Shoals Of Herring Lyrics And Chords
The first piece of sheet music can be used on the flute or accordion. Ewan McColl wrote this folk song. It was recorded by Ewan McColl , The Corries , Llewyn-Davis, and The Dubliners. The sheet music and tin whistle notes are included. Ewan has wrote a raft of great songs , many are included here. I have given a couple of versions of the guitar chords in chordpro including the version as played by Luke Kelly. The song featured in the film Inside Llewyn Davis with Oscar Isaac. It was also recorded by The Clancy Brothers and. Louis Killen. The ukulele chords are now included plus the piano sheet music and chords in a pdf..
Shoales Of Herring Song Words With Chords In C Major
With[C] our nets and [Am]gear we're[G] far[C]ing
On[C] the wild and waste[F]ful[C] oc[G]ean.
Its there[C] that we[F] hunt and we[C] earn[G] our[Am] bread
As we[C] hunted[F] for the shoals of[G] herr[C]ing
O[C] it was a fine and a pleasant day
Out of Yarmouth harbor I was[G] faring
As a[C] cabinboy on a sailing[Am] lugger
For to go and[C] hunt the[F] shoals of[G] herr[C]ing
O the work was hard and the hours long
And the treatment, sure it took some bearing
There was little kindness and the kicks were many
As we hunted for the shoals of herring
O we fished the Swarth and the Broken Bank
I was cook and I'd a quarter sharing
And I used to sleep standing on my feet
And I'd dream about the shoals of herring
O we left the homegrounds in the month of June
And to Canny Shiels we soon were bearing
With a hundred cran of silver darlings
That we'd taken from the shoals of herring
Now you're up on deck, you're a fisherman
You can swear and show a manly bearing
Take your turn on watch with the other fellows
While you're searching for the shoals of herring
In the stormy seas and the living gales
Just to earn your daily bread you're daring
From the Dover Straits to the Faroe Islands
As you're following the shoals of herring
O I earned my keep and I paid my way
And I earned the gear that I was wearing
Sailed a million miles, caught ten million fishes
We were sailing after shoals of herring
With[C] our nets and [Am]gear we're[G] far[C]ing
On[C] the wild and waste[F]ful[C] oc[G]ean.
Its there[C] that we[F] hunt and we[C] earn[G] our[Am] bread
As we[C] hunted[F] for the shoals of[G] herr[C]ing
O[C] it was a fine and a pleasant day
Out of Yarmouth harbor I was[G] faring
As a[C] cabinboy on a sailing[Am] lugger
For to go and[C] hunt the[F] shoals of[G] herr[C]ing
O the work was hard and the hours long
And the treatment, sure it took some bearing
There was little kindness and the kicks were many
As we hunted for the shoals of herring
O we fished the Swarth and the Broken Bank
I was cook and I'd a quarter sharing
And I used to sleep standing on my feet
And I'd dream about the shoals of herring
O we left the homegrounds in the month of June
And to Canny Shiels we soon were bearing
With a hundred cran of silver darlings
That we'd taken from the shoals of herring
Now you're up on deck, you're a fisherman
You can swear and show a manly bearing
Take your turn on watch with the other fellows
While you're searching for the shoals of herring
In the stormy seas and the living gales
Just to earn your daily bread you're daring
From the Dover Straits to the Faroe Islands
As you're following the shoals of herring
O I earned my keep and I paid my way
And I earned the gear that I was wearing
Sailed a million miles, caught ten million fishes
We were sailing after shoals of herring
Full guitar chords for all the verses in C Major.
Here are the lyrics with the chord pattern from the first verse applied to all subsequent verses.
With[C] our nets and [Am]gear we're[G] far[C]ing
On[C] the wild and waste[F]ful[C] oc[G]ean.
Its there[C] that we[F] hunt and we[C] earn[G] our[Am] bread
As we[C] hunted[F] for the shoals of[G] herr[C]ing
O[C] it was a fine and a [Am]pleasant [G]day[C]
Out of[C] Yarmouth harbor [F]I was [C]far[G]ing
As a[C] cabin[F]boy on a [C]sail[G]ing [Am]lugger
For to[C] go and[F] hunt the[G] shoals of[C] herring
O the[C] work was hard and the [Am]hours [G]long[C]
And the[C] treatment, sure it [F]took some [C]bear[G]ing
There was[C] little [F]kindness and the [C]kicks [G]were [Am]many
As we[C] hunted[F] for the[G] shoals of[C] herring
O we[C] fished the Swarth and the [Am]Broken [G]Bank[C]
I was[C] cook and I'd a [F]quarter [C]shar[G]ing
And I[C] used to [F]sleep standing [C]on [G]my [Am]feet
And I'd[C] dream a[F]bout the[G] shoals of[C] herring
O we[C] left the homegrounds in the [Am]month of [G]June[C]
And to[C] Canny Shiels we [F]soon were [C]bear[G]ing
With a[C] hundred [F]cran of [C]sil[G]ver [Am]darlings
That we'd[C] taken[F] from the[G] shoals of[C] herring
Now you're[C] up on deck, you're a [Am]fisher[G]man[C]
You can[C] swear and show a [F]manly [C]bear[G]ing
Take your[C] turn on [F]watch with the [C]oth[G]er [Am]fellows
While you're[C] searching[F] for the[G] shoals of[C] herring
In the[C] stormy seas and the [Am]living [G]gales[C]
Just to[C] earn your daily [F]bread you're [C]dar[G]ing
From the[C] Dover [F]Straits to the [C]Far[G]oe [Am]Islands
As you're[C] following[F] the[G] shoals of[C] herring
O I[C] earned my keep and I [Am]paid my [G]way[C]
And I[C] earned the gear that [F]I was [C]wear[G]ing
Sailed a[C] million [F]miles, caught [C]ten [G]million [Am]fishes
We were[C] sailing[F] after[G] shoals of[C] herring
Here are the lyrics with the chord pattern from the first verse applied to all subsequent verses.
With[C] our nets and [Am]gear we're[G] far[C]ing
On[C] the wild and waste[F]ful[C] oc[G]ean.
Its there[C] that we[F] hunt and we[C] earn[G] our[Am] bread
As we[C] hunted[F] for the shoals of[G] herr[C]ing
O[C] it was a fine and a [Am]pleasant [G]day[C]
Out of[C] Yarmouth harbor [F]I was [C]far[G]ing
As a[C] cabin[F]boy on a [C]sail[G]ing [Am]lugger
For to[C] go and[F] hunt the[G] shoals of[C] herring
O the[C] work was hard and the [Am]hours [G]long[C]
And the[C] treatment, sure it [F]took some [C]bear[G]ing
There was[C] little [F]kindness and the [C]kicks [G]were [Am]many
As we[C] hunted[F] for the[G] shoals of[C] herring
O we[C] fished the Swarth and the [Am]Broken [G]Bank[C]
I was[C] cook and I'd a [F]quarter [C]shar[G]ing
And I[C] used to [F]sleep standing [C]on [G]my [Am]feet
And I'd[C] dream a[F]bout the[G] shoals of[C] herring
O we[C] left the homegrounds in the [Am]month of [G]June[C]
And to[C] Canny Shiels we [F]soon were [C]bear[G]ing
With a[C] hundred [F]cran of [C]sil[G]ver [Am]darlings
That we'd[C] taken[F] from the[G] shoals of[C] herring
Now you're[C] up on deck, you're a [Am]fisher[G]man[C]
You can[C] swear and show a [F]manly [C]bear[G]ing
Take your[C] turn on [F]watch with the [C]oth[G]er [Am]fellows
While you're[C] searching[F] for the[G] shoals of[C] herring
In the[C] stormy seas and the [Am]living [G]gales[C]
Just to[C] earn your daily [F]bread you're [C]dar[G]ing
From the[C] Dover [F]Straits to the [C]Far[G]oe [Am]Islands
As you're[C] following[F] the[G] shoals of[C] herring
O I[C] earned my keep and I [Am]paid my [G]way[C]
And I[C] earned the gear that [F]I was [C]wear[G]ing
Sailed a[C] million [F]miles, caught [C]ten [G]million [Am]fishes
We were[C] sailing[F] after[G] shoals of[C] herring
Here's the chords as played by Luck Kelly on his banjo.
With[C] our nets and gear we're[G] far[C]ing
On[C] the wild and waste[F]ful[C] ocean.
It's out there on the [F]deep
[C]We harvest and [F]reap [C]our bread
As we hunt the bonny [F]shoals [C]of [G]herr[C]ing
O[C] it was a fine and a pleasant day
Out of Yarmouth harbor I was[G] faring
As a[C] cabinboy on a sailing lugger
We were following the [G]shoals of Herr[C]ing
With[C] our nets and gear we're[G] far[C]ing
On[C] the wild and waste[F]ful[C] ocean.
It's out there on the [F]deep
[C]We harvest and [F]reap [C]our bread
As we hunt the bonny [F]shoals [C]of [G]herr[C]ing
O[C] it was a fine and a pleasant day
Out of Yarmouth harbor I was[G] faring
As a[C] cabinboy on a sailing lugger
We were following the [G]shoals of Herr[C]ing
Here's the guitar chords for the key of G.
With[G] our nets and [Em]gear we're[D] far[G]ing
On[G] the wild and waste[C]ful[G] oc[D]ean.
Its there[G] that we[C] hunt and we[G] earn[D] our[Em] bread
As we[G] hunted[C] for the shoals of[D] herr[G]ing
O[G] it was a fine and a [Em]pleasant [D]day[G]
Out of[G] Yarmouth harbor [C]I was [G]far[D]ing
As a[G] cabin[C]boy on a [G]sail[D]ing [Em]lugger
For to[G] go and[C] hunt the[D] shoals of[G] herring
O the[G] work was hard and the [Em]hours [D]long[G]
And the[G] treatment, sure it [C]took some [G]bear[D]ing
There was[G] little [C]kindness and the [G]kicks [D]were [Em]many
As we[G] hunted[C] for the[D] shoals of[G] herring
O we[G] fished the Swarth and the [Em]Broken [D]Bank[G]
I was[G] cook and I'd a [C]quarter [G]shar[D]ing
And I[G] used to [C]sleep standing [G]on [D]my [Em]feet
And I'd[G] dream a[C]bout the[D] shoals of[G] herring
O we[G] left the homegrounds in the [Em]month of [D]June[G]
And to[G] Canny Shiels we [C]soon were [G]bear[D]ing
With a[G] hundred [C]cran of [G]sil[D]ver [Em]darlings
That we'd[G] taken[C] from the[D] shoals of[G] herring
Now you're[G] up on deck, you're a [Em]fisher[D]man[G]
You can[G] swear and show a [C]manly [G]bear[D]ing
Take your[G] turn on [C]watch with the [G]oth[D]er [Em]fellows
While you're[G] searching[C] for the[D] shoals of[G] herring
In the[G] stormy seas and the [Em]living [D]gales[G]
Just to[G] earn your daily [C]bread you're [G]dar[D]ing
From the[G] Dover [C]Straits to the [G]Far[D]oe [Em]Islands
As you're[G] following[C] the[D] shoals of[G] herring
O I[G] earned my keep and I [Em]paid my [D]way[G]
And I[G] earned the gear that [C]I was [G]wear[D]ing
Sailed a[G] million [C]miles, caught [G]ten [D]million [Em]fishes
We were[G] sailing[C] after[D] shoals of[G] herring
With[G] our nets and [Em]gear we're[D] far[G]ing
On[G] the wild and waste[C]ful[G] oc[D]ean.
Its there[G] that we[C] hunt and we[G] earn[D] our[Em] bread
As we[G] hunted[C] for the shoals of[D] herr[G]ing
O[G] it was a fine and a [Em]pleasant [D]day[G]
Out of[G] Yarmouth harbor [C]I was [G]far[D]ing
As a[G] cabin[C]boy on a [G]sail[D]ing [Em]lugger
For to[G] go and[C] hunt the[D] shoals of[G] herring
O the[G] work was hard and the [Em]hours [D]long[G]
And the[G] treatment, sure it [C]took some [G]bear[D]ing
There was[G] little [C]kindness and the [G]kicks [D]were [Em]many
As we[G] hunted[C] for the[D] shoals of[G] herring
O we[G] fished the Swarth and the [Em]Broken [D]Bank[G]
I was[G] cook and I'd a [C]quarter [G]shar[D]ing
And I[G] used to [C]sleep standing [G]on [D]my [Em]feet
And I'd[G] dream a[C]bout the[D] shoals of[G] herring
O we[G] left the homegrounds in the [Em]month of [D]June[G]
And to[G] Canny Shiels we [C]soon were [G]bear[D]ing
With a[G] hundred [C]cran of [G]sil[D]ver [Em]darlings
That we'd[G] taken[C] from the[D] shoals of[G] herring
Now you're[G] up on deck, you're a [Em]fisher[D]man[G]
You can[G] swear and show a [C]manly [G]bear[D]ing
Take your[G] turn on [C]watch with the [G]oth[D]er [Em]fellows
While you're[G] searching[C] for the[D] shoals of[G] herring
In the[G] stormy seas and the [Em]living [D]gales[G]
Just to[G] earn your daily [C]bread you're [G]dar[D]ing
From the[G] Dover [C]Straits to the [G]Far[D]oe [Em]Islands
As you're[G] following[C] the[D] shoals of[G] herring
O I[G] earned my keep and I [Em]paid my [D]way[G]
And I[G] earned the gear that [C]I was [G]wear[D]ing
Sailed a[G] million [C]miles, caught [G]ten [D]million [Em]fishes
We were[G] sailing[C] after[D] shoals of[G] herring
Below are the strumming pattern options and a fingerpicking tab for the first verse that captures the song’s traditional flow.
🎵 Key: G Major
Time: 3/4 (slow folk waltz)
Tempo: ~85 bpm
🎸 Strumming Pattern
Style: gentle waltz / maritime ballad
Use a relaxed “boom–chuck–chuck” rhythm:
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Count 1 2 3
Bass Chord Chord
Bass guide (alternate for movement):
Chord Beat 1 Bass Beat 2–3 Chords
G 6th → 4th string middle strings
C 5th → 4th string middle strings
D/D7 4th → 5th string middle strings
Em 6th → 4th string middle strings
Keep the strum soft — use fingertips or nails for a rolling, wave-like feel.
🎸 Fingerpicking Tab — First Verse
Use a 3/4 arpeggio pattern:
Thumb (T) – Index (i) – Middle (m) – Thumb (T) – Index (i) – Middle (m)
Each measure follows T–i–m–T–i–m, giving it a swaying, nautical rhythm.
💠 Verse 1 Fingerpicking Tab
G Em D G
e|-------3-------3-|-------0-------0-|-------2-------2-|-------3-------3-|
B|-----0---0---0---|-----0---0---0---|-----3---3---3---|-----0---0---0---|
G|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---2-------2-----|---0-------0-----|
D|-----------------|---2-------------|---0-------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|---3-------------|-----------------|-----------------|---3-------------|
G C G D
e|-------3-------3-|-------0-------0-|-------3-------3-|-------2-------2-|
B|-----0---0---0---|-----1---1---1---|-----0---0---0---|-----3---3---3---|
G|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---2-------2-----|
D|-----------------|---2-------------|-----------------|---0-------------|
A|-----------------|---3-------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|---3-------------|-----------------|---3-------------|-----------------|
G C D G
e|-------3-------3-|-------0-------0-|-------2-------2-|-------3-------3-|
B|-----0---0---0---|-----1---1---1---|-----3---3---3---|-----0---0---0---|
G|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---2-------2-----|---0-------0-----|
D|-----------------|---2-------------|---0-------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|---3-------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|---3-------------|-----------------|-----------------|---3-------------|
That covers “With our nets and gear we’re faring…” beautifully — the thumb rocks the bass like the sea, while the upper strings shimmer like waves.
💡 Performance Tips
Keep the bass pulse steady on beat 1 — it’s the heartbeat of the song.
Let the upper strings ring; don’t damp them.
Between verses, strum lightly downward once per bar to build momentum before resuming picking.
🎵 Key: G Major
Time: 3/4 (slow folk waltz)
Tempo: ~85 bpm
🎸 Strumming Pattern
Style: gentle waltz / maritime ballad
Use a relaxed “boom–chuck–chuck” rhythm:
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Count 1 2 3
Bass Chord Chord
Bass guide (alternate for movement):
Chord Beat 1 Bass Beat 2–3 Chords
G 6th → 4th string middle strings
C 5th → 4th string middle strings
D/D7 4th → 5th string middle strings
Em 6th → 4th string middle strings
Keep the strum soft — use fingertips or nails for a rolling, wave-like feel.
🎸 Fingerpicking Tab — First Verse
Use a 3/4 arpeggio pattern:
Thumb (T) – Index (i) – Middle (m) – Thumb (T) – Index (i) – Middle (m)
Each measure follows T–i–m–T–i–m, giving it a swaying, nautical rhythm.
💠 Verse 1 Fingerpicking Tab
G Em D G
e|-------3-------3-|-------0-------0-|-------2-------2-|-------3-------3-|
B|-----0---0---0---|-----0---0---0---|-----3---3---3---|-----0---0---0---|
G|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---2-------2-----|---0-------0-----|
D|-----------------|---2-------------|---0-------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|---3-------------|-----------------|-----------------|---3-------------|
G C G D
e|-------3-------3-|-------0-------0-|-------3-------3-|-------2-------2-|
B|-----0---0---0---|-----1---1---1---|-----0---0---0---|-----3---3---3---|
G|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---2-------2-----|
D|-----------------|---2-------------|-----------------|---0-------------|
A|-----------------|---3-------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|---3-------------|-----------------|---3-------------|-----------------|
G C D G
e|-------3-------3-|-------0-------0-|-------2-------2-|-------3-------3-|
B|-----0---0---0---|-----1---1---1---|-----3---3---3---|-----0---0---0---|
G|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---2-------2-----|---0-------0-----|
D|-----------------|---2-------------|---0-------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|---3-------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|---3-------------|-----------------|-----------------|---3-------------|
That covers “With our nets and gear we’re faring…” beautifully — the thumb rocks the bass like the sea, while the upper strings shimmer like waves.
💡 Performance Tips
Keep the bass pulse steady on beat 1 — it’s the heartbeat of the song.
Let the upper strings ring; don’t damp them.
Between verses, strum lightly downward once per bar to build momentum before resuming picking.
Below is a version of the sheet music
Key of D Major.
With[D] our nets and [Bm]gear we're[A] far[D]ing
On[D] the wild and waste[G]ful[D] oc[A]ean.
Its there[D] that we[G] hunt and we[D] earn[A] our[Bm] bread
As we[D] hunted[G] for the shoals of[A] herr[D]ing
O[D] it was a fine and a [Bm]pleasant [A]day[D]
Out of[D] Yarmouth harbor [G]I was [D]far[A]ing
As a[D] cabin[G]boy on a [D]sail[A]ing [Bm]lugger
For to[D] go and[G] hunt the[A] shoals of[D] herring
O the[D] work was hard and the [Bm]hours [A]long[D]
And the[D] treatment, sure it [G]took some [D]bear[A]ing
There was[D] little [G]kindness and the [D]kicks [A]were [Bm]many
As we[D] hunted[G] for the[A] shoals of[D] herring
O we[D] fished the Swarth and the [Bm]Broken [A]Bank[D]
I was[D] cook and I'd a [G]quarter [D]shar[A]ing
And I[D] used to [G]sleep standing [D]on [A]my [Bm]feet
And I'd[D] dream a[G]bout the[A] shoals of[D] herring
O we[D] left the homegrounds in the [Bm]month of [A]June[D]
And to[D] Canny Shiels we [G]soon were [D]bear[A]ing
With a[D] hundred [G]cran of [D]sil[A]ver [Bm]darlings
That we'd[D] taken[G] from the[A] shoals of[D] herring
Now you're[D] up on deck, you're a [Bm]fisher[A]man[D]
You can[D] swear and show a [G]manly [D]bear[A]ing
Take your[D] turn on [G]watch with the [D]oth[A]er [Bm]fellows
While you're[D] searching[G] for the[A] shoals of[D] herring
In the[D] stormy seas and the [Bm]living [A]gales[D]
Just to[D] earn your daily [G]bread you're [D]dar[A]ing
From the[D] Dover [G]Straits to the [D]Far[A]oe [Bm]Islands
As you're[D] following[G] the[A] shoals of[D] herring
O I[D] earned my keep and I [Bm]paid my [A]way[D]
And I[D] earned the gear that [G]I was [D]wear[A]ing
Sailed a[D] million [G]miles, caught [D]ten [A]million [Bm]fishes
We were[D] sailing[G] after[A] shoals of[D] herring
With[D] our nets and [Bm]gear we're[A] far[D]ing
On[D] the wild and waste[G]ful[D] oc[A]ean.
Its there[D] that we[G] hunt and we[D] earn[A] our[Bm] bread
As we[D] hunted[G] for the shoals of[A] herr[D]ing
O[D] it was a fine and a [Bm]pleasant [A]day[D]
Out of[D] Yarmouth harbor [G]I was [D]far[A]ing
As a[D] cabin[G]boy on a [D]sail[A]ing [Bm]lugger
For to[D] go and[G] hunt the[A] shoals of[D] herring
O the[D] work was hard and the [Bm]hours [A]long[D]
And the[D] treatment, sure it [G]took some [D]bear[A]ing
There was[D] little [G]kindness and the [D]kicks [A]were [Bm]many
As we[D] hunted[G] for the[A] shoals of[D] herring
O we[D] fished the Swarth and the [Bm]Broken [A]Bank[D]
I was[D] cook and I'd a [G]quarter [D]shar[A]ing
And I[D] used to [G]sleep standing [D]on [A]my [Bm]feet
And I'd[D] dream a[G]bout the[A] shoals of[D] herring
O we[D] left the homegrounds in the [Bm]month of [A]June[D]
And to[D] Canny Shiels we [G]soon were [D]bear[A]ing
With a[D] hundred [G]cran of [D]sil[A]ver [Bm]darlings
That we'd[D] taken[G] from the[A] shoals of[D] herring
Now you're[D] up on deck, you're a [Bm]fisher[A]man[D]
You can[D] swear and show a [G]manly [D]bear[A]ing
Take your[D] turn on [G]watch with the [D]oth[A]er [Bm]fellows
While you're[D] searching[G] for the[A] shoals of[D] herring
In the[D] stormy seas and the [Bm]living [A]gales[D]
Just to[D] earn your daily [G]bread you're [D]dar[A]ing
From the[D] Dover [G]Straits to the [D]Far[A]oe [Bm]Islands
As you're[D] following[G] the[A] shoals of[D] herring
O I[D] earned my keep and I [Bm]paid my [A]way[D]
And I[D] earned the gear that [G]I was [D]wear[A]ing
Sailed a[D] million [G]miles, caught [D]ten [A]million [Bm]fishes
We were[D] sailing[G] after[A] shoals of[D] herring
Llewyn Davis singing Shoals Of Herring
Below is the list of sheet music and tin whistle songs that are in my ebooks. This is the largest collection of tin whistle songs ever put together.[over 900 songs ] Including folk, pop and trad tunes plus German And French songs along with Christmas Carols.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
Below is the list of sheet music and tin whistle songs that are in my ebooks. This is the largest collection of tin whistle songs ever put together.[over 900 songs ] Including folk, pop and trad tunes plus German And French songs along with Christmas Carols.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
