The Dutchman lyrics and Guitar chords
The Dutchman Folk Song Lyrics And Easy Guitar Chords. The full sheet music tab / score in D Major is included along with the ukulele chords and 5 string banjo chords .The music time signature is 4/4 with the guitar chords in ChordPro. Written by singer / songwriter Michael Peter Smith.Liam Clancy made a great job of this song. Also sang by Celtic Thunder,[ Kieth Larkin ] AND Bob Shane of The Kingston Trio, Irish comedian Brendan Grace, Steve Goodman and Jerry Jeff Walker to name a few .The chords are suitable for strumming on the mandolin The sheet music and tin whistle notes are included. I have given the guitar chords in a few different keys including the key that Liam Clancy sings in the youtube video.The Dutchman tenor guitar / mandola tab in CGDA tuning included.
[G]The Dutchman's not the kind of man
Who keeps his thumb jammed in the dam
That [Am]holds his dreams in
But [D]that's a secret that only [G]Margaret knows
When Amsterdam is golden in the summer
Margaret brings him breakfast
[Am]She believes him
[D]He thinks the tulips bloom be[G]neath the snow
He`s mad as [Em]he can [Am]be but [D]Margaret only [G]sees that sometimes
Some[Em]times she [Am]sees her unborn [D]children in his [G]eyes
CHO: Let us [Em]go to the [Am]banks [D]of the [Em]ocean
Where the [Am]walls rise a[D]bove the Zuider [G]zee
Long a[Em]go, I [Am]used to [D]be a [G]young man
And dear [Em]Mar[Am]garet re[D]members that for [G]me
The Dutchman still wears wooden shoes
His cap and coat are patched with the love
That Margaret sewed in [there]
Sometimes he thinks he's still in Rotterdam
He watches [the] tug boats down canals
And calls out to them when he thinks he knows the Captain
'Til [Then] Margaret comes to take him home again
Through unforgiving streets
That trick him though she holds his arm
Sometimes he thinks that he's alone and calls her name
The windmills whirl the winter in
[The winters whirl the windmills 'round]
She winds his muffler tighter,
They sit in the kitchen
Some tea with whiskey keeps away the dew
He sees her for a moment, calls her name
She makes the bed up humming [singing] some old love song
A song Margaret learned when the tune [it] was very new
He hums a line or two, they hum [sing] together in the night [dark]
The Dutchman falls asleep and Margaret blows the candle out.
Who keeps his thumb jammed in the dam
That [Am]holds his dreams in
But [D]that's a secret that only [G]Margaret knows
When Amsterdam is golden in the summer
Margaret brings him breakfast
[Am]She believes him
[D]He thinks the tulips bloom be[G]neath the snow
He`s mad as [Em]he can [Am]be but [D]Margaret only [G]sees that sometimes
Some[Em]times she [Am]sees her unborn [D]children in his [G]eyes
CHO: Let us [Em]go to the [Am]banks [D]of the [Em]ocean
Where the [Am]walls rise a[D]bove the Zuider [G]zee
Long a[Em]go, I [Am]used to [D]be a [G]young man
And dear [Em]Mar[Am]garet re[D]members that for [G]me
The Dutchman still wears wooden shoes
His cap and coat are patched with the love
That Margaret sewed in [there]
Sometimes he thinks he's still in Rotterdam
He watches [the] tug boats down canals
And calls out to them when he thinks he knows the Captain
'Til [Then] Margaret comes to take him home again
Through unforgiving streets
That trick him though she holds his arm
Sometimes he thinks that he's alone and calls her name
The windmills whirl the winter in
[The winters whirl the windmills 'round]
She winds his muffler tighter,
They sit in the kitchen
Some tea with whiskey keeps away the dew
He sees her for a moment, calls her name
She makes the bed up humming [singing] some old love song
A song Margaret learned when the tune [it] was very new
He hums a line or two, they hum [sing] together in the night [dark]
The Dutchman falls asleep and Margaret blows the candle out.
Liam Clancy singer of The Dutchman
“The Dutchman” with chords placed in every verse and a gentle folk strumming pattern that matches the reflective, storytelling nature of the song.
🎵 The Dutchman
Key: G Major
Time Signature: 3/4 (Waltz feel — one strong beat followed by two lighter beats)
Tempo: 70–80 BPM, gentle and steady
🎸 Strumming Pattern (Waltz Feel)
For this ballad, use a simple 3/4 strum pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
or simply:
Bass – Down – Up (count it as 1–2–3)
When you play:
Hit the bass note (root) of the chord on beat 1
Strum the full chord lightly on beats 2–3
This gives a lovely flowing, circular waltz rhythm.
Verse 1
[G]The Dutchman's not the kind of man
Who keeps his thumb jammed in the dam
That [Am]holds his dreams in
But [D]that's a secret that only [G]Margaret knows.
When Amsterdam is golden in the summer
Margaret brings him breakfast —
[Am]She believes him,
[D]He thinks the tulips bloom be[G]neath the snow.
He’s mad as [Em]he can [Am]be but [D]Margaret only [G]sees that sometimes,
Some[Em]times she [Am]sees her unborn [D]children in his [G]eyes.
Chorus
Let us [Em]go to the [Am]banks [D]of the [Em]ocean,
Where the [Am]walls rise a[D]bove the Zuider [G]zee.
Long a[Em]go, I [Am]used to [D]be a [G]young man,
And dear [Em]Mar[Am]garet re[D]members that for [G]me.
Verse 2
[G]The Dutchman still wears wooden shoes,
His cap and coat are patched with the love
That [Am]Margaret sewed in [there].
Sometimes he thinks he’s still in Rotter[G]dam.
He watches the tugboats down the canals,
And calls out to them when he thinks he knows the Captain,
[Am]’Til Margaret comes to [D]take him home a[G]gain.
Through unforgiving streets that trick him,
Though she holds his arm,
He [Em]thinks that he’s a[Am]lone and calls her [D]name.
Chorus (repeat)
Let us [Em]go to the [Am]banks [D]of the [Em]ocean,
Where the [Am]walls rise a[D]bove the Zuider [G]zee.
Long a[Em]go, I [Am]used to [D]be a [G]young man,
And dear [Em]Mar[Am]garet re[D]members that for [G]me.
Verse 3
[G]The windmills whirl the winter in,
She winds his muffler tighter.
They sit in the kitchen,
And [Am]tea with whiskey keeps away the dew.
He sees her for a moment, calls her name,
She makes the bed up humming some old love song —
[Am]A song Margaret learned when [D]the tune was very [G]new.
He hums a line or two, they sing together in the dark,
The [Em]Dutchman falls a[Am]sleep and Margaret [D]blows the candle [G]out.
🎶 Performance Notes
Keep the 3/4 waltz strum soft and circular — let chords ring and don’t rush transitions.
Add gentle arpeggios (picking individual strings) for verses if you prefer a fingerstyle touch.
The emotion is in dynamics — play softly in verses, and swell slightly in the chorus.
🎵 The Dutchman
Key: G Major
Time Signature: 3/4 (Waltz feel — one strong beat followed by two lighter beats)
Tempo: 70–80 BPM, gentle and steady
🎸 Strumming Pattern (Waltz Feel)
For this ballad, use a simple 3/4 strum pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
or simply:
Bass – Down – Up (count it as 1–2–3)
When you play:
Hit the bass note (root) of the chord on beat 1
Strum the full chord lightly on beats 2–3
This gives a lovely flowing, circular waltz rhythm.
Verse 1
[G]The Dutchman's not the kind of man
Who keeps his thumb jammed in the dam
That [Am]holds his dreams in
But [D]that's a secret that only [G]Margaret knows.
When Amsterdam is golden in the summer
Margaret brings him breakfast —
[Am]She believes him,
[D]He thinks the tulips bloom be[G]neath the snow.
He’s mad as [Em]he can [Am]be but [D]Margaret only [G]sees that sometimes,
Some[Em]times she [Am]sees her unborn [D]children in his [G]eyes.
Chorus
Let us [Em]go to the [Am]banks [D]of the [Em]ocean,
Where the [Am]walls rise a[D]bove the Zuider [G]zee.
Long a[Em]go, I [Am]used to [D]be a [G]young man,
And dear [Em]Mar[Am]garet re[D]members that for [G]me.
Verse 2
[G]The Dutchman still wears wooden shoes,
His cap and coat are patched with the love
That [Am]Margaret sewed in [there].
Sometimes he thinks he’s still in Rotter[G]dam.
He watches the tugboats down the canals,
And calls out to them when he thinks he knows the Captain,
[Am]’Til Margaret comes to [D]take him home a[G]gain.
Through unforgiving streets that trick him,
Though she holds his arm,
He [Em]thinks that he’s a[Am]lone and calls her [D]name.
Chorus (repeat)
Let us [Em]go to the [Am]banks [D]of the [Em]ocean,
Where the [Am]walls rise a[D]bove the Zuider [G]zee.
Long a[Em]go, I [Am]used to [D]be a [G]young man,
And dear [Em]Mar[Am]garet re[D]members that for [G]me.
Verse 3
[G]The windmills whirl the winter in,
She winds his muffler tighter.
They sit in the kitchen,
And [Am]tea with whiskey keeps away the dew.
He sees her for a moment, calls her name,
She makes the bed up humming some old love song —
[Am]A song Margaret learned when [D]the tune was very [G]new.
He hums a line or two, they sing together in the dark,
The [Em]Dutchman falls a[Am]sleep and Margaret [D]blows the candle [G]out.
🎶 Performance Notes
Keep the 3/4 waltz strum soft and circular — let chords ring and don’t rush transitions.
Add gentle arpeggios (picking individual strings) for verses if you prefer a fingerstyle touch.
The emotion is in dynamics — play softly in verses, and swell slightly in the chorus.
🎵 FINGERPICKING PATTERN — 4/4 (Used Throughout)
Rolling arpeggio:
Bass → G-string → B-string → e-string
1 2 3
Example G:
e|--------3-----------|
B|------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------------|
A|--------------------|
E|--------------------|
Example Am:
e|--------0-----------|
B|------1---1---------|
G|----2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------------|
A|0-------------------|
E|--------------------|
Example D:
e|--------2-----------|
B|------3---3---------|
G|----2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------------|
A|--------------------|
E|--------------------|
🌿 VERSE — 3 bars per line (3/4)
[G]The Dutchman's not the kind of man
G G Am
e|--3---------3----------3---------3----------0---------0----|
B|--0-----0-----0--------0-----0-----0--------1-----1--------|
G|--0---0---0-----0------0---0---0-----0------2---2----------|
D|--0---------------------0--------------------2--------------|
A|--2-------------------------------------------0-------------|
E|--3---------------------------------------------------------|
Who keeps his thumb jammed in the dam
D G G
e|--2---------2----------3---------3----------3---------3----|
B|--3-----3-----3--------0-----0-----0--------0-----0--------|
G|--2---2---2-----2------0---0---0-----0------0---0----------|
D|--0---------------------0--------------------0--------------|
A|------------------------2--------------------2--------------|
E|------------------------3--------------------3--------------|
That [Am]holds his dreams in
Am D G
e|--0---------0----------2---------2----------3---------3----|
B|--1-----1-----1--------3-----3-----3--------0-----0--------|
G|--2---2---2-----2------2---2---2-----2------0---0----------|
D|--2---------------------0--------------------0--------------|
A|--0-------------------------------------------2-------------|
E|----------------------------------------------3-------------|
But [D]that's a secret that only [G]Margaret knows
D G G
e|--2---------2----------3---------3----------3---------3----|
B|--3-----3-----3--------0-----0-----0--------0-----0--------|
G|--2---2---2-----2------0---0---0-----0------0---0----------|
D|--0---------------------0--------------------0--------------|
A|------------------------2--------------------2--------------|
E|------------------------3--------------------3--------------|
When Amsterdam is golden in the summer
G G Am
e|--3---------3----------3---------3----------0---------0----|
B|--0-----0-----0--------0-----0-----0--------1-----1--------|
G|--0---0---0-----0------0---0---0-----0------2---2----------|
D|--0---------------------0--------------------2--------------|
A|--2-------------------------------------------0-------------|
E|--3---------------------------------------------------------|
Margaret brings him breakfast
D G G
e|--2---------2----------3---------3----------3---------3----|
B|--3-----3-----3--------0-----0-----0--------0-----0--------|
G|--2---2---2-----2------0---0---0-----0------0---0----------|
D|--0---------------------0--------------------0--------------|
A|------------------------2--------------------2--------------|
E|------------------------3--------------------3--------------|
[Am]She believes him
Am D G
e|--0---------0----------2---------2----------3---------3----|
B|--1-----1-----1--------3-----3-----3--------0-----0--------|
G|--2---2---2-----2------2---2---2-----2------0---0----------|
D|--2---------------------0--------------------0--------------|
A|--0-------------------------------------------2-------------|
E|----------------------------------------------3-------------|
[D]He thinks the tulips bloom be[G]neath the snow
D G G
e|--2---------2----------3---------3----------3---------3----|
B|--3-----3-----3--------0-----0-----0--------0-----0--------|
G|--2---2---2-----2------0---0---0-----0------0---0----------|
D|--0---------------------0--------------------0--------------|
A|------------------------2--------------------2--------------|
E|------------------------3--------------------3--------------|
He`s mad as [Em]he can [Am]be but [D]Margaret only [G]sees that sometimes
Em Am D
e|--0---------0----------0---------0----------2---------2----|
B|--0-----0-----0--------1-----1-----1--------3-----3--------|
G|--0---0---0-----0------2---2---2-----2------2---2----------|
D|--2---------------------2--------------------0--------------|
A|--2---------------------0-----------------------------------|
E|--0---------------------------------------------------------|
Some[Em]times she [Am]sees her unborn [D]children in his [G]eyes
Em Am D G
e|--0---------0----------0---------0----------2---------2----3----|
B|--0-----0-----0--------1-----1-----1--------3-----3--------0----|
G|--0---0---0-----0------2---2---2-----2------2---2----------0----|
D|--2---------------------2--------------------0-------------0----|
A|--2---------------------0-------------------------------2--------|
E|--0------------------------------------------------------3--------|
🌊 CHORUS — 3 bars per line (4/4)
Let us [Em]go to the [Am]banks [D]of the [Em]ocean
Em Am D
e|--0---------0----------0---------0----------2---------2----|
B|--0-----0-----0--------1-----1-----1--------3-----3--------|
G|--0---0---0-----0------2---2---2-----2------2---2----------|
D|--2---------------------2--------------------0--------------|
A|--2---------------------0-----------------------------------|
E|--0---------------------------------------------------------|
Where the [Am]walls rise a[D]bove the Zuider [G]zee
Am D G
e|--0---------0----------2---------2----------3---------3----|
B|--1-----1-----1--------3-----3-----3--------0-----0--------|
G|--2---2---2-----2------2---2---2-----2------0---0----------|
D|--2---------------------0--------------------0--------------|
A|--0-------------------------------------------2-------------|
E|----------------------------------------------3-------------|
Long a[Em]go, I [Am]used to [D]be a [G]young man
Em Am D G
e|--0---------0----------0---------0----------2---------2----3----|
B|--0-----0-----0--------1-----1-----1--------3-----3--------0----|
G|--0---0---0-----0------2---2---2-----2------2---2----------0----|
D|--2---------------------2--------------------0-------------0----|
A|--2---------------------0-------------------------------2--------|
E|--0------------------------------------------------------3--------|
And dear [Em]Mar[Am]garet re[D]members that for [G]me
Em Am D G
e|--0---------0----------0---------0----------2---------2----3----|
B|--0-----0-----0--------1-----1-----1--------3-----3--------0----|
G|--0---0---0-----0------2---2---2-----2------2---2----------0----|
D|--2---------------------2--------------------0-------------0----|
A|--2---------------------0-------------------------------2--------|
E|--0------------------------------------------------------3--------|
Rolling arpeggio:
Bass → G-string → B-string → e-string
1 2 3
Example G:
e|--------3-----------|
B|------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------------|
A|--------------------|
E|--------------------|
Example Am:
e|--------0-----------|
B|------1---1---------|
G|----2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------------|
A|0-------------------|
E|--------------------|
Example D:
e|--------2-----------|
B|------3---3---------|
G|----2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------------|
A|--------------------|
E|--------------------|
🌿 VERSE — 3 bars per line (3/4)
[G]The Dutchman's not the kind of man
G G Am
e|--3---------3----------3---------3----------0---------0----|
B|--0-----0-----0--------0-----0-----0--------1-----1--------|
G|--0---0---0-----0------0---0---0-----0------2---2----------|
D|--0---------------------0--------------------2--------------|
A|--2-------------------------------------------0-------------|
E|--3---------------------------------------------------------|
Who keeps his thumb jammed in the dam
D G G
e|--2---------2----------3---------3----------3---------3----|
B|--3-----3-----3--------0-----0-----0--------0-----0--------|
G|--2---2---2-----2------0---0---0-----0------0---0----------|
D|--0---------------------0--------------------0--------------|
A|------------------------2--------------------2--------------|
E|------------------------3--------------------3--------------|
That [Am]holds his dreams in
Am D G
e|--0---------0----------2---------2----------3---------3----|
B|--1-----1-----1--------3-----3-----3--------0-----0--------|
G|--2---2---2-----2------2---2---2-----2------0---0----------|
D|--2---------------------0--------------------0--------------|
A|--0-------------------------------------------2-------------|
E|----------------------------------------------3-------------|
But [D]that's a secret that only [G]Margaret knows
D G G
e|--2---------2----------3---------3----------3---------3----|
B|--3-----3-----3--------0-----0-----0--------0-----0--------|
G|--2---2---2-----2------0---0---0-----0------0---0----------|
D|--0---------------------0--------------------0--------------|
A|------------------------2--------------------2--------------|
E|------------------------3--------------------3--------------|
When Amsterdam is golden in the summer
G G Am
e|--3---------3----------3---------3----------0---------0----|
B|--0-----0-----0--------0-----0-----0--------1-----1--------|
G|--0---0---0-----0------0---0---0-----0------2---2----------|
D|--0---------------------0--------------------2--------------|
A|--2-------------------------------------------0-------------|
E|--3---------------------------------------------------------|
Margaret brings him breakfast
D G G
e|--2---------2----------3---------3----------3---------3----|
B|--3-----3-----3--------0-----0-----0--------0-----0--------|
G|--2---2---2-----2------0---0---0-----0------0---0----------|
D|--0---------------------0--------------------0--------------|
A|------------------------2--------------------2--------------|
E|------------------------3--------------------3--------------|
[Am]She believes him
Am D G
e|--0---------0----------2---------2----------3---------3----|
B|--1-----1-----1--------3-----3-----3--------0-----0--------|
G|--2---2---2-----2------2---2---2-----2------0---0----------|
D|--2---------------------0--------------------0--------------|
A|--0-------------------------------------------2-------------|
E|----------------------------------------------3-------------|
[D]He thinks the tulips bloom be[G]neath the snow
D G G
e|--2---------2----------3---------3----------3---------3----|
B|--3-----3-----3--------0-----0-----0--------0-----0--------|
G|--2---2---2-----2------0---0---0-----0------0---0----------|
D|--0---------------------0--------------------0--------------|
A|------------------------2--------------------2--------------|
E|------------------------3--------------------3--------------|
He`s mad as [Em]he can [Am]be but [D]Margaret only [G]sees that sometimes
Em Am D
e|--0---------0----------0---------0----------2---------2----|
B|--0-----0-----0--------1-----1-----1--------3-----3--------|
G|--0---0---0-----0------2---2---2-----2------2---2----------|
D|--2---------------------2--------------------0--------------|
A|--2---------------------0-----------------------------------|
E|--0---------------------------------------------------------|
Some[Em]times she [Am]sees her unborn [D]children in his [G]eyes
Em Am D G
e|--0---------0----------0---------0----------2---------2----3----|
B|--0-----0-----0--------1-----1-----1--------3-----3--------0----|
G|--0---0---0-----0------2---2---2-----2------2---2----------0----|
D|--2---------------------2--------------------0-------------0----|
A|--2---------------------0-------------------------------2--------|
E|--0------------------------------------------------------3--------|
🌊 CHORUS — 3 bars per line (4/4)
Let us [Em]go to the [Am]banks [D]of the [Em]ocean
Em Am D
e|--0---------0----------0---------0----------2---------2----|
B|--0-----0-----0--------1-----1-----1--------3-----3--------|
G|--0---0---0-----0------2---2---2-----2------2---2----------|
D|--2---------------------2--------------------0--------------|
A|--2---------------------0-----------------------------------|
E|--0---------------------------------------------------------|
Where the [Am]walls rise a[D]bove the Zuider [G]zee
Am D G
e|--0---------0----------2---------2----------3---------3----|
B|--1-----1-----1--------3-----3-----3--------0-----0--------|
G|--2---2---2-----2------2---2---2-----2------0---0----------|
D|--2---------------------0--------------------0--------------|
A|--0-------------------------------------------2-------------|
E|----------------------------------------------3-------------|
Long a[Em]go, I [Am]used to [D]be a [G]young man
Em Am D G
e|--0---------0----------0---------0----------2---------2----3----|
B|--0-----0-----0--------1-----1-----1--------3-----3--------0----|
G|--0---0---0-----0------2---2---2-----2------2---2----------0----|
D|--2---------------------2--------------------0-------------0----|
A|--2---------------------0-------------------------------2--------|
E|--0------------------------------------------------------3--------|
And dear [Em]Mar[Am]garet re[D]members that for [G]me
Em Am D G
e|--0---------0----------0---------0----------2---------2----3----|
B|--0-----0-----0--------1-----1-----1--------3-----3--------0----|
G|--0---0---0-----0------2---2---2-----2------2---2----------0----|
D|--2---------------------2--------------------0-------------0----|
A|--2---------------------0-------------------------------2--------|
E|--0------------------------------------------------------3--------|
Here are the guitar chords as played by Liam Clancy in the youtube video.
[C]The Dutchman's not the [Am]kind of man
Who [C]keeps his thumb jammed in the dam
That [Dm]holds his [Am]dreams [Dm]in [G]
[G]But that's a secret that only [F]Margaret [C]knows
When Amster[F]dam is [C]golden in the [F]morning
[C]Margaret brings him breakfast[Dm]
[Dm]She be[Am]lieves [Dm]him [G]
[G]He thinks the tulips bloom be[C]neath the snow
He`s mad as [Dm]he can [Am]be but [G]Margaret only [C]sees that sometimes
[Am]Sometimes she [Dm]sees her unborn [G]children in his [C]eyes
CHO: Let us [Dm]go [F]to the banks [G]of the [F]oc[C]ean
[Am]Where the [F]walls rise a[G]bove the Zuider [C]zee
[Am]Long a[Dm]go, I [G]used to be a [C]young man
And dear [Dm]Margaret re[G]members that for [C]me
[C]The Dutchman's not the [Am]kind of man
Who [C]keeps his thumb jammed in the dam
That [Dm]holds his [Am]dreams [Dm]in [G]
[G]But that's a secret that only [F]Margaret [C]knows
When Amster[F]dam is [C]golden in the [F]morning
[C]Margaret brings him breakfast[Dm]
[Dm]She be[Am]lieves [Dm]him [G]
[G]He thinks the tulips bloom be[C]neath the snow
He`s mad as [Dm]he can [Am]be but [G]Margaret only [C]sees that sometimes
[Am]Sometimes she [Dm]sees her unborn [G]children in his [C]eyes
CHO: Let us [Dm]go [F]to the banks [G]of the [F]oc[C]ean
[Am]Where the [F]walls rise a[G]bove the Zuider [C]zee
[Am]Long a[Dm]go, I [G]used to be a [C]young man
And dear [Dm]Margaret re[G]members that for [C]me
The Dutchman drinking whiskey
The Dutchman lyrics
The Dutchman tenor guitar / mandola tab, tuned CGDA
Below is the full sheet music score for The Dutchman In The Key Of D Major.
