The Ghosts Of Culloden Lyrics And Guitar Chords
The Ukulele chords are included. Patrick Scott Hogg and recorded by Isla Grant about The Battle Of Culloden 16 April 1746, This was the last battle by The Jacobites which took place beside Inverness Scotland, The highlanders and lowlanders who were under the command of Prince Charlie were beaten by the government crown forces within forty minutes. Every Jacobite rebel was killed either at the battle or hunted down and murdered, even their wives children and anybody protecting them were killed. This was the last battle ever to take place on British soil.
Chorus
Can you [D]hear them, [G]can you [D]see them
Marching proudly a[Em]cross the [A]moor,
[G]Hear the [D]wind blow [G]thru the [D]drifting snow,
Tell me [G]can you [D]see them, the [A7]ghosts of Cu[D]lloden.
Many [D]bravely fought and [G]sadly [D]they were slain,
But they died with such pride [Em]and digni[A]ty,
Their [G]lives were [D]not in vain, we [G]still re[D]member them,
They [G]fought to [D]save their land, and [A7]died for liber[D]ty.
Chorus
Thru the [D]mist you'll hear - a [G]lonely [D]piper play,
Listen carefully - you'll hear a [Em]mournful [A]cry,
[G]Swords and [D]bayonets crash - as [G]man to [D]man they clash,
They [G]came to [D]fight to live - and [A7]now they [D]die.
Chorus
Can you [D]hear them, [G]can you [D]see them
Marching proudly a[Em]cross the [A]moor,
[G]Hear the [D]wind blow [G]thru the [D]drifting snow,
Tell me [G]can you [D]see them, the [A7]ghosts of Cu[D]lloden.
Many [D]bravely fought and [G]sadly [D]they were slain,
But they died with such pride [Em]and digni[A]ty,
Their [G]lives were [D]not in vain, we [G]still re[D]member them,
They [G]fought to [D]save their land, and [A7]died for liber[D]ty.
Chorus
Thru the [D]mist you'll hear - a [G]lonely [D]piper play,
Listen carefully - you'll hear a [Em]mournful [A]cry,
[G]Swords and [D]bayonets crash - as [G]man to [D]man they clash,
They [G]came to [D]fight to live - and [A7]now they [D]die.
Chorus
🎵 The Ghosts of Culloden
Key: D Major
Tempo: ~70–75 bpm
Time: 3/4 (Scottish waltz rhythm — think of a slow march in 3)
Mood: Haunting, reflective
🎸 STRUMMING PATTERN (3/4 Time)
A soft waltz pattern works perfectly:
👉 Bass ↓ ↓
(Count: 1 2 3)
Or, for a fuller sweep:
👉 ↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑
(Count: 1 2-and 3-and)
🎧 Tip:
Beat 1: Hit the bass note (the lowest note of the chord)
Beats 2 & 3: Lightly strum downward or down–up on the upper strings
Keep it flowing and even — like a slow heartbeat
🎶 CHORDS
Verse 1
Can you [D]hear them, [G]can you [D]see them,
Marching proudly a[Em]cross the [A]moor,
[G]Hear the [D]wind blow [G]through the [D]drifting snow,
Tell me [G]can you [D]see them, the [A7]ghosts of Cu[D]lloden.
Verse 2
Many [D]bravely fought and [G]sadly [D]they were slain,
But they died with such pride [Em]and digni[A]ty,
Their [G]lives were [D]not in vain, we [G]still re[D]member them,
They [G]fought to [D]save their land, and [A7]died for liber[D]ty.
🪕 FINGERPICKING TAB (First Two Verses)
Play this in a 3/4 arpeggiated style — a gentle rolling pick pattern.
Right-hand pattern:
T I M T I M
(1) (2) (3)
T (thumb): plays bass (E, A, or D string)
I (index): plays G string
M (middle): plays B string
Keep your thumb steady on beat 1 of each measure.
🎸 TAB – Verse 1
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Can you hear them...
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
Can you see them...
[Em]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Marching proudly across the moor...
[A]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
A|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
[G] through the drifting snow...
[A7]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------2---------|------2---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|2---------------|2---------------|
A|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
The ghosts of Culloden...
🎸 TAB – Verse 2
(Same picking pattern as verse 1; repeat flow)
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Many bravely fought and sadly they were slain...
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
But they died with such pride...
[Em]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
And dignity...
[A7]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
A|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
They fought to save their land, and died for liberty.
✅ Playing Tips
Keep your thumb steady to create a heartbeat-like pulse (important in 3/4).
Let open strings ring together for resonance — this song benefits from a wide, haunting sound.
For emotional effect, slightly accent beat 1 of each measure — it mimics the march rhythm of Culloden.
Key: D Major
Tempo: ~70–75 bpm
Time: 3/4 (Scottish waltz rhythm — think of a slow march in 3)
Mood: Haunting, reflective
🎸 STRUMMING PATTERN (3/4 Time)
A soft waltz pattern works perfectly:
👉 Bass ↓ ↓
(Count: 1 2 3)
Or, for a fuller sweep:
👉 ↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑
(Count: 1 2-and 3-and)
🎧 Tip:
Beat 1: Hit the bass note (the lowest note of the chord)
Beats 2 & 3: Lightly strum downward or down–up on the upper strings
Keep it flowing and even — like a slow heartbeat
🎶 CHORDS
Verse 1
Can you [D]hear them, [G]can you [D]see them,
Marching proudly a[Em]cross the [A]moor,
[G]Hear the [D]wind blow [G]through the [D]drifting snow,
Tell me [G]can you [D]see them, the [A7]ghosts of Cu[D]lloden.
Verse 2
Many [D]bravely fought and [G]sadly [D]they were slain,
But they died with such pride [Em]and digni[A]ty,
Their [G]lives were [D]not in vain, we [G]still re[D]member them,
They [G]fought to [D]save their land, and [A7]died for liber[D]ty.
🪕 FINGERPICKING TAB (First Two Verses)
Play this in a 3/4 arpeggiated style — a gentle rolling pick pattern.
Right-hand pattern:
T I M T I M
(1) (2) (3)
T (thumb): plays bass (E, A, or D string)
I (index): plays G string
M (middle): plays B string
Keep your thumb steady on beat 1 of each measure.
🎸 TAB – Verse 1
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Can you hear them...
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
Can you see them...
[Em]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Marching proudly across the moor...
[A]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
A|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
[G] through the drifting snow...
[A7]
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------2---------|------2---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|2---------------|2---------------|
A|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
The ghosts of Culloden...
🎸 TAB – Verse 2
(Same picking pattern as verse 1; repeat flow)
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Many bravely fought and sadly they were slain...
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
But they died with such pride...
[Em]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
And dignity...
[A7]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
A|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
They fought to save their land, and died for liberty.
✅ Playing Tips
Keep your thumb steady to create a heartbeat-like pulse (important in 3/4).
Let open strings ring together for resonance — this song benefits from a wide, haunting sound.
For emotional effect, slightly accent beat 1 of each measure — it mimics the march rhythm of Culloden.
Alternative version of the guitar chords.
Can you [G]hear them, [C]can you [G]see them
Marching proudly a[Am]cross the [D]moor,
[C]Hear the [G]wind blow [C]thru the [G]drifting snow,
Tell me [C]can you [G]see them, the [D7]ghosts of Cu[G]lloden.
Many [G]bravely fought and [C]sadly [G]they were slain,
But they died with such pride [Am]and digni[D]ty,
Their [C]lives were [G]not in vain, we [C]still re[G]member them,
They [C]fought to [G]save their land, and [D7]died for liber[G]ty.
Chorus
Thru the [G]mist you'll hear - a [C]lonely [G]piper play,
Listen carefully - you'll hear a [Am]mournful [D]cry,
[C]Swords and [G]bayonets crash - as [C]man to [G]man they clash,
They [C]came to [G]fight to live - and [D7]now they [G]die.
Can you [G]hear them, [C]can you [G]see them
Marching proudly a[Am]cross the [D]moor,
[C]Hear the [G]wind blow [C]thru the [G]drifting snow,
Tell me [C]can you [G]see them, the [D7]ghosts of Cu[G]lloden.
Many [G]bravely fought and [C]sadly [G]they were slain,
But they died with such pride [Am]and digni[D]ty,
Their [C]lives were [G]not in vain, we [C]still re[G]member them,
They [C]fought to [G]save their land, and [D7]died for liber[G]ty.
Chorus
Thru the [G]mist you'll hear - a [C]lonely [G]piper play,
Listen carefully - you'll hear a [Am]mournful [D]cry,
[C]Swords and [G]bayonets crash - as [C]man to [G]man they clash,
They [C]came to [G]fight to live - and [D7]now they [G]die.
THE GHOSTS OF THE REBELS 4/4
This song is an Irish version of the great Scottish ballad ‘The Ghosts of Culloden’ and - just as the original - it is dedicated to brave men who fought and died for the freedom of their native country.
Changes to the original song and additional first verse by Marc Patrick Fahrbach.
Chorus
Can you [D]hear them, [G]can you [D]see them
Marching proudly up [Em]Vinegar [A]Hill,
[G]Hear the [D]wind roar, [G]hear the [D]guns of yore,
Tell me [G]can you [D]see them, the [A7]ghosts of the [D]rebels.
From their [D]homes and glen – U[G]nited [D]Irishmen
Gathered here on this hill in [Em]loyal[A]ty
[G]Watch them [D]stand so keen, [G]round their [D]flag of green,
They [G]faced the [D]Saxon foe to [A7]set old Ireland [D]free
Chorus
Many [D]bravely fought and [G]sadly [D]they were slain,
But they died with such pride [Em]and digni[A]ty,
Their [G]lives were [D]not in vain, we [G]still re[D]member them,
They [G]fought to [D]save their land, and [A7]died for liber[D]ty.
Chorus
Thru the [D]mist you'll hear - the [G]dreadful [D]sounds of fray,
Listen carefully - you'll hear the [Em]mournful [A]cry,
[G]Swords and [D]bayonets crash - as [G]man to [D]man they clash,
They [G]came to [D]fight to live - and [A7]now they [D]die.
This song is an Irish version of the great Scottish ballad ‘The Ghosts of Culloden’ and - just as the original - it is dedicated to brave men who fought and died for the freedom of their native country.
Changes to the original song and additional first verse by Marc Patrick Fahrbach.
Chorus
Can you [D]hear them, [G]can you [D]see them
Marching proudly up [Em]Vinegar [A]Hill,
[G]Hear the [D]wind roar, [G]hear the [D]guns of yore,
Tell me [G]can you [D]see them, the [A7]ghosts of the [D]rebels.
From their [D]homes and glen – U[G]nited [D]Irishmen
Gathered here on this hill in [Em]loyal[A]ty
[G]Watch them [D]stand so keen, [G]round their [D]flag of green,
They [G]faced the [D]Saxon foe to [A7]set old Ireland [D]free
Chorus
Many [D]bravely fought and [G]sadly [D]they were slain,
But they died with such pride [Em]and digni[A]ty,
Their [G]lives were [D]not in vain, we [G]still re[D]member them,
They [G]fought to [D]save their land, and [A7]died for liber[D]ty.
Chorus
Thru the [D]mist you'll hear - the [G]dreadful [D]sounds of fray,
Listen carefully - you'll hear the [Em]mournful [A]cry,
[G]Swords and [D]bayonets crash - as [G]man to [D]man they clash,
They [G]came to [D]fight to live - and [A7]now they [D]die.
Isla Grant Song The Ghosts Of Culloden
