The Crow On The Cradle Guitar Chords And Lyrics
[Carter] and recorded by Mary Black 6/8 with capo on the 4th fret for Mary Black version. The tin whistle sheet music notes are included along with the mandolin / banjo sheet music tab.
I have included many more Mary Black songs in a separate section of the site .
I have included many more Mary Black songs in a separate section of the site .
[C) The sheep's in the (G) meadow, the (C) cow's in the (G) corn(C) Now is the (a) time for a (d) child to be (G) bornYou'll (C) laugh at the (G) moon and you'll (C) cry for the (G) sunAnd (C) if it's a (a) boy he'll (d) carry a (G) gunSang the (a) cro----w on the (G) cradle (G – C – G)
And (C) if it should (G) be that this (C) baby's a (G) girl(C) Never you (a) mind if her (d) hair doesn't (G) curlWith (C) rings on her (G) fingers and (C) bells on her (G) toesA (C) shadow a(a)bove her where(d)ever she (G) goesSang the (a) cro----w on the (G) cradle (G – C – G)
The (C) crow on the (G) cradle, the (C) black on the (G) white(C) Somebody's (a) baby is (d) born for a (G) fightThe (C) crow on the (G) cradle, the (C) white on the (G) black(C) Somebody's (a) baby is (d) not coming (G) backSang the (a) cro----w on the (G) cradle (G – C - G)
(C) Bring me my (G) gun and I'll (C) shoot that bird (G) dead(C) That's what your (a) mother and (d) father once (G) saidA (C) crow on the (G) cradle (C) what can we (G) do(C) This is the (a) thing I must (d) leave up to (G) youSang the (a) cro-----w on the (G) cradle (G- C - G)
Sang the (a) cro-----w on the (G) cradle (G)
And (C) if it should (G) be that this (C) baby's a (G) girl(C) Never you (a) mind if her (d) hair doesn't (G) curlWith (C) rings on her (G) fingers and (C) bells on her (G) toesA (C) shadow a(a)bove her where(d)ever she (G) goesSang the (a) cro----w on the (G) cradle (G – C – G)
The (C) crow on the (G) cradle, the (C) black on the (G) white(C) Somebody's (a) baby is (d) born for a (G) fightThe (C) crow on the (G) cradle, the (C) white on the (G) black(C) Somebody's (a) baby is (d) not coming (G) backSang the (a) cro----w on the (G) cradle (G – C - G)
(C) Bring me my (G) gun and I'll (C) shoot that bird (G) dead(C) That's what your (a) mother and (d) father once (G) saidA (C) crow on the (G) cradle (C) what can we (G) do(C) This is the (a) thing I must (d) leave up to (G) youSang the (a) cro-----w on the (G) cradle (G- C - G)
Sang the (a) cro-----w on the (G) cradle (G)
“The Crow on the Cradle”, a haunting lullaby about the cycles of life and war.
Here’s a complete acoustic arrangement in G Major, including:
🎵 Correct chords (transposed)
🎸 A gentle strumming pattern (folk lullaby style, 3/4)
🎶 A full fingerpicking tab for all verses
🎵 The Crow on the Cradle — Key of G Major
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~70 BPM
Time Signature: 3/4 (slow waltz feel)
🎸 1. Full Chord Progression (in G Major)
[G]The sheep's in the [D]meadow, the [G]cow's in the [D]corn,
[G]Now is the [Em]time for a [Am]child to be [D]born,
You'll [G]laugh at the [D]moon and you'll [G]cry for the [D]sun,
And [G]if it's a [Em]boy he'll [Am]carry a [D]gun,
Sang the [Em]cro----w on the [D]cra----dle [G–C–G].
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (Soft Waltz)
This song should feel gentle and circular — like a lullaby.
Pattern (per measure):
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Counting: 1 2 3
Tips:
Beat 1 → Play bass note (thumb or pick).
Beats 2–3 → Light down-up brushing motion.
Keep it flowing and dreamy, not percussive.
You can finger-brush the strings for a more “folk” texture.
Optional (for verses):
↓ ↓ ↓↑ (simpler and softer)
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (For All Verses)
We’ll use a rolling 3/4 arpeggio pattern (thumb + index + middle):
T – I – M – I – M – I
Thumb: plays the bass note (E/A/D string depending on chord)
Index: G string
Middle: B string
Verse Fingerpicking Arrangement
G
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
The sheep’s in the meadow,
D
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|
G|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
The cow’s in the corn,
G Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
Now is the time for a child to be born,
Am D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|
G|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--0-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
You'll laugh at the moon and you'll cry for the sun,
G Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
And if it’s a boy he’ll carry a gun,
Am D G C G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------3---3-----|------0---0-----|
G|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--0-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|
Sang the crow on the cradle.
Here’s a complete acoustic arrangement in G Major, including:
🎵 Correct chords (transposed)
🎸 A gentle strumming pattern (folk lullaby style, 3/4)
🎶 A full fingerpicking tab for all verses
🎵 The Crow on the Cradle — Key of G Major
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~70 BPM
Time Signature: 3/4 (slow waltz feel)
🎸 1. Full Chord Progression (in G Major)
[G]The sheep's in the [D]meadow, the [G]cow's in the [D]corn,
[G]Now is the [Em]time for a [Am]child to be [D]born,
You'll [G]laugh at the [D]moon and you'll [G]cry for the [D]sun,
And [G]if it's a [Em]boy he'll [Am]carry a [D]gun,
Sang the [Em]cro----w on the [D]cra----dle [G–C–G].
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (Soft Waltz)
This song should feel gentle and circular — like a lullaby.
Pattern (per measure):
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Counting: 1 2 3
Tips:
Beat 1 → Play bass note (thumb or pick).
Beats 2–3 → Light down-up brushing motion.
Keep it flowing and dreamy, not percussive.
You can finger-brush the strings for a more “folk” texture.
Optional (for verses):
↓ ↓ ↓↑ (simpler and softer)
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (For All Verses)
We’ll use a rolling 3/4 arpeggio pattern (thumb + index + middle):
T – I – M – I – M – I
Thumb: plays the bass note (E/A/D string depending on chord)
Index: G string
Middle: B string
Verse Fingerpicking Arrangement
G
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
The sheep’s in the meadow,
D
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|
G|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
The cow’s in the corn,
G Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
Now is the time for a child to be born,
Am D
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|
G|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--0-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
You'll laugh at the moon and you'll cry for the sun,
G Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|----------------|----------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
And if it’s a boy he’ll carry a gun,
Am D G C G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------3---3-----|------0---0-----|
G|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--0-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|
Sang the crow on the cradle.
The crow on the cradle sheet music in D Major
The Crow on the Cradle mandolin / banjo tab
