The last session lyrics and chords by The McCalmans
/ ALL THE TUNES IN THE WORLD Lyrics And Guitar Chords. 3/4 (Ewan McVicar)
To play along to the McCalmans on their album ‚Songs From Scotland use a capo on the 3rd fret.
Return to The McCalmans lyrics and chords .
To play along to the McCalmans on their album ‚Songs From Scotland use a capo on the 3rd fret.
Return to The McCalmans lyrics and chords .
Tune Intro: D-G-D-G D-G-D-G D-D-G-Em D-D-G-G (4x)
Intro: D-G-D-D D-G-D-D
(
D)Lay down the borrowed gui(A)tar
(Bm)Lay down the (G)fiddle and (D)bow
(D)You'd like one more drink at the (A)bar
But the (Bm)manager (G)says you must (D)go
Chorus
And (G)all the tunes in the (D)world
Are dancing around in your (A)head
But the (G)clock on the gantry says (D)play-time is (Bm)o'er
You'll (D)just have to (A)sing them in(D)stead
Birdge: D-G-D
(D)Lay down the jig and the (A)reel
(Bm)Lay down the (G)planxty and (D)slide
(D)Everyone knows how you (A)feel
But there's (Bm)no time to (G)take one more (D)ride
Chorus
The (D)barmaid has put on her (A)coat
And the (Bm)barman has (G)emptied the (D)slops
And the (D)manager's friends are a(A)fraid
The (Bm)music will (G)bring in the (D)cops
Chorus
(D)Everyone here feels the (A)same
Oh (Bm)yes you de(G)serve one more (D)tune
But (D)you know the rules of the (A)game,
It's (Bm)time to go (G)howl at the (D)moon
Chorus
And (G)all the tunes in the (D)world
Are dancing around in your (A)head
But the (G)clock on the gantry says (D)play-time is (Bm)o'er
You'll (D)just have to (A)sing them in(G)stead(D)
Intro: D-G-D-D D-G-D-D
(
D)Lay down the borrowed gui(A)tar
(Bm)Lay down the (G)fiddle and (D)bow
(D)You'd like one more drink at the (A)bar
But the (Bm)manager (G)says you must (D)go
Chorus
And (G)all the tunes in the (D)world
Are dancing around in your (A)head
But the (G)clock on the gantry says (D)play-time is (Bm)o'er
You'll (D)just have to (A)sing them in(D)stead
Birdge: D-G-D
(D)Lay down the jig and the (A)reel
(Bm)Lay down the (G)planxty and (D)slide
(D)Everyone knows how you (A)feel
But there's (Bm)no time to (G)take one more (D)ride
Chorus
The (D)barmaid has put on her (A)coat
And the (Bm)barman has (G)emptied the (D)slops
And the (D)manager's friends are a(A)fraid
The (Bm)music will (G)bring in the (D)cops
Chorus
(D)Everyone here feels the (A)same
Oh (Bm)yes you de(G)serve one more (D)tune
But (D)you know the rules of the (A)game,
It's (Bm)time to go (G)howl at the (D)moon
Chorus
And (G)all the tunes in the (D)world
Are dancing around in your (A)head
But the (G)clock on the gantry says (D)play-time is (Bm)o'er
You'll (D)just have to (A)sing them in(G)stead(D)
Strumming Pattern (Gentle Folk 4/4)
Keep this easy and flowing — a soft “pub waltz” sway in 4/4:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count: 1 2& 3&4&
How to play it:
Beat 1 – bass note (thumb or pick, low string)
Beat 2& – soft down-up
Beat 3&4& – gentle flowing down-up-down-up
Keep the strum low-volume, like the last tune of the night.
For quieter verses, play this reduced version:
↓ (pause) ↓↑ (beats 1 – 3&4)
Perfect for the storytelling feel.
🎸 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (works for all verses)
Use this folk arpeggio that rolls like a slow tune winding down:
T – I – M – A – M – I – M – A
(Thumb = bass, Index = G, Middle = B, Ring = high E)
Each measure fits four beats — steady, even, unhurried.
🎶 Example Fingerpicking Tabs
D Major
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
A Major
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------2---2-------2---2---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--0-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
Bm
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----4-------4---4-------4-------|
D|--4-----------4-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
G Major
e|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
💡 Example (Verse Fingerpicked)
D A
e|--------2-----------2-----|--------0-----------0-----|
B|------3---3-------3---3---|------2---2-------2---2---|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-|----2-------2---2-------2-|
D|--0-----------0-----------|--2-----------2-----------|
A|---------------------------|--0-----------------------|
E|---------------------------|--------------------------|
Lay down the borrowed guitar... Lay down the fiddle and bow
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Keep it soft and nostalgic, like the last tune echoing in a quiet pub.
Play with rubato — slight timing freedom. Don’t rush; let it breathe.
🎵 Bass alternation (optional):
D: alternate 4th → 5th string
A: alternate 5th → 4th
G: alternate 6th → 4th
Bm: keep steady 5th-string bass
🎵 Dynamics:
Fingerpick the verses quietly.
Strum the chorus a little fuller to give it lift (“And all the tunes in the world…”).
End with one slow arpeggiated D chord — let it ring into silence.
Keep this easy and flowing — a soft “pub waltz” sway in 4/4:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count: 1 2& 3&4&
How to play it:
Beat 1 – bass note (thumb or pick, low string)
Beat 2& – soft down-up
Beat 3&4& – gentle flowing down-up-down-up
Keep the strum low-volume, like the last tune of the night.
For quieter verses, play this reduced version:
↓ (pause) ↓↑ (beats 1 – 3&4)
Perfect for the storytelling feel.
🎸 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (works for all verses)
Use this folk arpeggio that rolls like a slow tune winding down:
T – I – M – A – M – I – M – A
(Thumb = bass, Index = G, Middle = B, Ring = high E)
Each measure fits four beats — steady, even, unhurried.
🎶 Example Fingerpicking Tabs
D Major
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
A Major
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------2---2-------2---2---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--0-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
Bm
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----4-------4---4-------4-------|
D|--4-----------4-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
G Major
e|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
💡 Example (Verse Fingerpicked)
D A
e|--------2-----------2-----|--------0-----------0-----|
B|------3---3-------3---3---|------2---2-------2---2---|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-|----2-------2---2-------2-|
D|--0-----------0-----------|--2-----------2-----------|
A|---------------------------|--0-----------------------|
E|---------------------------|--------------------------|
Lay down the borrowed guitar... Lay down the fiddle and bow
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Keep it soft and nostalgic, like the last tune echoing in a quiet pub.
Play with rubato — slight timing freedom. Don’t rush; let it breathe.
🎵 Bass alternation (optional):
D: alternate 4th → 5th string
A: alternate 5th → 4th
G: alternate 6th → 4th
Bm: keep steady 5th-string bass
🎵 Dynamics:
Fingerpick the verses quietly.
Strum the chorus a little fuller to give it lift (“And all the tunes in the world…”).
End with one slow arpeggiated D chord — let it ring into silence.
McCalmans song The Last Session
