The Black Douglas Lyrics And Guitar Chords
Scottish- by Roy Williamson/George Weir. Recorded by The Corries.
|
There wa(A)s a man sae da(E)rk and true Wha Sc(D)otland lo(E)o'ed sae de(A)ar There was a king wha la(E)ng will rue The Sc(D)ots wha fla(E)yed him sa(A)ir Gan c(E)ry the hounds o Do(D)uglasv(A)ale Gan st(E)ring the Ettrick Bow(A) Gan warn the spears o' Li(E)ddiesdale That E(D)dward le(E)ads the f(A)oe He wore the cross our Andrew bore by the steps o’ calvary He won the sword our Robert wore by the field o’ Balvennie Gan shear the chains o’ slavery, gan dance my leige man lee Gan ring the bell o’ Liberty shod wi’ the metal free He won his spurs doon by St. Bride upon the green she free He held the leopard and the tide by the field o’ Lintounie Gan shine the shield yer father bore, gan strike yer metal free Gan shine the helm yer father wore by the field of Torwoodlee He rode yin nicht when it was mirk doon by the leopard’s lair He chased the tyrant in his shirt around the field sae fair Gan pack yer bags ye English loons, gan tak ye banners hame Gan tak yer king wha sought oor croon and lost the bloody game 
Chords for the key of D.
There wa(D)s a man sae da(A)rk and true Wha Sc(G)otland lo(A)o'ed sae de(D)ar There was a king wha la(A)ng will rue The Sc(G)ots wha fla(A)yed him sa(D)ir Gan c(A)ry the hounds o Do(G)uglasv(D)ale Gan st(A)ring the Ettrick Bow(D) Gan warn the spears o' Li(A)ddiesdale That E(G)dward le(A)ads the f(D)oe |
|
“The Douglas Tragedy” / “The Lament of Douglasvale”, a traditional Scottish ballad (often sung in a slow 6/8 or 3/4 time).
It has a solemn, storytelling tone — ideal for gentle fingerpicking or a slow, swaying strum.
Below is your full guitar arrangement in G Major, including:
✅ Strumming pattern (in 6/8 time)
✅ Fingerpicking tab for all verses
✅ Performance guidance
🎵 The Douglas Lament — Key of G Major
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~70 BPM
Time Signature: 6/8 (slow compound rhythm — "ONE-two-three, FOUR-five-six")
🎸 1. Chords (Clean Layout)
There wa[G]s a man sae da[D]rk and true,
Wha Sc[C]otland lo[D]o’ed sae de[G]ar;
There was a king wha la[D]ng will rue
The Sc[C]ots wha fla[D]yed him sa[G]ir.
Gan c[D]ry the hounds o’ Do[C]uglasv[G]ale,
Gan st[D]ring the Ettrick Bow[G],
Gan warn the spears o’ Li[D]ddiesdale,
That E[C]dward le[D]ads the f[G]oe.
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (6/8 – Scottish Folk Feel)
Pattern (per bar):
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Count:
1 2 3 4 5 6
Feel:
Strong downbeat on beat 1 (bass note)
Light down-up motion on 2–3 and 5–6
Keep a rolling, lilting pulse like a slow gallop
Example (on G):
🎵 Bass (6th string) → ↓↑ (beats 2–3) → ↓↑ (beats 5–6)
For storytelling verses, play softly with your fingertips or a felt pick.
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
We’ll use a 6/8 arpeggio pattern:
T – I – M – T – I – M
(Thumb plays bass; Index on G string; Middle on B string)
This creates the “rolling” feel of Scottish harp accompaniment.
Verse Fingerpicking Example
G
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
There was a man sae dark and true,
D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|
G|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--0-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Wha Scotland loo’ed sae dear,
C D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
There was a king wha lang will rue, the Scots wha flayed him sair,
G D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
Gan cry the hounds o' Douglasvale, gan string the Ettrick bow,
G D G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------3---3-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----2---2---2---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|--0-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Gan warn the spears o’ Liddiesdale, that Edward leads the foe.
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Tempo:
Slow and steady — imagine the rhythm of marching soldiers in the mist.
🎵 Tone:
Use the flesh of your fingers or a soft pick for a warm, harp-like sound.
Let notes ring into each other — don’t mute too quickly.
🎵 Dynamics:
Start verse 1 softly (reflective).
Build intensity on verse 2 and 3.
Fade on the final line for a solemn close.
🎵 Optional Ornamentation:
On C, hammer-on D string (0→2) for a Celtic touch.
On G, hammer-on A string (0→2) between rolls.
On D, hammer-on G string (0→2).
🎵 Bass alternation:
G: 6th → 4th
C: 5th → 4th
D: 4th → 5th
🎵 Example Ending (slow arpeggio G)
e|--3-----------|
B|----0---------|
G|------0-------|
D|--------0-----|
A|--------------|
E|--3-----------|
Let it ring gently — the classic folk finish.
