The Dark Island lyrics and chords

Written by David Silver with music from Ian MacLachlan. The sheet music notes included. The guitar chords are by Marc Fahrbach. This is a folk song from Scotland. Recorded by Mick Oldfield and also by Irish singer Mary Duff. The Scottish Gaelic chords and lyrics are included along with the ukulele chord shapes. The sheet music and tin whistle notes added.The dark Island tenor guitar / mandola tab in CGDA Tuning included.

A(Am)way to the (Em)west ward I'm (C)longing to (G)be,
Where the beauties of (Em)heaven un(G)fold by the (D)sea
Where the (Am)sweet purple (Em)heather blooms (C)fragrant and (G)free
On a hilltop high a(D)bove  - The Dark (C)Is(G)land
 
Chorus
Oh, (G)isle of my childhood, I'm (C)dreaming of (G)thee,
As the steamer leaves (Em)Oban and (G)passes Ti(D)ree
Soon I'll (Am)capture the (Em)magic that (C)lingers for (G)me
When I'm back once more u(D)pon  - The Dark (C)Is(G)land
 
So (Am)gentle the (Em)sea breeze that (C)ripples the (G)bay
Where the stream joins the (Em)ocean and (G)young children (D)play
On the (Am)strand of pure (Em)silver I'll (C)welcome each (G)day
And I'll roam forever (D)more  - The Dark (C)Is(G)land
 
True (Am)gems of the (Em)Hebrides (C)bathed in the (G)light
Of the mid-summer (Em)dawning that (G)follows the (D)night
How I (Am)yearn for the (Em)cries of the (C)seagull in (G)flight
As they circle high a(D)bove  - The Dark (C)Is(G)land
 
(Mary Duff’s version in F major: Am=Em, Em=Bm, C=G, G=D, D=A, use capo

There's another song called The Dark Island which was written by Stewart Ross which was recorded by Calum Kennedy. It was also recorded by Fiona Kennedy and here's the chords for her version.

Intro chords for the version by Fiona Kennedy
[C][F][C][Bb][F]

[F]In the years [Am]long gone [Bb]by when I first left my [F]home
I was young and I wanted the wide world to [Eb]roam
But [Gm]now I am [Dm]older and [Bb]wiser you [F]see
That lovely dark island is [C]calling to [F]me.

[F]Thought I’ve wandered away from the [Bb]land of my [F]birth
And been roaming around to the ends of the [Eb]earth
Still my [Gm]heart is at [Dm]home in that [Bb]land far a[F]way
That lovely dark island where [Gm]memories [F]stray.
,,[Bb][C][Am][F]

With a sorrowful heart I look back o’er the years
When I think on my island my eyes fill with tears
But now I return to that far distant shore
From my lovely dark island I’ll wander no more.

Though I‘ve wandered away from the land of my birth
And been roaming around to the ends of the earth
Still my heart is at home in that land far away
That lovely dark island where memories stray.

One day I return to that far distant shore
From my lovely dark island I’ll wander no more
Till the day that I die I will no longer roam
That lovely dark island will be my last home.

Though I‘ve wandered away from the land of my birth
And been roaming around to the ends of the earth
Still my heart is at home in that land far away
That lovely dark island where memories stray.


Alternative chords in the key of G.
[G]In the years [Bm]long gone [C]by when I first left my [G]home
I was young and I wanted the wide world to [F]roam
But [Am]now I am [Em]older and [C]wiser you [G]see
That lovely dark island is [D]calling to [G]me.

AN T-EILEAN DORCHA  Scottish Song4/4
 
Air mo (Am)thùrus do'n (Em)iar 's ann bu (C)mhiannach a (G)bhi
Far bheil àilleachd nan (Em)Néimh dol fo (G)sgéith 'sa chuan (D)sios
Fraoch (Am)dearg 's e fo (Em)bhlàth fàile (C)cùbhraidh cho (G)saor
Air a' bheinn ud is (D)àird 'san Eilean (C)Dor(G)cha
 
(Alternative 1st verse)
An mo (Am)thùras don (Em)iar 's leam bu (C)mhiannach a (G)bhi
Far bheil àilleachd nan (Em)eathar dol fo (G)sgéith sa chuan (D)sios,
Creag (Am)Dhearg 's e fo (Em)bhlàth faileadh (C)cùbhraidh cho (G)saor
Air a' bheinn ud as (D)àird 'san Eilean (C)Dor(G)cha.
 
Séist  
Eilean (G)òige mo ghràidh 's tu tha (C)tàladh mo (G)chridh'
Is mi seòladh bhon (Em)Obain 's a dol (G)seachad Ti(D)ridh,
Bi mi (Am)glacadh a (Em)dh'aithghearr gach (C)mais a tha 'gam (G)dhith
'S bi mi fhìn air ais a-(D)rithist 'san Eilean (C)Dor(G)cha.
 
(Alternative chorus)
Eilean (G)òige mo ghràidh 's tu tha (C)tàladh mo (G)chridh'
'S mi seòladh bhon (Em)Obain gu eilean (G)bòidheach Thi(D)ridh,
Bi mi (Am)glacadh air (Em)oidhche gach (C)mais a tha 'gam (G)dhith
'S bi mi fhìn air ais a-(D)rithist 'san Eilean (C)Dor(G)cha.
 
G-D-C-G
 
Gaoth na (Am)mara cho (Em)séimh séideach (C)reidh staigh don (G)bhaigh
Far bheil sruth dol don (Em)chuan clann (G)suaimhneach le'n (D)gàir',
Air an (Am)traigh gheal mar (Em)airgead bi mi (C)falbh oirr' gach (G)là
'S bi mi fhìn air ais a-(D)rithist 'san Eilean (C)Dor(G)cha.
 
Fior àil(Am)leagan e (Em)measg gach cearn (C)'san taobh (G)siar
Anns a mhoch mhaduinn (Em)thràth 's e ri (G)dearrsadh 'sa (D)ghrian:
Eòin na (Am)mara ri (Em)seinn 'sa toirt (C)sòlas dom' (G)chridh'
'S iad ag itealachd gu (D)h-àrd 'san Eilean (C)Dor(G)cha.

Mary Duff singer of The Dark Island

Shepherd Of The Field Lyrics And Chords By Frayne McCarthy.
These lyrics below are my adaptation of the 23rd Psalm, to the tune of "The Dark Island" and written by Frayne McCarthy . In the youtube video Frayne McCarthy is on vocals accompanied by Kevin John Saylor.

The dark Island tenor guitar / mandola tab in CGDA Tuning

​The dark island sheet music and tin whistle notes [ Use you D tuned whistle ]

The dark island sheet music and tin whistle notes