The Black Watch lyrics and chords
Writer unknown, recorded by Athenry and Shebeen. Guitar music - Marc Fahrbach. The video is The Irish Brigade.
You've (D)heard about the B-men, the (G)cruel RU(D)C
You've heard about the black'n'tans in (G)bygone histor(A)y
Well (G)there's another regiment the (D)devil calls his own
They're known as the Black Watch (A)commissioned by the (D)thrown.
Chorus:
(D)Strolling down the Falls road with (G)riot guns and (D)gas
Terrorizing women as they're (G)coming out of (A)mass
A (G)bunch of Scottish traitors we (D)never will forget
Thank god we know the IRA sure (A)aren’t beaten (D)yet.
These soldiers come from Scotland, a place we all know well
From the hardest parts of Glasgow where the `Teddy Bears' do dwell
They're given a British uniform and given a British gun
They join a British regiment just to have themselves some fun.
Chorus
When I grow up and marry, I'll have a little son
I'll tell him about the regiment and the terrible things they've done
And when he gets older, becomes a man like me
He'll become a volunteer and set old Ireland free
this is a strong rebel-style song with a marching folk rhythm.
Below you’ll find everything in G Major (transposed from D → G), including:
🎵 Full chords for the verses and chorus
🎸 A suitable strumming pattern (folk/march feel)
🎶 A fingerpicking tab for all verses (lyrics aligned, performance-ready)
🎵 “The Black Watch” — in G Major
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~85 BPM (steady march)
Time Signature: 4/4
🎶 1. Full Song with Chords (Transposed to G Major)
Verse
You’ve (G)heard about the B-men, the (C)cruel R-U-(G)C
You’ve heard about the Black and Tans in (C)bygone histor(D)y
Well (C)there’s another regiment the (G)devil calls his own
They’re (C)known as the Black Watch (D)commissioned by the (G)throne.
Chorus
(G)Strolling down the Falls road with (C)riot guns and (G)gas
Terrorizing women as they’re (C)coming out of (D)mass
A (C)bunch of Scottish traitors we’ll (G)never more forget
Thank (C)God we know the IRA sure (D)aren’t beaten (G)yet.
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern
A driving, rhythmic folk-march pattern suits this song:
Pattern (per measure):
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count:
1 2& &4&
Tips:
Keep it firm and percussive, as if marching.
On strong lines (like “thank God we know the IRA…”), strum a little heavier.
Use your thumb or a soft pick for a woody, folk tone.
Optional: palm mute the bass slightly for verses to mimic drum cadence.
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab for All Verses (Lyrics Aligned)
Style: Travis picking
Thumb alternates bass (E–D for G, A–D for C, D–G for D)
Index on G string, middle on B string
Pattern:
Bass → G → D → B (repeat)
Verse Fingerpicking Arrangement
G
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
You've heard about the B-men,
C G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
The cruel R-U-C, you've heard about the Black and Tans
C D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
In bygone hist-o-ry,
C G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
There’s another regiment the devil calls his own,
C D G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------3---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--2-------------|--3-------------|
They’re known as the Black Watch, commissioned by the throne.
Chorus Fingerpicking Arrangement
G C
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
Strolling down the Falls road with riot guns and gas,
G C D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------1---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|--2-------------|
Terrorizing women as they’re coming out of mass,
C G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
A bunch of Scottish traitors we’ll never more forget,
C D G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------3---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--2-------------|--3-------------|
Thank God we know the IRA sure aren’t beaten yet.
💡 Performance Tips
Keep the thumb moving like a steady drum for the march rhythm.
Slightly mute the bass with your palm to create a percussive feel.
You can alternate between fingerpicking in verses and strumming in the chorus for dynamic contrast.
End the last line of each chorus with a single strong downstroke on G.
Below you’ll find everything in G Major (transposed from D → G), including:
🎵 Full chords for the verses and chorus
🎸 A suitable strumming pattern (folk/march feel)
🎶 A fingerpicking tab for all verses (lyrics aligned, performance-ready)
🎵 “The Black Watch” — in G Major
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~85 BPM (steady march)
Time Signature: 4/4
🎶 1. Full Song with Chords (Transposed to G Major)
Verse
You’ve (G)heard about the B-men, the (C)cruel R-U-(G)C
You’ve heard about the Black and Tans in (C)bygone histor(D)y
Well (C)there’s another regiment the (G)devil calls his own
They’re (C)known as the Black Watch (D)commissioned by the (G)throne.
Chorus
(G)Strolling down the Falls road with (C)riot guns and (G)gas
Terrorizing women as they’re (C)coming out of (D)mass
A (C)bunch of Scottish traitors we’ll (G)never more forget
Thank (C)God we know the IRA sure (D)aren’t beaten (G)yet.
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern
A driving, rhythmic folk-march pattern suits this song:
Pattern (per measure):
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count:
1 2& &4&
Tips:
Keep it firm and percussive, as if marching.
On strong lines (like “thank God we know the IRA…”), strum a little heavier.
Use your thumb or a soft pick for a woody, folk tone.
Optional: palm mute the bass slightly for verses to mimic drum cadence.
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab for All Verses (Lyrics Aligned)
Style: Travis picking
Thumb alternates bass (E–D for G, A–D for C, D–G for D)
Index on G string, middle on B string
Pattern:
Bass → G → D → B (repeat)
Verse Fingerpicking Arrangement
G
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
You've heard about the B-men,
C G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
The cruel R-U-C, you've heard about the Black and Tans
C D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
In bygone hist-o-ry,
C G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
There’s another regiment the devil calls his own,
C D G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------3---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--2-------------|--3-------------|
They’re known as the Black Watch, commissioned by the throne.
Chorus Fingerpicking Arrangement
G C
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------1---------|------1---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
Strolling down the Falls road with riot guns and gas,
G C D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------1---------|------3---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|--2-------------|
Terrorizing women as they’re coming out of mass,
C G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
A bunch of Scottish traitors we’ll never more forget,
C D G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------3---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----2---2-------|----0---0-------|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--2-------------|--3-------------|
Thank God we know the IRA sure aren’t beaten yet.
💡 Performance Tips
Keep the thumb moving like a steady drum for the march rhythm.
Slightly mute the bass with your palm to create a percussive feel.
You can alternate between fingerpicking in verses and strumming in the chorus for dynamic contrast.
End the last line of each chorus with a single strong downstroke on G.
