The Braes O' killiecrankie Song Lyrics And Chords
The Corries, written by Robert Burns. 2/4. Guitar work by Marc. The sheet music is included. I also added a version of the tin whistle notes in a higher key of D Major.
Whaur [E]hae ye been sae [A]braw, lad?
Whaur [E]hae ye been sae [B7]brankie-o?
Whaur [E]hae ye been sae [A]braw, lad?
Cam' [E]ye by [B7]Killie[A]crankie-[E]o?
Chorus
An' [E]ye had been whaur [A]I hae been
Ye [E]wadna been sae [B7]cantie-o
An' [E]ye had seen what [A]I hae seen
On the [E]braes o' [B7]Killie[A]crankie-[E]o
I [E]fought at land, I [A]fought at sea
At [E]hame I fought my [B7]auntie-o
But I [E]met the Devil [A]and Dundee
On the [E]braes o' [B7]Killie[A]crankie-[E]o
Chorus
The [E]bauld pit cur fell [A]in a furr
And [E]Clavers gat a [B7]clankie-o
And [E]I had fed an [A]Atholl gled
On the [E]braes o' [B7]Killie[A]crankie-[E]o
Chorus
Oh [E]fie, MacKay, What [A]gart ye lie
I' the [E]brush ayont the [B7]brankie-o?
Ye'd [E]better kiss'd King [A]Willie's loof
Than [E]come tae [B7]Killie[A]crankie-[E]o
Chorus
It's nae shame, it's nae shame
It's nae shame to shank ye-o
There's sour slaes on Athol braes
And the de'ils at [B7]Killie[A]crankie-[E]o
Chorus
Here's the guitar chords in the key of C
Whaur [C]hae ye been sae [F]braw, lad?
Whaur [C]hae ye been sae [G7]brankie-o?
Whaur [C]hae ye been sae [F]braw, lad?
Cam' [C]ye by [G7]Killie[F]crankie-[C]o?
Chorus
An' [C]ye had been whaur [F]I hae been
Ye [C]wadna been sae [G7]cantie-o
An' [C]ye had seen what [F]I hae seen
On the [C]braes o' [G7]Killie[F]crankie-[C]o
I [C]fought at land, I [F]fought at sea
At [C]hame I fought my [G7]auntie-o
But I [C]met the Devil [F]and Dundee
On the [C]braes o' [G7]Killie[F]crankie-[C]o
Chorus
The [C]bauld pit cur fell [F]in a furr
And [C]Clavers gat a [G7]clankie-o
And [C]I had fed an [F]Atholl gled
On the [C]braes o' [G7]Killie[F]crankie-[C]o
Chorus
Oh [C]fie, MacKay, What [F]gart ye lie
I' the [C]brush ayont the [G7]brankie-o?
Ye'd [C]better kiss'd King [F]Willie's loof
Than [C]come tae [G7]Killie[F]crankie-[C]o
Chorus
It's nae shame, it's nae shame
It's nae shame to shank ye-o
There's sour slaes on Athol braes
And the de'ils at [G7]Killie[F]crankie-[C]o
Chorus
Whaur [C]hae ye been sae [F]braw, lad?
Whaur [C]hae ye been sae [G7]brankie-o?
Whaur [C]hae ye been sae [F]braw, lad?
Cam' [C]ye by [G7]Killie[F]crankie-[C]o?
Chorus
An' [C]ye had been whaur [F]I hae been
Ye [C]wadna been sae [G7]cantie-o
An' [C]ye had seen what [F]I hae seen
On the [C]braes o' [G7]Killie[F]crankie-[C]o
I [C]fought at land, I [F]fought at sea
At [C]hame I fought my [G7]auntie-o
But I [C]met the Devil [F]and Dundee
On the [C]braes o' [G7]Killie[F]crankie-[C]o
Chorus
The [C]bauld pit cur fell [F]in a furr
And [C]Clavers gat a [G7]clankie-o
And [C]I had fed an [F]Atholl gled
On the [C]braes o' [G7]Killie[F]crankie-[C]o
Chorus
Oh [C]fie, MacKay, What [F]gart ye lie
I' the [C]brush ayont the [G7]brankie-o?
Ye'd [C]better kiss'd King [F]Willie's loof
Than [C]come tae [G7]Killie[F]crankie-[C]o
Chorus
It's nae shame, it's nae shame
It's nae shame to shank ye-o
There's sour slaes on Athol braes
And the de'ils at [G7]Killie[F]crankie-[C]o
Chorus
Here's the guitar chords in the key of G
Whaur [G]hae ye been sae [C]braw, lad?
Whaur [G]hae ye been sae [D7]brankie-o?
Whaur [G]hae ye been sae [C]braw, lad?
Cam' [G]ye by [D7]Killie[C]crankie-[G]o?
Chorus
An' [G]ye had been whaur [C]I hae been
Ye [G]wadna been sae [D7]cantie-o
An' [G]ye had seen what [C]I hae seen
On the [G]braes o' [D7]Killie[C]crankie-[G]o
I [G]fought at land, I [C]fought at sea
At [G]hame I fought my [D7]auntie-o
But I [G]met the Devil [C]and Dundee
On the [G]braes o' [D7]Killie[C]crankie-[G]o
Chorus
The [G]bauld pit cur fell [C]in a furr
And [G]Clavers gat a [D7]clankie-o
And [G]I had fed an [C]Atholl gled
On the [G]braes o' [D7]Killie[C]crankie-[G]o
Chorus
Oh [G]fie, MacKay, What [C]gart ye lie
I' the [G]brush ayont the [D7]brankie-o?
Ye'd [G]better kiss'd King [C]Willie's loof
Than [G]come tae [D7]Killie[C]crankie-[G]o
Chorus
It's nae shame, it's nae shame
It's nae shame to shank ye-o
There's sour slaes on Athol braes
And the de'ils at [D7]Killie[C]crankie-[G]o
Whaur [G]hae ye been sae [C]braw, lad?
Whaur [G]hae ye been sae [D7]brankie-o?
Whaur [G]hae ye been sae [C]braw, lad?
Cam' [G]ye by [D7]Killie[C]crankie-[G]o?
Chorus
An' [G]ye had been whaur [C]I hae been
Ye [G]wadna been sae [D7]cantie-o
An' [G]ye had seen what [C]I hae seen
On the [G]braes o' [D7]Killie[C]crankie-[G]o
I [G]fought at land, I [C]fought at sea
At [G]hame I fought my [D7]auntie-o
But I [G]met the Devil [C]and Dundee
On the [G]braes o' [D7]Killie[C]crankie-[G]o
Chorus
The [G]bauld pit cur fell [C]in a furr
And [G]Clavers gat a [D7]clankie-o
And [G]I had fed an [C]Atholl gled
On the [G]braes o' [D7]Killie[C]crankie-[G]o
Chorus
Oh [G]fie, MacKay, What [C]gart ye lie
I' the [G]brush ayont the [D7]brankie-o?
Ye'd [G]better kiss'd King [C]Willie's loof
Than [G]come tae [D7]Killie[C]crankie-[G]o
Chorus
It's nae shame, it's nae shame
It's nae shame to shank ye-o
There's sour slaes on Athol braes
And the de'ils at [D7]Killie[C]crankie-[G]o
The Braes o’ Killiecrankie — in G Major
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~90 BPM (lilting Scottish march)
Time Signature: 6/8
🎸 1. Chords
Verse
Whaur [G]hae ye been sae [C]braw, lad?
Whaur [G]hae ye been sae [D7]brankie-o?
Whaur [G]hae ye been sae [C]braw, lad?
Cam' [G]ye by [D7]Killie[C]crankie-[G]o?
Chorus
An' [G]ye had been whaur [C]I hae been,
Ye [G]wadna been sae [D7]cantie-o,
An' [G]ye had seen what [C]I hae seen,
On the [G]braes o' [D7]Killie[C]crankie-[G]o.
Verse 2
I [G]fought at land, I [C]fought at sea,
At [G]hame I fought my [D7]auntie-o,
But I [G]met the Devil [C]and Dundee,
On the [G]braes o' [D7]Killie[C]crankie-[G]o.
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (6/8 Feel)
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
Keep the first downstroke (beat 1) strong — it represents the Scottish march pulse.
Example for “Whaur hae ye been sae braw, lad?”
🎵 [G] ↓ (bass) ↓↑ (light) ↓↑ (flow)
For livelier verses, you can switch to:
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↑ ↓↑ (a continuous 6/8 jig feel)
Keep it bright and rhythmic, like a walking march with swing.
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
Here’s a 6/8 arpeggio pattern:
T – I – M – T – I – M
(Thumb plays bass, Index on G string, Middle on B string)
Verse 1 Fingerpicking Example
G
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Whaur hae ye been sae braw, lad?
C G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Whaur hae ye been sae brankie-o?
D7 G
e|------2---2-----|------2---2-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
B|----1---1---1---|----1---1---1---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
G|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|----------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Cam’ ye by Killiecrankie-o?
Chorus Fingerpicking Example
G C
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
An' ye had been whaur I hae been,
G D7 G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------1---1-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----2---2---2---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--0-------------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Ye wadna been sae cantie-o.
💡 Performance Notes
🎵 Tempo:
Keep a steady lilt, almost like a jig, but not rushed.
It should “sway” naturally: ONE-two-three, FOUR-five-six.
🎵 Dynamics:
First verse: soft, like a tale being told.
Chorus: fuller, stronger downbeats.
Final verse: fade on the last line for a proud ending.
🎵 Bass Alternation:
G: alternate 6th → 4th string
C: alternate 5th → 4th string
D7: alternate 4th → 5th string
🎵 Optional ornaments:
G chord: hammer-on from open A → 2nd fret (then to 3rd fret on E for G)
C chord: hammer-on on D string (0→2)
D7 chord: pull-off on high e string (2→0)
🎵 Ending Arpeggio:
e|--3-----------|
B|----0---------|
G|------0-------|
D|--------0-----|
A|--------------|
E|--3-----------|
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~90 BPM (lilting Scottish march)
Time Signature: 6/8
🎸 1. Chords
Verse
Whaur [G]hae ye been sae [C]braw, lad?
Whaur [G]hae ye been sae [D7]brankie-o?
Whaur [G]hae ye been sae [C]braw, lad?
Cam' [G]ye by [D7]Killie[C]crankie-[G]o?
Chorus
An' [G]ye had been whaur [C]I hae been,
Ye [G]wadna been sae [D7]cantie-o,
An' [G]ye had seen what [C]I hae seen,
On the [G]braes o' [D7]Killie[C]crankie-[G]o.
Verse 2
I [G]fought at land, I [C]fought at sea,
At [G]hame I fought my [D7]auntie-o,
But I [G]met the Devil [C]and Dundee,
On the [G]braes o' [D7]Killie[C]crankie-[G]o.
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (6/8 Feel)
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
Keep the first downstroke (beat 1) strong — it represents the Scottish march pulse.
Example for “Whaur hae ye been sae braw, lad?”
🎵 [G] ↓ (bass) ↓↑ (light) ↓↑ (flow)
For livelier verses, you can switch to:
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↑ ↓↑ (a continuous 6/8 jig feel)
Keep it bright and rhythmic, like a walking march with swing.
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
Here’s a 6/8 arpeggio pattern:
T – I – M – T – I – M
(Thumb plays bass, Index on G string, Middle on B string)
Verse 1 Fingerpicking Example
G
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Whaur hae ye been sae braw, lad?
C G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Whaur hae ye been sae brankie-o?
D7 G
e|------2---2-----|------2---2-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
B|----1---1---1---|----1---1---1---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
G|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|----------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Cam’ ye by Killiecrankie-o?
Chorus Fingerpicking Example
G C
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
An' ye had been whaur I hae been,
G D7 G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------1---1-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----2---2---2---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--0-------------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Ye wadna been sae cantie-o.
💡 Performance Notes
🎵 Tempo:
Keep a steady lilt, almost like a jig, but not rushed.
It should “sway” naturally: ONE-two-three, FOUR-five-six.
🎵 Dynamics:
First verse: soft, like a tale being told.
Chorus: fuller, stronger downbeats.
Final verse: fade on the last line for a proud ending.
🎵 Bass Alternation:
G: alternate 6th → 4th string
C: alternate 5th → 4th string
D7: alternate 4th → 5th string
🎵 Optional ornaments:
G chord: hammer-on from open A → 2nd fret (then to 3rd fret on E for G)
C chord: hammer-on on D string (0→2)
D7 chord: pull-off on high e string (2→0)
🎵 Ending Arpeggio:
e|--3-----------|
B|----0---------|
G|------0-------|
D|--------0-----|
A|--------------|
E|--3-----------|
Killiekrankie Tin Whistle Sheet Music Notes
Killiekrankie standard sheet music notes in solfege [ Do Re Mi ] format.
