My Donald Song Lyrics And Guitar Chords
A traditional Scottish song, sometimes known as Home Of The Whale Recorded by Massive Attack, Mary Black, Caroline Lavelle. The ukulele chord shapes are included. Back to Scottish Lyrics And Chords
[Dm]Oh my Donald he [C]works on the [Dm]sea
On the [Am]waves that blow [G]wild and [Dm]free
[Dm]He [Am]splices the [G]ropes and he sets the sails
While [Dm]southward he rolls to the [C]home of the [Dm]whale
And he ne'er thinks o' me far behind
Nor the torments that rage in my mind
He's mine for only part of the year
And I'm left all alone with only my tears
[Dm]Ye ladies that [C]smell of wild[Dm] rose
[Dm]Think ye for your [C]perfume to [Dm]where a man goes
Think ye o' the [C]wives and the [Dm]babies that [Am]yearn
For a [Dm]man ne'er returning from [C]hunting the [Dm]sperm
My Donald he works on the sea
On the waves that blow wild and free
He splices the ropes and sets the sails
While southward he rolls to the home of the whale
Key Of Am.
[Am]Oh my Donald he [G]works on the [Am]sea
On the [Em]waves that blow [D]wild and [Am]free
[Am]He [Em]splices the [D]ropes and he sets the sails
While [Am]southward he rolls to the [G]home of the [Am]whale
[Am]Ye ladies that [G]smell of wild[Am] rose
[Am]Think ye for your [G]perfume to [Am]where a man goes
Think ye o' the [G]wives and the [Am]babies that [Em]yearn
For a [Am]man ne'er returning from [G]hunting the [Am]sperm
On the [Am]waves that blow [G]wild and [Dm]free
[Dm]He [Am]splices the [G]ropes and he sets the sails
While [Dm]southward he rolls to the [C]home of the [Dm]whale
And he ne'er thinks o' me far behind
Nor the torments that rage in my mind
He's mine for only part of the year
And I'm left all alone with only my tears
[Dm]Ye ladies that [C]smell of wild[Dm] rose
[Dm]Think ye for your [C]perfume to [Dm]where a man goes
Think ye o' the [C]wives and the [Dm]babies that [Am]yearn
For a [Dm]man ne'er returning from [C]hunting the [Dm]sperm
My Donald he works on the sea
On the waves that blow wild and free
He splices the ropes and sets the sails
While southward he rolls to the home of the whale
Key Of Am.
[Am]Oh my Donald he [G]works on the [Am]sea
On the [Em]waves that blow [D]wild and [Am]free
[Am]He [Em]splices the [D]ropes and he sets the sails
While [Am]southward he rolls to the [G]home of the [Am]whale
[Am]Ye ladies that [G]smell of wild[Am] rose
[Am]Think ye for your [G]perfume to [Am]where a man goes
Think ye o' the [G]wives and the [Am]babies that [Em]yearn
For a [Am]man ne'er returning from [G]hunting the [Am]sperm
The youtube version is by Bert Jansch who is a finer guitar player that I'll ever be and it's the best version I could find.
Surprisingly this one was recorded by Massive Attack who are more known for pop/hip hop music than folk song.
Surprisingly this one was recorded by Massive Attack who are more known for pop/hip hop music than folk song.
🎵 Oh My Donald
Key: A minor
Tempo: ~70–75 bpm
Time: 3/4 (slow waltz, like the sea)
Mood: melancholic, maritime
🎸 STRUMMING PATTERN (3/4 TIME)
For the gentle waltz sway:
👉 ↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑
(count: 1 2-and 3-and)
or simpler:
👉 Bass ↓ ↓
(1 2 3)
🎧 Tips:
Emphasize the bass note on beat 1 (lowest string).
Use soft wrist motion for a circular feel — like waves rising and falling.
Keep the dynamics low; this song sounds best when delicate.
🎶 CHORDS
Verse 1
[Am]Oh my Donald he [G]works on the [Am]sea,
On the [Em]waves that blow [D]wild and [Am]free.
[Am]He [Em]splices the [D]ropes and he sets the sails,
While [Am]southward he rolls to the [G]home of the [Am]whale.
Verse 2 (Chorus equivalent)
[Am]Ye ladies that [G]smell of wild [Am]rose,
[Am]Think ye for your [G]perfume to [Am]where a man goes.
Think ye o’ the [G]wives and the [Am]babies that [Em]yearn,
For a [Am]man ne’er returning from [G]hunting the [Am]sperm.
🪕 FINGERPICKING TAB (Verse + Chorus)
This piece sounds gorgeous with a 3/4 arpeggio fingerpicking pattern.
Right-hand pattern:
T I M T I M
(Thumb – Index – Middle repeating)
T (thumb): bass notes (E, A, or D strings)
I (index): G string
M (middle): B string
Keep the thumb steady and even — it’s the “heartbeat” of the song.
🎸 TAB – Verse
[Am]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Oh my Donald he works on the sea...
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
On the waves that blow wild and free...
[Em]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
He splices the ropes and he sets the sails...
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
While southward he rolls to the home of the whale...
🎸 TAB – Chorus
[Am]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Ye ladies that smell of wild rose...
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
Think ye for your perfume to where a man goes...
[Em]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Think ye o’ the wives and the babies that yearn...
[Am]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
For a man ne’er returning from hunting the sperm...
✅ Playing Tips
Keep the bass note (thumb) steady — it carries the waltz rhythm.
Let the open strings ring together for that ocean-like resonance.
Add a gentle crescendo near “home of the whale” and decrescendo after — to mimic the sea’s rise and fall.
Play softly and slowly; the beauty of this song lies in its melancholy space.
Key: A minor
Tempo: ~70–75 bpm
Time: 3/4 (slow waltz, like the sea)
Mood: melancholic, maritime
🎸 STRUMMING PATTERN (3/4 TIME)
For the gentle waltz sway:
👉 ↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑
(count: 1 2-and 3-and)
or simpler:
👉 Bass ↓ ↓
(1 2 3)
🎧 Tips:
Emphasize the bass note on beat 1 (lowest string).
Use soft wrist motion for a circular feel — like waves rising and falling.
Keep the dynamics low; this song sounds best when delicate.
🎶 CHORDS
Verse 1
[Am]Oh my Donald he [G]works on the [Am]sea,
On the [Em]waves that blow [D]wild and [Am]free.
[Am]He [Em]splices the [D]ropes and he sets the sails,
While [Am]southward he rolls to the [G]home of the [Am]whale.
Verse 2 (Chorus equivalent)
[Am]Ye ladies that [G]smell of wild [Am]rose,
[Am]Think ye for your [G]perfume to [Am]where a man goes.
Think ye o’ the [G]wives and the [Am]babies that [Em]yearn,
For a [Am]man ne’er returning from [G]hunting the [Am]sperm.
🪕 FINGERPICKING TAB (Verse + Chorus)
This piece sounds gorgeous with a 3/4 arpeggio fingerpicking pattern.
Right-hand pattern:
T I M T I M
(Thumb – Index – Middle repeating)
T (thumb): bass notes (E, A, or D strings)
I (index): G string
M (middle): B string
Keep the thumb steady and even — it’s the “heartbeat” of the song.
🎸 TAB – Verse
[Am]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Oh my Donald he works on the sea...
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
On the waves that blow wild and free...
[Em]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
He splices the ropes and he sets the sails...
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
While southward he rolls to the home of the whale...
🎸 TAB – Chorus
[Am]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Ye ladies that smell of wild rose...
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
Think ye for your perfume to where a man goes...
[Em]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Think ye o’ the wives and the babies that yearn...
[Am]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
For a man ne’er returning from hunting the sperm...
✅ Playing Tips
Keep the bass note (thumb) steady — it carries the waltz rhythm.
Let the open strings ring together for that ocean-like resonance.
Add a gentle crescendo near “home of the whale” and decrescendo after — to mimic the sea’s rise and fall.
Play softly and slowly; the beauty of this song lies in its melancholy space.
Mary Black Lyrics My Donald
