Portnahaven Lyrics And Guitar Chords by The McCalmans
3/4 (Nick Keir)To play along to the McCalmans on their album ‚Honest Poverty’ use a capo on the 3rd fret.
Chorus
If (A)I had the (D)time now, I would be (A)lea(D)ving,
Slipping out (G)quietly be(D)fore break of (A)day,
Taking the (D)West coast line (G)to Portna(Bm)haven,(G)
Let the sun on my (D)back find me (A)well on my (D)way. -G-D-A
A (D)blackbird is (G)chattering (D)outside my (A)window,
(D)Sleep is a stranger a(G)gain,-A
He's (D)calling the city to (G)start up its (A)rumble,
(D)Calling at last for the (G)day to be(A)gin.
Chorus
(D)Lochranza, (G)Kennacraig (D)wait for the (A)ferry,
(D)Peddling out through the (G)rain, -A
(D)Port Charlotte old friends a (G)drink and a (A)song or two,
Then (D)off on the road in the (G)morning a(A)gain.
Chorus
(Bm)I could be home again before folk had (A)missed me,
(Bm)Stepping in silent at (A)dawn,
If (Bm)you ask no questions then you could come (A)with me,
(Bm)No one would notice we'd (A)gone.
(D)Climb on the (G)rocks and look (D)out over (A)Ireland,
(D)Watch the gulls pillage the (G)shore, -A
(D)Stand by the place where she (G)whispered her (A)lies to me,
(D)Know that it matters not (G)much any (A)more.
Chorus twice
If (A)I had the (D)time now, I would be (A)lea(D)ving,
Slipping out (G)quietly be(D)fore break of (A)day,
Taking the (D)West coast line (G)to Portna(Bm)haven,(G)
Let the sun on my (D)back find me (A)well on my (D)way. -G-D-A
A (D)blackbird is (G)chattering (D)outside my (A)window,
(D)Sleep is a stranger a(G)gain,-A
He's (D)calling the city to (G)start up its (A)rumble,
(D)Calling at last for the (G)day to be(A)gin.
Chorus
(D)Lochranza, (G)Kennacraig (D)wait for the (A)ferry,
(D)Peddling out through the (G)rain, -A
(D)Port Charlotte old friends a (G)drink and a (A)song or two,
Then (D)off on the road in the (G)morning a(A)gain.
Chorus
(Bm)I could be home again before folk had (A)missed me,
(Bm)Stepping in silent at (A)dawn,
If (Bm)you ask no questions then you could come (A)with me,
(Bm)No one would notice we'd (A)gone.
(D)Climb on the (G)rocks and look (D)out over (A)Ireland,
(D)Watch the gulls pillage the (G)shore, -A
(D)Stand by the place where she (G)whispered her (A)lies to me,
(D)Know that it matters not (G)much any (A)more.
Chorus twice
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (Gentle Folk Flow)
For 4/4, use this soft “rolling down-up” rhythm that suits wistful ballads:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Count: 1 2& 3&4&
Tips:
Keep the first downstroke light but clear (bass note emphasis).
Brush the top strings lightly on the upstrokes.
Add a small pause between 2 and 3 to let the lyrics breathe.
Alternate simpler version (for verses):
↓ (pause) ↓↑
Count: 1 – 2 – 3&4
It gives that quiet storytelling tone, perfect for the verses.
🎸 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (Flowing Arpeggio)
Use this rolling 4/4 arpeggio that sounds like gentle waves — very natural for a “west coast” tune.
Pattern:
T – I – M – A – M – I – M – A
(Thumb on bass, Index = G, Middle = B, Ring = high E)
🎶 Example Fingerpicking Tabs
D Major
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
G Major
e|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
A Major
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------2---2-------2---2---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--0-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
Bm
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----4-------4---4-------4-------|
D|--4-----------4-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
💡 Example Verse Fingerpicked
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-------------------------|
A blackbird is chattering outside my window...
💡 Example Chorus Strummed
If (A)I had the (D)time now, I would be (A)lea(D)ving,
Slipping out (G)quietly be(D)fore break of (A)day,
Taking the (D)West coast line (G)to Portna(Bm)haven,(G)
Let the sun on my (D)back find me (A)well on my (D)way.
For the chorus, play the strumming a little stronger — accent beats 1 and 3 — to give it that feeling of travel and momentum.
⚙️ Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Imagine sunrise over Islay or Portnahaven — the guitar should sound like the tide, steady and calm.
Play with your thumb and fingers softly, avoiding harsh plucking.
🎵 Bass alternation:
To add movement, alternate the bass notes lightly:
D: 4th → 5th
G: 6th → 4th
A: 5th → 4th
Bm: 5th → 4th
🎵 Dynamics:
Keep verses soft and storytelling.
Build slightly in the chorus with fuller strumming or double thumb strokes.
Fade gently on the last “well on my way.”
For 4/4, use this soft “rolling down-up” rhythm that suits wistful ballads:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Count: 1 2& 3&4&
Tips:
Keep the first downstroke light but clear (bass note emphasis).
Brush the top strings lightly on the upstrokes.
Add a small pause between 2 and 3 to let the lyrics breathe.
Alternate simpler version (for verses):
↓ (pause) ↓↑
Count: 1 – 2 – 3&4
It gives that quiet storytelling tone, perfect for the verses.
🎸 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (Flowing Arpeggio)
Use this rolling 4/4 arpeggio that sounds like gentle waves — very natural for a “west coast” tune.
Pattern:
T – I – M – A – M – I – M – A
(Thumb on bass, Index = G, Middle = B, Ring = high E)
🎶 Example Fingerpicking Tabs
D Major
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
G Major
e|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
A Major
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------2---2-------2---2---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--0-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
Bm
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----4-------4---4-------4-------|
D|--4-----------4-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
💡 Example Verse Fingerpicked
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-------------------------|
A blackbird is chattering outside my window...
💡 Example Chorus Strummed
If (A)I had the (D)time now, I would be (A)lea(D)ving,
Slipping out (G)quietly be(D)fore break of (A)day,
Taking the (D)West coast line (G)to Portna(Bm)haven,(G)
Let the sun on my (D)back find me (A)well on my (D)way.
For the chorus, play the strumming a little stronger — accent beats 1 and 3 — to give it that feeling of travel and momentum.
⚙️ Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Imagine sunrise over Islay or Portnahaven — the guitar should sound like the tide, steady and calm.
Play with your thumb and fingers softly, avoiding harsh plucking.
🎵 Bass alternation:
To add movement, alternate the bass notes lightly:
D: 4th → 5th
G: 6th → 4th
A: 5th → 4th
Bm: 5th → 4th
🎵 Dynamics:
Keep verses soft and storytelling.
Build slightly in the chorus with fuller strumming or double thumb strokes.
Fade gently on the last “well on my way.”
