Liberty Lyrics and chords by the Corries
For YouTube live version change the key to G major (C=G, F=C, G=D) and use a capo on the 4th fret. 2/4 (Roy Williamson)The sheet music is included. Return to The Corries Songs .
[C]By the cross oor Andrew bore
By the sword oor [F]William [G]wore
[C]By the crown our Robert [F]swore -F
Tae [C]win oor [F]Liber[G]ty
[C]Ca’ the falcon [F]frae the [C]glen,
Ca’ the eagle [F]frae the [G]ben
[C]Ca’ the lion frae his [F]den -F
Tae [C]win oor [G]Liber[C]ty
[C]By the man wha’s faith was old
By the man they [F]sold for [G]gold
[C]By the man they'll never [F]hold -F
Tae [C]win oor [F]Liber[G]ty
[C]Ca’ the thieves o’ [F]Liddes[C]dale
Ca’ the spears o’ [F]Annan[G]dale
[C]Ca’ the brave of Yarrow[F]vale -F
Tae [C]win oor [G]Liber[C]ty
[C]By the arm that bends the bow
By the arm that [F]plies the [G]blow
[C]By the arm that lays them [F]low -F
Tae [C]win oor [F]Liber[G]ty
[C]Ca’ the banners [F]frae the [C]West
Ca’ the raven [F]frae his [G]nest
[C]Ca’ the clans that dance the [F]best -F
Tae [C]win oor [G]Liber[C]ty
[C]By the field that once was green
By the shield of [F]silver [G]sheen
[C]By the sword in battle [F]keen -F
Tae [C]win oor [F]Liber[G]ty
[C]Bless the man wha’s [F]faith we [C]hold
Bless the man in [F]chains they [G]sold
[C]Bless the man in cloth o’ [F]gold -F
Wha' [C]won oor [G]Liber[C]ty
[C]Bless the man in cloth o’ [F]gold -F
Wha' [C]won oor [G]Liber[C]ty
By the sword oor [F]William [G]wore
[C]By the crown our Robert [F]swore -F
Tae [C]win oor [F]Liber[G]ty
[C]Ca’ the falcon [F]frae the [C]glen,
Ca’ the eagle [F]frae the [G]ben
[C]Ca’ the lion frae his [F]den -F
Tae [C]win oor [G]Liber[C]ty
[C]By the man wha’s faith was old
By the man they [F]sold for [G]gold
[C]By the man they'll never [F]hold -F
Tae [C]win oor [F]Liber[G]ty
[C]Ca’ the thieves o’ [F]Liddes[C]dale
Ca’ the spears o’ [F]Annan[G]dale
[C]Ca’ the brave of Yarrow[F]vale -F
Tae [C]win oor [G]Liber[C]ty
[C]By the arm that bends the bow
By the arm that [F]plies the [G]blow
[C]By the arm that lays them [F]low -F
Tae [C]win oor [F]Liber[G]ty
[C]Ca’ the banners [F]frae the [C]West
Ca’ the raven [F]frae his [G]nest
[C]Ca’ the clans that dance the [F]best -F
Tae [C]win oor [G]Liber[C]ty
[C]By the field that once was green
By the shield of [F]silver [G]sheen
[C]By the sword in battle [F]keen -F
Tae [C]win oor [F]Liber[G]ty
[C]Bless the man wha’s [F]faith we [C]hold
Bless the man in [F]chains they [G]sold
[C]Bless the man in cloth o’ [F]gold -F
Wha' [C]won oor [G]Liber[C]ty
[C]Bless the man in cloth o’ [F]gold -F
Wha' [C]won oor [G]Liber[C]ty
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (6/8 Scottish March Feel)
A rolling but strong rhythm works beautifully here:
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
or think:
(Bass) – Down-Up – Down-Up
How to play:
Beat 1 = Bass note of chord (with thumb or pick)
Beats 2–3 = Gentle down-up brush
Beats 4–6 = Another down-up brush, slightly lighter
Keep it steady and proud, like bagpipes and drums leading a march.
Example on C:
A string (bass) → down-up → down-up
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
Use a rolling arpeggio pattern that fits the 6/8 pulse:
T – I – M – T – I – M
(Thumb = bass, Index = G string, Middle = B string)
Let notes ring together to create that “drone” Celtic tone.
Verse Fingerpicking Example
C
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
By the cross oor Andrew bore
F G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--3-------------|--3-------------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
By the sword oor William wore
C F
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
By the crown our Robert swore Tae win oor Liberty
C F G C
e|------0---0-----|------1---1-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
B|----1---1---1---|----1---1---1---|----0---0---0---|----1---1---1---|
G|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
D|--2-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|--2-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|----------------|
Ca’ the lion frae his den Tae win oor Liberty
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Feel & Dynamics:
Keep a steady, pulsing 6/8 rhythm — imagine marching pipers.
Emphasize beat 1 slightly (the “marching foot”).
🎵 Bass Alternation:
C: alternate 5th → 4th
F: alternate 6th → 4th
G: alternate 6th → 4th
🎵 Optional Celtic Ornaments:
C chord: hammer-on A string (0→3)
F chord: hammer-on D string (2→3)
G chord: slide A string (2→3)
🎵 Ending Arpeggio (Slow Final Bar):
e|--0-----------|
B|----1---------|
G|------0-------|
D|--------2-----|
A|--3-----------|
E|--------------|
Let it ring — solemn and victorious.
A rolling but strong rhythm works beautifully here:
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
or think:
(Bass) – Down-Up – Down-Up
How to play:
Beat 1 = Bass note of chord (with thumb or pick)
Beats 2–3 = Gentle down-up brush
Beats 4–6 = Another down-up brush, slightly lighter
Keep it steady and proud, like bagpipes and drums leading a march.
Example on C:
A string (bass) → down-up → down-up
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
Use a rolling arpeggio pattern that fits the 6/8 pulse:
T – I – M – T – I – M
(Thumb = bass, Index = G string, Middle = B string)
Let notes ring together to create that “drone” Celtic tone.
Verse Fingerpicking Example
C
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
By the cross oor Andrew bore
F G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--3-------------|--3-------------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
By the sword oor William wore
C F
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
By the crown our Robert swore Tae win oor Liberty
C F G C
e|------0---0-----|------1---1-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
B|----1---1---1---|----1---1---1---|----0---0---0---|----1---1---1---|
G|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
D|--2-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|--2-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|----------------|
Ca’ the lion frae his den Tae win oor Liberty
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Feel & Dynamics:
Keep a steady, pulsing 6/8 rhythm — imagine marching pipers.
Emphasize beat 1 slightly (the “marching foot”).
🎵 Bass Alternation:
C: alternate 5th → 4th
F: alternate 6th → 4th
G: alternate 6th → 4th
🎵 Optional Celtic Ornaments:
C chord: hammer-on A string (0→3)
F chord: hammer-on D string (2→3)
G chord: slide A string (2→3)
🎵 Ending Arpeggio (Slow Final Bar):
e|--0-----------|
B|----1---------|
G|------0-------|
D|--------2-----|
A|--3-----------|
E|--------------|
Let it ring — solemn and victorious.
Liberty sheet music by The Corries
