Lock The Door Lariston Guitar Chords And Lyrics
The song 'Lock The Door Lariston' is a traditional Scottish ballad that has been passed down through generations, with many different interpretations and versions. It tells the story of a young woman, Mary Hamilton, who is falsely accused of infanticide and is subsequently sentenced to death. The song not only captures the tragic tale of Mary Hamilton, but also sheds light on the societal attitudes towards women during the time period in which it originated.
Intro: Am-Am-Am-Am-G-G
[C]Lock the door, [G]Laris[C]ton, [Am]lion o’ [G]Liddles[C]dale,
Lock the door, Lariston, [Am]Lowther comes on,
The [C]Armstrongs are [Am]flying,
Their [F]widows are [G]cry[C]ing,
Castletown's [G]burning[C], and [Am]Oliver's gone;
[C]Lock the door, [G]Laris[C]ton – [Am]high on the [G]weather [C]gleam
See how the Saxon plumes they [Am]bob on the [C]sky,
Yeoman and [G]carb[C]inier,
[Am]Billman and [G]halber[C]dier;
Fierce is the [Am]battle, and [G]far is the [Am]cry.-Am-Am-Am
[C]Bewcastle [G]brandi[C]shes [Am]high his broad [G]scimi[C]tar,
Ridley is [riding his [Am]fleet-footed grey,
[C]Hedley and [Am]Howard there,
[F]Wandale and [G]Winder[C]mere -
Lock the door, [G]Laris[C]ton, [Am]hold them at bay.
[C]Why doest thou [G]smile, [C]noble [Am]Elliot of [G]Laris[C]ton?
Why do the joy-candles [Am]gleam in thine [C]eye?
Thou bold Border [G]ranger,[C]
Be[Am]ware of thy [G]dan[C]ger -
Thy foes are re[Am]lentless, de[G]termined, and [Am]nigh.-Am-Am-Am
[C]Jock Elliot [G]raised [C]up his [Am]steel bonnet and [G]loo[C]kit,
His hand grasped the sword with a [Am]nervous embrace;
[C]'Ah, welcome, [Am]brave foeman,
[F]On earth there [G]are no [C]men
More gallant [G]to meet [C]in the [Am]foray or chase!
[C]'Little know you [G]of the [C]hearts [Am]I have [G]hidden [C]here,
Little know you of the [Am]moss-troopers' [C]might
Lindhope and [G]Sorby, [C]true,
[Am]Sundhope and [G]Milburn [C]too,
Gentle in [Am]manner, but [G]lions in [Am]fight! –Am-Am-Am
'I've [C]Mangerton, [G]Gornber[C]ry, [Am]Raeburn, and [G]Nether[C]by.
Old Sim of Whitram, and [Am]all his array:
[C]Come all Nor[Am]thumberland,
[F]Teesdale and [G]Cumber[C]land,
Here at the [G]Breaken [C]Tower [Am]end shall the fray.'
[C]Scowl'd the broad [G]sun [C]o'er the [Am]links of green [G]Liddles[C]dale,
Red as beacon-light [Am]tipp'd he the [C]wold;
Many a bold [G]martial [C]eye
[Am]Mirror'd that [G]morning [C]sky,
Never more [Am]oped on his [G]orbit of [Am]gold! –Am-Am-Am
[C]Shrill was the [G]bugle's [C]note, [Am]dreadful the [G]warrior [C]shout,
Lances and halberds in [Am]splinters were borne;
[C]Halberd and [Am]hauberk then,
[F]Braved the clay[G]more in [C]vain,
Buckler and [G]armlet[C] in [Am]shivers were shorn.
[C]See how they [G]wane, [C]the proud [Am]files of the [G]Winder[C]mere,
Howard - Ah! woe to thy [Am]hopes of the [C]day!
Hear the wild [G]welkin [C]rend,
[Am]While the Scots' [G]shouts a[C]scend, -C-C
'Elliot of [Am]Lariston, [G]Elliot for [Am]aye!’ –Am-Am-Am
[C]Lock the door, [G]Laris[C]ton, [Am]lion o’ [G]Liddles[C]dale,
Lock the door, Lariston, [Am]Lowther comes on,
The [C]Armstrongs are [Am]flying,
Their [F]widows are [G]cry[C]ing,
Castletown's [G]burning[C], and [Am]Oliver's gone;
[C]Lock the door, [G]Laris[C]ton – [Am]high on the [G]weather [C]gleam
See how the Saxon plumes they [Am]bob on the [C]sky,
Yeoman and [G]carb[C]inier,
[Am]Billman and [G]halber[C]dier;
Fierce is the [Am]battle, and [G]far is the [Am]cry.-Am-Am-Am
[C]Bewcastle [G]brandi[C]shes [Am]high his broad [G]scimi[C]tar,
Ridley is [riding his [Am]fleet-footed grey,
[C]Hedley and [Am]Howard there,
[F]Wandale and [G]Winder[C]mere -
Lock the door, [G]Laris[C]ton, [Am]hold them at bay.
[C]Why doest thou [G]smile, [C]noble [Am]Elliot of [G]Laris[C]ton?
Why do the joy-candles [Am]gleam in thine [C]eye?
Thou bold Border [G]ranger,[C]
Be[Am]ware of thy [G]dan[C]ger -
Thy foes are re[Am]lentless, de[G]termined, and [Am]nigh.-Am-Am-Am
[C]Jock Elliot [G]raised [C]up his [Am]steel bonnet and [G]loo[C]kit,
His hand grasped the sword with a [Am]nervous embrace;
[C]'Ah, welcome, [Am]brave foeman,
[F]On earth there [G]are no [C]men
More gallant [G]to meet [C]in the [Am]foray or chase!
[C]'Little know you [G]of the [C]hearts [Am]I have [G]hidden [C]here,
Little know you of the [Am]moss-troopers' [C]might
Lindhope and [G]Sorby, [C]true,
[Am]Sundhope and [G]Milburn [C]too,
Gentle in [Am]manner, but [G]lions in [Am]fight! –Am-Am-Am
'I've [C]Mangerton, [G]Gornber[C]ry, [Am]Raeburn, and [G]Nether[C]by.
Old Sim of Whitram, and [Am]all his array:
[C]Come all Nor[Am]thumberland,
[F]Teesdale and [G]Cumber[C]land,
Here at the [G]Breaken [C]Tower [Am]end shall the fray.'
[C]Scowl'd the broad [G]sun [C]o'er the [Am]links of green [G]Liddles[C]dale,
Red as beacon-light [Am]tipp'd he the [C]wold;
Many a bold [G]martial [C]eye
[Am]Mirror'd that [G]morning [C]sky,
Never more [Am]oped on his [G]orbit of [Am]gold! –Am-Am-Am
[C]Shrill was the [G]bugle's [C]note, [Am]dreadful the [G]warrior [C]shout,
Lances and halberds in [Am]splinters were borne;
[C]Halberd and [Am]hauberk then,
[F]Braved the clay[G]more in [C]vain,
Buckler and [G]armlet[C] in [Am]shivers were shorn.
[C]See how they [G]wane, [C]the proud [Am]files of the [G]Winder[C]mere,
Howard - Ah! woe to thy [Am]hopes of the [C]day!
Hear the wild [G]welkin [C]rend,
[Am]While the Scots' [G]shouts a[C]scend, -C-C
'Elliot of [Am]Lariston, [G]Elliot for [Am]aye!’ –Am-Am-Am
Here’s a complete performance arrangement — including a strumming pattern and a fingerpicking tab for all verses.
🎵 Lock the Door, Lariston — in C Major
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~70 BPM
Time Signature: 6/8
🎸 1. Lyrics with Chords
[C]Lock the door, [G]Laris[C]ton, [Am]lion o’ [G]Liddles[C]dale,
Lock the door, Lariston, [Am]Lowther comes on,
The [C]Armstrongs are [Am]flying,
Their [F]widows are [G]cry[C]ing,
Castletown's [G]burning[C], and [Am]Oliver's gone;
[C]Lock the door, [G]Laris[C]ton – [Am]high on the [G]weather [C]gleam
See how the Saxon plumes they [Am]bob on the [C]sky,
Yeoman and [G]carb[C]inier,
[Am]Billman and [G]halber[C]dier;
Fierce is the [Am]battle, and [G]far is the [Am]cry.
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (6/8 Slow March Feel)
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
or think of it as:
Bass – Down-Up – Down-Up
How to play:
On beat 1, hit the bass note (with thumb or pick)
On 2–3, light down-up brush (mid strings)
On 4–5–6, another light down-up brush
Keep it rolling and steady, like marching horses or waves
Example:
For C, play 5th string (bass) → down-up → down-up
For G, play 6th string (bass) → down-up → down-up
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
Use a rolling arpeggio pattern:
T – I – M – T – I – M
(Thumb = bass, Index = G string, Middle = B string)
Keep a soft, droning pulse to imitate pipes and drums.
Example Fingerpicking for First Verse
C
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
Lock the door, Lariston, lion o’ Liddlesdale
G
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|----------------|--0-------------|
A|--2-------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Lock the door, Lariston, Lowther comes on
Am 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|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
D|--2-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|
A|--0-------------|--3-------------|--2-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|----------------|
The Armstrongs are flying, their widows are crying...
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Think of the rhythm as a slow march — regal and heavy.
Emphasize beat 1 slightly (like a marching foot).
🎵 Bass Alternation (for variety):
C: 5th → 4th
G: 6th → 4th
Am: 5th → 4th
F: 6th → 4th
🎵 Optional embellishments:
Add hammer-ons for emotional intensity:
C chord: hammer 0→2 on D string
Am chord: hammer 0→2 on D string
For G, alternate open and 2nd fret on A string for a galloping drone.
🎵 Ending cadence suggestion (final “cry”):
🎵 Lock the Door, Lariston — in C Major
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~70 BPM
Time Signature: 6/8
🎸 1. Lyrics with Chords
[C]Lock the door, [G]Laris[C]ton, [Am]lion o’ [G]Liddles[C]dale,
Lock the door, Lariston, [Am]Lowther comes on,
The [C]Armstrongs are [Am]flying,
Their [F]widows are [G]cry[C]ing,
Castletown's [G]burning[C], and [Am]Oliver's gone;
[C]Lock the door, [G]Laris[C]ton – [Am]high on the [G]weather [C]gleam
See how the Saxon plumes they [Am]bob on the [C]sky,
Yeoman and [G]carb[C]inier,
[Am]Billman and [G]halber[C]dier;
Fierce is the [Am]battle, and [G]far is the [Am]cry.
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (6/8 Slow March Feel)
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
or think of it as:
Bass – Down-Up – Down-Up
How to play:
On beat 1, hit the bass note (with thumb or pick)
On 2–3, light down-up brush (mid strings)
On 4–5–6, another light down-up brush
Keep it rolling and steady, like marching horses or waves
Example:
For C, play 5th string (bass) → down-up → down-up
For G, play 6th string (bass) → down-up → down-up
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
Use a rolling arpeggio pattern:
T – I – M – T – I – M
(Thumb = bass, Index = G string, Middle = B string)
Keep a soft, droning pulse to imitate pipes and drums.
Example Fingerpicking for First Verse
C
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
Lock the door, Lariston, lion o’ Liddlesdale
G
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|----------------|--0-------------|
A|--2-------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Lock the door, Lariston, Lowther comes on
Am 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|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
D|--2-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|
A|--0-------------|--3-------------|--2-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|----------------|
The Armstrongs are flying, their widows are crying...
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Think of the rhythm as a slow march — regal and heavy.
Emphasize beat 1 slightly (like a marching foot).
🎵 Bass Alternation (for variety):
C: 5th → 4th
G: 6th → 4th
Am: 5th → 4th
F: 6th → 4th
🎵 Optional embellishments:
Add hammer-ons for emotional intensity:
C chord: hammer 0→2 on D string
Am chord: hammer 0→2 on D string
For G, alternate open and 2nd fret on A string for a galloping drone.
🎵 Ending cadence suggestion (final “cry”):
4/4 (James Hogg) The dour, grim fighting which took place almost constantly in the Scottish Borders for centuries is recalled in this song by the Borders poet James Hogg (also known as the "Ettrick Shepherd").
Many of the surnames which appear in this song were well known in the Borders.
Chords will fit the Corries’s version with the capo on 2nd fret. The Corries sang a shortened version with verses 1, 2 plus the first half of verse 4 and the 2nd half of verse 5.
The Corries Folk Songs .
Many of the surnames which appear in this song were well known in the Borders.
Chords will fit the Corries’s version with the capo on 2nd fret. The Corries sang a shortened version with verses 1, 2 plus the first half of verse 4 and the 2nd half of verse 5.
The Corries Folk Songs .
