NEIL GOW’S APPRENTICE lyrics and chords
4/4 Music timing. Written by Michael Marra. Scottish song Lyrics and chords as used by The McCalmans on their album Honest Poverty (use capo on 1st fret to change key to D# major) Chords by Marc Fahrbach. Another Scottish song here that uses the same name is Neil Gow's Farewell to whiskey . The sheet music, mandolin tab and tin whistle notes are included.
Intro:
D-D-A7-D-D 2x
Chorus:
(D)O no more will I (A7)rove no more, it's (D)over
O no more will I (A7)rove no more, it's (D)done
I'll (G)sit beneath the (D)fiddle tree
With the (G)ghost of Niel Gow (A7)next to me
(D)Listen, Niel, your ap(A7)prentice has be(D)gun
The (D)old man looked in the (A7)ingleook and (D)wondered
His brother in a foreign (A7)land he must re(D)main
When (G)deived about the (D)life he'd choose
They (G)each would wear the (A7)other one's shoes
This (D)motherland is a (A7)source of constant (D)pain
Chorus
Play one verse instrumentally
(D)Rumblin' Brig I (A7)hear your music (D)calling
In the outback (A7)still I heard your (D)song
(G)Living off a (D)foreign field
With far (G)more fish than the (A7)burn could yield
This (D)trip will be my (A7)last and it won't be (D)long
Chorus twice
(D)Listen, Niel, your ap(A7)prentice has be(D)gun 2x
D-D-A7-D-D 2x
D-D-A7-D-D 2x
Chorus:
(D)O no more will I (A7)rove no more, it's (D)over
O no more will I (A7)rove no more, it's (D)done
I'll (G)sit beneath the (D)fiddle tree
With the (G)ghost of Niel Gow (A7)next to me
(D)Listen, Niel, your ap(A7)prentice has be(D)gun
The (D)old man looked in the (A7)ingleook and (D)wondered
His brother in a foreign (A7)land he must re(D)main
When (G)deived about the (D)life he'd choose
They (G)each would wear the (A7)other one's shoes
This (D)motherland is a (A7)source of constant (D)pain
Chorus
Play one verse instrumentally
(D)Rumblin' Brig I (A7)hear your music (D)calling
In the outback (A7)still I heard your (D)song
(G)Living off a (D)foreign field
With far (G)more fish than the (A7)burn could yield
This (D)trip will be my (A7)last and it won't be (D)long
Chorus twice
(D)Listen, Niel, your ap(A7)prentice has be(D)gun 2x
D-D-A7-D-D 2x
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (6/8 Waltz)
Think of it as “Boom - chick - chick”, steady like a slow fiddle tune accompaniment.
↓ (bass) ↓↑ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
How it feels:
Beat 1 – thumb or pick hits the bass note of the chord.
Beats 2–3 – gentle down-up on middle strings.
Beats 4–6 – soft down-up-down-up, flowing through.
Keep your strum smooth and circular — like a fiddler’s bowing motion.
If you prefer a simpler waltz feel for verses:
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
(one downbeat + two light sweeps)
🎸 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (Flowing 6/8 Arpeggio)
You can use this rolling pattern on all chords:
T – I – M – A – M – I
(Thumb on bass, Index = G string, Middle = B string, Ring = high E)
This gives you one full 6/8 bar per measure, like the sway of the tune.
🎶 Example Fingerpicking Tabs
D Major
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
A7
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------2---2-------2---2---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--0-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
G Major
e|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
💡 Example (Fingerpicked Chorus)
D A7
e|--------2-----------2------|--------0-----------0------|
B|------3---3-------3---3----|------2---2-------2---2----|
G|----2-------2---2-------2--|----0-------0---0-------0--|
D|--0-----------0------------|--2-----------2------------|
A|----------------------------|--0------------------------|
E|----------------------------|---------------------------|
O no more will I rove no more, it's over...
💡 Example (Fingerpicked Verse)
D G
e|--------2-----------2------|--------3-----------3------|
B|------3---3-------3---3----|------0---0-------0---0----|
G|----2-------2---2-------2--|----0-------0---0-------0--|
D|--0-----------0------------|--0-----------0------------|
A|----------------------------|--2------------------------|
E|----------------------------|--3------------------------|
The old man looked in the ingleook and wondered...
⚙️ Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Let the rhythm sway gently — don’t play too strictly in time; it’s reflective.
Think of how a fiddle and cello might accompany each other — deep, steady bass (thumb) and bright melodic treble (fingers).
🎵 Bass Alternation (optional):
D: alternate 4th → 5th string
A7: 5th → 4th
G: 6th → 4th
This creates a nice rolling pulse — very “Scottish waltz” in style.
🎵 Dynamics:
Verses soft and intimate.
Chorus a little fuller — especially “Sit beneath the fiddle tree…”
End quietly on the final D, let it ring.
🎵 Ending Suggestion
Let the final D chord ring out in arpeggio:
e|--2-----------|
B|----3---------|
G|------2-------|
D|--0-----------|
A|--------------|
E|--------------|
Let it fade — like the sound of a fiddle echoing in the hall.
Think of it as “Boom - chick - chick”, steady like a slow fiddle tune accompaniment.
↓ (bass) ↓↑ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
How it feels:
Beat 1 – thumb or pick hits the bass note of the chord.
Beats 2–3 – gentle down-up on middle strings.
Beats 4–6 – soft down-up-down-up, flowing through.
Keep your strum smooth and circular — like a fiddler’s bowing motion.
If you prefer a simpler waltz feel for verses:
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
(one downbeat + two light sweeps)
🎸 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (Flowing 6/8 Arpeggio)
You can use this rolling pattern on all chords:
T – I – M – A – M – I
(Thumb on bass, Index = G string, Middle = B string, Ring = high E)
This gives you one full 6/8 bar per measure, like the sway of the tune.
🎶 Example Fingerpicking Tabs
D Major
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
A7
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------2---2-------2---2---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--0-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
G Major
e|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
💡 Example (Fingerpicked Chorus)
D A7
e|--------2-----------2------|--------0-----------0------|
B|------3---3-------3---3----|------2---2-------2---2----|
G|----2-------2---2-------2--|----0-------0---0-------0--|
D|--0-----------0------------|--2-----------2------------|
A|----------------------------|--0------------------------|
E|----------------------------|---------------------------|
O no more will I rove no more, it's over...
💡 Example (Fingerpicked Verse)
D G
e|--------2-----------2------|--------3-----------3------|
B|------3---3-------3---3----|------0---0-------0---0----|
G|----2-------2---2-------2--|----0-------0---0-------0--|
D|--0-----------0------------|--0-----------0------------|
A|----------------------------|--2------------------------|
E|----------------------------|--3------------------------|
The old man looked in the ingleook and wondered...
⚙️ Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Let the rhythm sway gently — don’t play too strictly in time; it’s reflective.
Think of how a fiddle and cello might accompany each other — deep, steady bass (thumb) and bright melodic treble (fingers).
🎵 Bass Alternation (optional):
D: alternate 4th → 5th string
A7: 5th → 4th
G: 6th → 4th
This creates a nice rolling pulse — very “Scottish waltz” in style.
🎵 Dynamics:
Verses soft and intimate.
Chorus a little fuller — especially “Sit beneath the fiddle tree…”
End quietly on the final D, let it ring.
🎵 Ending Suggestion
Let the final D chord ring out in arpeggio:
e|--2-----------|
B|----3---------|
G|------2-------|
D|--0-----------|
A|--------------|
E|--------------|
Let it fade — like the sound of a fiddle echoing in the hall.
Guitar chords in the key of G
(G)O no more will I (D7)rove no more, it's (G)over
O no more will I (D7)rove no more, it's (G)done
I'll (C)sit beneath the (G)fiddle tree
With the (C)ghost of Niel Gow (D7)next to me
(G)Listen, Niel, your ap(D7)prentice has be(G)gun
The (G)old man looked in the (D7)ingleook and (G)wondered
His brother in a foreign (D7)land he must re(G)main
When (C)deived about the (G)life he'd choose
They (C)each would wear the (D7)other one's shoes
This (G)motherland is a (D7)source of constant (G)pain
Chorus
Play one verse instrumentally
(G)Rumblin' Brig I (D7)hear your music (G)calling
In the outback (D7)still I heard your (G)song
(C)Living off a (G)foreign field
With far (C)more fish than the (D7)burn could yield
This (G)trip will be my (D7)last and it won't be (G)long
(G)O no more will I (D7)rove no more, it's (G)over
O no more will I (D7)rove no more, it's (G)done
I'll (C)sit beneath the (G)fiddle tree
With the (C)ghost of Niel Gow (D7)next to me
(G)Listen, Niel, your ap(D7)prentice has be(G)gun
The (G)old man looked in the (D7)ingleook and (G)wondered
His brother in a foreign (D7)land he must re(G)main
When (C)deived about the (G)life he'd choose
They (C)each would wear the (D7)other one's shoes
This (G)motherland is a (D7)source of constant (G)pain
Chorus
Play one verse instrumentally
(G)Rumblin' Brig I (D7)hear your music (G)calling
In the outback (D7)still I heard your (G)song
(C)Living off a (G)foreign field
With far (C)more fish than the (D7)burn could yield
This (G)trip will be my (D7)last and it won't be (G)long
