-------2---------|-2-------2---------|
A|0-------------------|0------------------|
E|--------------------|------------------|

[C]
e|-------0---------0-|-------0---------0-|
B|-----1---1-----1---|-----1---1-----1---|
G|---0-------0-------|---0-------0-------|
D|-2-------2---------|-2-------2---------|
A|3-------------------|3------------------|
E|--------------------|------------------|

[Am]
e|-------0---------0-|-------0---------0-|
B|-----1---1-----1---|-----1---1-----1---|
G|---2-------2-------|---2-------2-------|
D|-2-------2---------|-2-------2---------|
A|0-------------------|0------------------|
E|--------------------|------------------|

[Em]
e|-------0---------0-|-------0---------0-|
B|-----0---0-----0---|-----0---0-----0---|
G|---0-------0-------|---0-------0-------|
D|-2-------2---------|-2-------2---------|
A|2-------------------|2------------------|
E|0-------------------|0------------------|

[Am]
e|-------0---------0-|-------0-----------|
B|-----1---1-----1---|-----1-------------|
G|---2-------2-------|---2---------------|
D|-2-------2---------|-2-----------------|
A|0-------------------|0-----------------|
E|--------------------|------------------|

Chorus
[Am]
e|-------0---------0-|-------0---------0-|
B|-----1---1-----1---|-----1---1-----1---|
G|---2-------2-------|---2-------2-------|
D|-2-------2---------|-2-------2---------|
A|0-------------------|0------------------|
E|--------------------|------------------|

[G]
e|-------3---------3-|-------3---------3-|
B|-----0---0-----0---|-----0---0-----0---|
G|---0-------0-------|---0-------0-------|
D|-------------------|-------------------|
A|-------------------|
E|-3-------2---------|-3-----------------|

[Am]
e|-------0---------0-|-------0---------0-|
B|-----1---1-----1---|-----1---1-----1---|
G|---2-------2-------|---2-------2-------|
D|-2-------2---------|-2-------2---------|
A|0-------------------|0------------------|
E|--------------------|------------------|

[C]
e|-------0---------0-|-------0---------0-|
B|-----1---1-----1---|-----1---1-----1---|
G|---0-------0-------|---0-------0-------|
D|-2-------2---------|-2-------2---------|
A|3-------------------|3------------------|
E|--------------------|------------------|

[Am]
e|-------0---------0-|-------0---------0-|
B|-----1---1-----1---|-----1---1-----1---|
G|---2-------2-------|---2-------2-------|
D|-2-------2---------|-2-------2---------|
A|0-------------------|0------------------|
E|--------------------|------------------|

[Em]
e|-------0---------0-|-------0----------|
B|-----0---0-----0---|-----0------------|
G|---0-------0-------|---0--------------|
D|-2-------2---------|-2----------------|
A|2-------------------|2----------------|
E|0-------------------|0----------------|

[Am]
e|-------0-----------|------------------|
B|-----1-------------|------------------|
G|---2---------------|------------------|
D|-2-----------------|------------------|
A|0------------------|------------------|
E|-------------------|------------------|


💡 Performance tip:

Let the high E string ring open on the last “lee lie-lee low” for a sweet, open sound.

Try singing softly over the fingerpicked verse, then switch to the strumming pattern for the chorus for contrast.

Would you like me to prepare an ABC notation version of Leatherwing Bat in Am (melody + bass + chords)

Leather Wing Bat Mandolin Tab And Tin Whistle Notes In C Major

Guitar tab , fingerstyle.

Leather wing bat sheet music in G Major

Leather wing bat sheet music in the key of D Major in Solfege format [ do re mi ]

 Irish bouzouki tab in GDAD Tuning.