The Green And The Blue Song Lyrics And Guitar Chords
Back to the list of Scottish lyrics and chords .
Song lyrics without the chords.
Don't turn to look on the green hills of Antrim
Fermanagh's behind you, it's time to move on
Look onwards to Glasgow, and all your tomorrows
The future lies there, and it's waiting for you
As the green crosses over to meet with the blue.
And what was the sense when the wee ones were cryin'?
The cries of the hungry, no sense to remain
No prayer could recover a sister or brother
So farewell to Fermanagh, the praying is done.
The land that you leave has had too many martyrs
And too many lives that have perished in vain
And too many boats slipping out from it's harbours
With cargoes that never came homewards again.
If the wings of the eagle could carry you over
To the lands of the prairie, then surely you'd fly
But an ocean so wide, and a far distant country
So far from your own land is no place to die.
So don't turn to look on the green hills of Antrim
Fermanagh's behind you, it's time to move on
Look onwards to Glasgow, and all your tomorrows
The future lies there, and it's waiting for you
As the green crosses over -G-F#m
As the green crosses over to meet with the blue
Don't turn to look on the green hills of Antrim
Fermanagh's behind you, it's time to move on
Look onwards to Glasgow, and all your tomorrows
The future lies there, and it's waiting for you
As the green crosses over to meet with the blue.
And what was the sense when the wee ones were cryin'?
The cries of the hungry, no sense to remain
No prayer could recover a sister or brother
So farewell to Fermanagh, the praying is done.
The land that you leave has had too many martyrs
And too many lives that have perished in vain
And too many boats slipping out from it's harbours
With cargoes that never came homewards again.
If the wings of the eagle could carry you over
To the lands of the prairie, then surely you'd fly
But an ocean so wide, and a far distant country
So far from your own land is no place to die.
So don't turn to look on the green hills of Antrim
Fermanagh's behind you, it's time to move on
Look onwards to Glasgow, and all your tomorrows
The future lies there, and it's waiting for you
As the green crosses over -G-F#m
As the green crosses over to meet with the blue
Chorus
(D)Don't turn to (F#m)look on the (G)green hills of (D)Antrim
Fer(Bm)managh's be(F#m)hind you, it's (G)time to move (A)on
Look (G)onwards to (D)Glasgow, and (G)all your to(Bm)morrows
The (F#m)future lies (Bm)there, and it's (Em)waiting for (A)you
As the (G)green crosses (F#m)over to (A7)meet with the (D)blue.
And (Bm)what was the (G)sense when the (A)wee ones were (D)cryin'?
The (Bm)cries of the (F#m)hungry, no (G)sense to re(A)main
No (Bm)prayer could re(G)cover a (A)sister or (D)brother
So fare(Bm)well to Fer(F#m)managh, the (G)praying is (A)done.
Chorus
Bridge: D-Bm-G-A
The (Bm)land that you (G)leave has had (A)too many (D)martyrs
And (Bm)too many (F#m)lives that have (G)perished in (A)vain
And (Bm)too many (G)boats slipping (A)out from it's (D)harbours
With (Bm)cargoes that (F#m)never came (G)homewards a(A)gain.
Chorus
Bridge: D-Bm-G-A
Bridge2: Bm-G-A-D Bm-G-Em-A G-D-G-Bm F#m-Bm-Em-A G-F#m-A7-D
(verse 3 with different melody!)
If the (Bm)wings of the (G)eagle could (A)carry you (D)over
To the (Bm)lands of the (G)prairie, then (F#m)surely you'd (Bm)fly
But an (G)ocean so (D)wide, and a (G)far distant (Bm)country
So (F#m)far from your (Bm)own land is (G)no place to (A)die.
So (D)don't turn to (F#m)look on the (G)green hills of (D)Antrim
Fer(Bm)managh's be(F#m)hind you, it's (G)time to move (A)on
Look (G)onwards to (D)Glasgow, and (G)all your to(Bm)morrows
The (F#m)future lies (Bm)there, and it's (Em)waiting for (A)you
As the (G)green crosses (F#m)over -G-F#m
As the (G)green crosses (F#m)over to (A7)meet with the (D)blue
(D)Don't turn to (F#m)look on the (G)green hills of (D)Antrim
Fer(Bm)managh's be(F#m)hind you, it's (G)time to move (A)on
Look (G)onwards to (D)Glasgow, and (G)all your to(Bm)morrows
The (F#m)future lies (Bm)there, and it's (Em)waiting for (A)you
As the (G)green crosses (F#m)over to (A7)meet with the (D)blue.
And (Bm)what was the (G)sense when the (A)wee ones were (D)cryin'?
The (Bm)cries of the (F#m)hungry, no (G)sense to re(A)main
No (Bm)prayer could re(G)cover a (A)sister or (D)brother
So fare(Bm)well to Fer(F#m)managh, the (G)praying is (A)done.
Chorus
Bridge: D-Bm-G-A
The (Bm)land that you (G)leave has had (A)too many (D)martyrs
And (Bm)too many (F#m)lives that have (G)perished in (A)vain
And (Bm)too many (G)boats slipping (A)out from it's (D)harbours
With (Bm)cargoes that (F#m)never came (G)homewards a(A)gain.
Chorus
Bridge: D-Bm-G-A
Bridge2: Bm-G-A-D Bm-G-Em-A G-D-G-Bm F#m-Bm-Em-A G-F#m-A7-D
(verse 3 with different melody!)
If the (Bm)wings of the (G)eagle could (A)carry you (D)over
To the (Bm)lands of the (G)prairie, then (F#m)surely you'd (Bm)fly
But an (G)ocean so (D)wide, and a (G)far distant (Bm)country
So (F#m)far from your (Bm)own land is (G)no place to (A)die.
So (D)don't turn to (F#m)look on the (G)green hills of (D)Antrim
Fer(Bm)managh's be(F#m)hind you, it's (G)time to move (A)on
Look (G)onwards to (D)Glasgow, and (G)all your to(Bm)morrows
The (F#m)future lies (Bm)there, and it's (Em)waiting for (A)you
As the (G)green crosses (F#m)over -G-F#m
As the (G)green crosses (F#m)over to (A7)meet with the (D)blue
🎸 STRUMMING PATTERN (Gentle Folk 4/4)
Use a smooth, swaying feel — slow and open:
👉 ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
(count: 1 2-and 3-and 4-and)
or a simpler, storytelling version:
👉 Bass ↓ (Down–Up) ↓ (Down–Up)
🎧 Tips:
On beat 1, play the bass note (lowest string of the chord).
Strum softly, letting chords ring and overlap.
Emphasize dynamics — lighten up during verses, swell in the chorus.
🎶 CHORDS
Verse
And (Bm)what was the (G)sense when the (A)wee ones were (D)cryin'?
The (Bm)cries of the (F#m)hungry, no (G)sense to re(A)main
No (Bm)prayer could re(G)cover a (A)sister or (D)brother
So fare(Bm)well to Fer(F#m)managh, the (G)praying is (A)done.
Chorus
(D)Don't turn to (F#m)look on the (G)green hills of (D)Antrim
Fer(Bm)managh's be(F#m)hind you, it's (G)time to move (A)on
Look (G)onwards to (D)Glasgow, and (G)all your to(Bm)morrows
The (F#m)future lies (Bm)there, and it's (Em)waiting for (A)you
As the (G)green crosses (F#m)over to (A7)meet with the (D)blue.
🪕 FINGERPICKING TAB (Verse + Chorus)
Fingerpicking gives this song a haunting, heartfelt texture.
We’ll use an alternating bass pattern (Travis-style) to keep the rhythm steady.
Right-hand pattern:
T I M I T I M I
(Thumb – Index – Middle – Index)
T (thumb): plays bass notes (E, A, or D strings)
I (index): plays G string
M (middle): plays B string
🎸 TAB – Verse
[Bm]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----4---4-------|----4---4-------|----4---4-------|----4---4-------|
D|--4-------4-----|--4-------4-----|--4-------4-----|--4-------4-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
And what was the sense when the wee ones were cryin’...
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
The cries of the hungry, no sense to remain...
[A]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
A|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
No prayer could recover a sister or brother...
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
So farewell to Fermanagh, the praying is done.
🎸 TAB – Chorus
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Don't turn to look on the green hills of Antrim...
[F#m]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|4---------------|4---------------|4---------------|4---------------|
A|4---------------|4---------------|4---------------|4---------------|
E|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
Fermanagh’s behind you, it’s time to move on...
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
Look onwards to Glasgow and all your tomorrows...
[Bm]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----4---4-------|----4---4-------|----4---4-------|----4---4-------|
D|--4-------4-----|--4-------4-----|--4-------4-----|--4-------4-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
The future lies there, and it’s waiting for you...
[A7]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
A|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
As the green crosses over to meet with the blue...
✅ Performance Tips
Keep a steady thumb pulse on beats 1 and 3 — this gives the tune its folk “walk.”
Let the chords ring into one another; don’t mute too early.
Swell gently into the chorus — that’s the emotional lift.
End the chorus softly on the final D; let it resonate naturally.
Use a smooth, swaying feel — slow and open:
👉 ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
(count: 1 2-and 3-and 4-and)
or a simpler, storytelling version:
👉 Bass ↓ (Down–Up) ↓ (Down–Up)
🎧 Tips:
On beat 1, play the bass note (lowest string of the chord).
Strum softly, letting chords ring and overlap.
Emphasize dynamics — lighten up during verses, swell in the chorus.
🎶 CHORDS
Verse
And (Bm)what was the (G)sense when the (A)wee ones were (D)cryin'?
The (Bm)cries of the (F#m)hungry, no (G)sense to re(A)main
No (Bm)prayer could re(G)cover a (A)sister or (D)brother
So fare(Bm)well to Fer(F#m)managh, the (G)praying is (A)done.
Chorus
(D)Don't turn to (F#m)look on the (G)green hills of (D)Antrim
Fer(Bm)managh's be(F#m)hind you, it's (G)time to move (A)on
Look (G)onwards to (D)Glasgow, and (G)all your to(Bm)morrows
The (F#m)future lies (Bm)there, and it's (Em)waiting for (A)you
As the (G)green crosses (F#m)over to (A7)meet with the (D)blue.
🪕 FINGERPICKING TAB (Verse + Chorus)
Fingerpicking gives this song a haunting, heartfelt texture.
We’ll use an alternating bass pattern (Travis-style) to keep the rhythm steady.
Right-hand pattern:
T I M I T I M I
(Thumb – Index – Middle – Index)
T (thumb): plays bass notes (E, A, or D strings)
I (index): plays G string
M (middle): plays B string
🎸 TAB – Verse
[Bm]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----4---4-------|----4---4-------|----4---4-------|----4---4-------|
D|--4-------4-----|--4-------4-----|--4-------4-----|--4-------4-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
And what was the sense when the wee ones were cryin’...
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
The cries of the hungry, no sense to remain...
[A]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
A|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
No prayer could recover a sister or brother...
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
So farewell to Fermanagh, the praying is done.
🎸 TAB – Chorus
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Don't turn to look on the green hills of Antrim...
[F#m]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|4---------------|4---------------|4---------------|4---------------|
A|4---------------|4---------------|4---------------|4---------------|
E|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
Fermanagh’s behind you, it’s time to move on...
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|--0-------0-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
Look onwards to Glasgow and all your tomorrows...
[Bm]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----4---4-------|----4---4-------|----4---4-------|----4---4-------|
D|--4-------4-----|--4-------4-----|--4-------4-----|--4-------4-----|
A|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
The future lies there, and it’s waiting for you...
[A7]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|2---------------|
A|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
As the green crosses over to meet with the blue...
✅ Performance Tips
Keep a steady thumb pulse on beats 1 and 3 — this gives the tune its folk “walk.”
Let the chords ring into one another; don’t mute too early.
Swell gently into the chorus — that’s the emotional lift.
End the chorus softly on the final D; let it resonate naturally.
