The King's Shilling lyrics and guitar chords
See the link below for the sheet music. 4/4 The Battlefield Band. .The King's Shilling was written by Ian Sinclair from Caithness in Scotland, fiddle player of the band Mirk and writer of lovely songs and tunes. The ukulele chord shapes are included. This song is often described as traditional. It isn't. The song was also recorded by Karan Casey and James Taylor.
Oh my [G]love has [D]left me wi' [A]bairnies [D]twa
And [A]that's the [G]last o' him I [A]ever [D]saw
He [G]joined the [D]army and he’s [A]marched a[D]wa'
He [G]took the [D]shillin'
He [G]took the [D]shillin' and he’s [A]off tae [D]war.
Chorus
Come [G]laddies [D]come, hear the [G]cannons roar
Tak' the [D]King's shilling an' we're [A]off tae [D]war
Come [G]laddies [D]come, hear the [G]cannons roar
Tak' the [D]King's shilling an' we're [A]off tae [D]war
Oh he [G]looked sae [D]prood and sae [A]gallant [D]then
Wi' his [A]kilt and [G]sporran an' his [A]musket [D]gun
And the [G]ladies [D]kissed them as they [A]marched a[D]long
And they [G]sailed a[D]wa' boys
They [G]sailed a[D]wa', boys, by the [A]Broomie[D]law
Chorus
The [G]pipes did [D]play as they [A]marched a[D]long
And the [A]men they [G]sang oot a [A]battle [D]song
"March [G]on, march [D]on," cried our [A]Captain [D]gay
For [G]King and [D]country
For [G]King and [D]country we will [A]fight this [D]day
Chorus
The [G]battle [D]echoed tae the [A]sound o' [D]guns
And [A]bayonets [G]flashed in the [A]morning [D]sun
The [G]drums did [D]beat and the [A]cannons [D]roared
And the [G]shillin' [D]didn't seem
The [G]shillin' [D]didn't seem much [A]worth no [D]more
Chorus
Some [G]lost the [D]battle, their [A]bodies [D]fell
Cut [A]doon by [G]bayonets and [A]musket [D]ball
And [G]many [D]o' these [A]brave young [D]men
Would [G]never [D]fight for
Would [G]never [D]fight for their [A]King a[D]gain
Chorus
Repeat 1st verse
And [A]that's the [G]last o' him I [A]ever [D]saw
He [G]joined the [D]army and he’s [A]marched a[D]wa'
He [G]took the [D]shillin'
He [G]took the [D]shillin' and he’s [A]off tae [D]war.
Chorus
Come [G]laddies [D]come, hear the [G]cannons roar
Tak' the [D]King's shilling an' we're [A]off tae [D]war
Come [G]laddies [D]come, hear the [G]cannons roar
Tak' the [D]King's shilling an' we're [A]off tae [D]war
Oh he [G]looked sae [D]prood and sae [A]gallant [D]then
Wi' his [A]kilt and [G]sporran an' his [A]musket [D]gun
And the [G]ladies [D]kissed them as they [A]marched a[D]long
And they [G]sailed a[D]wa' boys
They [G]sailed a[D]wa', boys, by the [A]Broomie[D]law
Chorus
The [G]pipes did [D]play as they [A]marched a[D]long
And the [A]men they [G]sang oot a [A]battle [D]song
"March [G]on, march [D]on," cried our [A]Captain [D]gay
For [G]King and [D]country
For [G]King and [D]country we will [A]fight this [D]day
Chorus
The [G]battle [D]echoed tae the [A]sound o' [D]guns
And [A]bayonets [G]flashed in the [A]morning [D]sun
The [G]drums did [D]beat and the [A]cannons [D]roared
And the [G]shillin' [D]didn't seem
The [G]shillin' [D]didn't seem much [A]worth no [D]more
Chorus
Some [G]lost the [D]battle, their [A]bodies [D]fell
Cut [A]doon by [G]bayonets and [A]musket [D]ball
And [G]many [D]o' these [A]brave young [D]men
Would [G]never [D]fight for
Would [G]never [D]fight for their [A]King a[D]gain
Chorus
Repeat 1st verse
🎵 The King’s Shilling
Key: D Major
Time: 4/4
Tempo: ~90 bpm (steady marching feel)
Mood: Proud, melancholic, traditional Scottish
🎸 STRUMMING PATTERN
For a steady march rhythm, try:
👉 ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
(count: 1 2-and 3-and 4-and)
or for a simpler, more traditional “military march” feel:
👉 Bass ↓ ↓ ↑
(count: 1 (and) 2 (and) — repeat twice per bar)
🎧 Tips:
Hit the bass note of each chord on beat 1.
Keep the motion tight and crisp — think of marching feet.
Add a little palm-mute on beats 2 and 4 for a percussive, snare-like effect.
🎶 CHORDS
Verse
Oh my [G]love has [D]left me wi’ [A]bairnies [D]twa,
And [A]that’s the [G]last o’ him I [A]ever [D]saw.
He [G]joined the [D]army and he’s [A]marched a[D]wa’,
He [G]took the [D]shillin’,
He [G]took the [D]shillin’ and he’s [A]off tae [D]war.
Chorus
Come [G]laddies [D]come, hear the [G]cannons roar,
Tak' the [D]King's shilling an’ we’re [A]off tae [D]war.
Come [G]laddies [D]come, hear the [G]cannons roar,
Tak' the [D]King's shilling an’ we’re [A]off tae [D]war.
🪕 FINGERPICKING TAB (Verse + Chorus)
This song works perfectly with Travis-style picking — steady alternating bass gives the rhythm of a march.
Right-hand pattern:
T I M I T I M I
T (thumb): Bass (E/A/D)
I (index): G string
M (middle): B string
🎸 TAB – Verse
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
Oh my love has left me wi’ bairnies twa...
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
[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|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
He took the shillin’ and he’s off tae war...
🎸 TAB – Chorus
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar...
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
[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|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Tak’ the King’s shilling an’ we’re off tae war...
Key: D Major
Time: 4/4
Tempo: ~90 bpm (steady marching feel)
Mood: Proud, melancholic, traditional Scottish
🎸 STRUMMING PATTERN
For a steady march rhythm, try:
👉 ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
(count: 1 2-and 3-and 4-and)
or for a simpler, more traditional “military march” feel:
👉 Bass ↓ ↓ ↑
(count: 1 (and) 2 (and) — repeat twice per bar)
🎧 Tips:
Hit the bass note of each chord on beat 1.
Keep the motion tight and crisp — think of marching feet.
Add a little palm-mute on beats 2 and 4 for a percussive, snare-like effect.
🎶 CHORDS
Verse
Oh my [G]love has [D]left me wi’ [A]bairnies [D]twa,
And [A]that’s the [G]last o’ him I [A]ever [D]saw.
He [G]joined the [D]army and he’s [A]marched a[D]wa’,
He [G]took the [D]shillin’,
He [G]took the [D]shillin’ and he’s [A]off tae [D]war.
Chorus
Come [G]laddies [D]come, hear the [G]cannons roar,
Tak' the [D]King's shilling an’ we’re [A]off tae [D]war.
Come [G]laddies [D]come, hear the [G]cannons roar,
Tak' the [D]King's shilling an’ we’re [A]off tae [D]war.
🪕 FINGERPICKING TAB (Verse + Chorus)
This song works perfectly with Travis-style picking — steady alternating bass gives the rhythm of a march.
Right-hand pattern:
T I M I T I M I
T (thumb): Bass (E/A/D)
I (index): G string
M (middle): B string
🎸 TAB – Verse
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
Oh my love has left me wi’ bairnies twa...
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
[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|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
He took the shillin’ and he’s off tae war...
🎸 TAB – Chorus
[G]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|
G|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|----0---0-------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|--2-------2-----|
E|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|3---------------|
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar...
[D]
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|------3---------|
G|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|----2---2-------|
D|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
[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|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Tak’ the King’s shilling an’ we’re off tae war...
Here's another version of the chords in the key of C.
Oh my [F]love has [C]left me wi' [G]bairnies [C]twa
And [G]that's the [F]last o' him I [G]ever [C]saw
He [F]joined the [C]army and he’s [G]marched a[C]wa'
He [F]took the [C]shillin'
He [F]took the [C]shillin' and he’s [G]off tae [C]war.
Chorus
Come [F]laddies [C]come, hear the [F]cannons roar
Tak' the [C]King's shilling an' we're [G]off tae [C]war
Come [F]laddies [C]come, hear the [F]cannons roar
Tak' the [C]King's shilling an' we're [G]off tae [C]war
Oh he [F]looked sae [C]prood and sae [G]gallant [C]then
Wi' his [G]kilt and [F]sporran an' his [G]musket [C]gun
And the [F]ladies [C]kissed them as they [G]marched a[C]long
And they [F]sailed a[C]wa' boys
They [F]sailed a[C]wa', boys, by the [G]Broomie[C]law
Chorus
The [F]pipes did [C]play as they [G]marched a[C]long
And the [G]men they [F]sang oot a [G]battle [C]song
"March [F]on, march [C]on," cried our [G]Captain [C]gay
For [F]King and [C]country
For [F]King and [C]country we will [G]fight this [C]day
Chorus
The [F]battle [C]echoed tae the [G]sound o' [C]guns
And [G]bayonets [F]flashed in the [G]morning [C]sun
The [F]drums did [C]beat and the [G]cannons [C]roared
And the [F]shillin' [C]didn't seem
The [F]shillin' [C]didn't seem much [G]worth no [C]more
Chorus
Some [F]lost the [C]battle, their [G]bodies [C]fell
Cut [G]doon by [F]bayonets and [G]musket [C]ball
And [F]many [C]o' these [G]brave young [C]men
Would [F]never [C]fight for
Would [F]never [C]fight for their [G]King a[C]gain
Oh my [F]love has [C]left me wi' [G]bairnies [C]twa
And [G]that's the [F]last o' him I [G]ever [C]saw
He [F]joined the [C]army and he’s [G]marched a[C]wa'
He [F]took the [C]shillin'
He [F]took the [C]shillin' and he’s [G]off tae [C]war.
Chorus
Come [F]laddies [C]come, hear the [F]cannons roar
Tak' the [C]King's shilling an' we're [G]off tae [C]war
Come [F]laddies [C]come, hear the [F]cannons roar
Tak' the [C]King's shilling an' we're [G]off tae [C]war
Oh he [F]looked sae [C]prood and sae [G]gallant [C]then
Wi' his [G]kilt and [F]sporran an' his [G]musket [C]gun
And the [F]ladies [C]kissed them as they [G]marched a[C]long
And they [F]sailed a[C]wa' boys
They [F]sailed a[C]wa', boys, by the [G]Broomie[C]law
Chorus
The [F]pipes did [C]play as they [G]marched a[C]long
And the [G]men they [F]sang oot a [G]battle [C]song
"March [F]on, march [C]on," cried our [G]Captain [C]gay
For [F]King and [C]country
For [F]King and [C]country we will [G]fight this [C]day
Chorus
The [F]battle [C]echoed tae the [G]sound o' [C]guns
And [G]bayonets [F]flashed in the [G]morning [C]sun
The [F]drums did [C]beat and the [G]cannons [C]roared
And the [F]shillin' [C]didn't seem
The [F]shillin' [C]didn't seem much [G]worth no [C]more
Chorus
Some [F]lost the [C]battle, their [G]bodies [C]fell
Cut [G]doon by [F]bayonets and [G]musket [C]ball
And [F]many [C]o' these [G]brave young [C]men
Would [F]never [C]fight for
Would [F]never [C]fight for their [G]King a[C]gain
Karen Casey song The King's Shilling
