THE PORTREE KID LYRICS AND GUITAR CHORDS
The Tin Whistle Sheet Music Notes Plus The Mandolin / Tenor Banjo Tab Included.2/4 (Words J. W. Hill (Parody), Music Stan Jones, performed by the Corries) A funny Scottish song. *Slàinte means health, used a lot to say Cheers .
A[Em]man came riding oot the west one [Bm]wild and stormy day
He was [Em]tall and quiet and hungry his [Bm]eyes were smoky grey
He was [Em]lean across the hurdies but his [Bm]shoulders they were [Em]big
The [Am]terror of the hielan' glens that [Em]was the [Bm]Portree [Em]kid
Chorus: He drum [Bm]ho, he drum [Em]hey, The [Am]teuchter that cam frae [Em]Skye.
His [Em]sidekick was an orra’man, and [Bm]oh but he was mean
He was [Em]ca’ed the midnight plough boy, and he [Bm]came frae Aberdeen
He had [Em]twenty seven notches on his [Bm]cromak so they [Em]say
And he [Am]killed a million Indians, way [Em]up in [Bm]Storno[Em]way
[Em]Portree booted in the door he [Bm]sauntered tae the bar
He [Em]poured a shot o crabbies he [Bm]shouted *Slàinte Mhat (Slangevar)
While [Em]midnight was being chatted up by a [Bm]bar room girl called [Em]Pam
Who [Am]said well howdy – stranger, wad ye [Em]buy's a [Bm]baby[Em]cham
Now [Em]over in the corner sat three [Bm]men frae Auchertool
They were [Em]playing games for money in a [Bm]snakes and ladder school
The [Em]fourth man was a southerner who’d [Bm]come up from Mac[Em]merry
He'd [Am]been a river gambler on the [Em]Balla[Bm]chulish [Em]Ferry
Chrous: He drum [Bm]ho, he drum [Em]hey, The [Am]teuchter that cam frae [Em]Skye.
Portree [Em]walked up to the table and he [Bm]shouted 'Shake me in'
He [Em]shoogled on the egg cup, he [Bm]gave the dice a spin
He [Em]threw seven sixes in a row and the [Bm]game was nearly [Em]done
But he [Am]landed on a snake, and [Em]finished [Bm]on square [Em]one
The [Em]game was nearly over and Por[Bm]tree was doing fine
He’d [Em]landed on a ladder, he was [Bm]up to forty-nine
He [Em]only had but one to go and the [Bm]other man was [Em]beat
But the [Am]gambler couped the board up, and [Em]shouted [Bm]"you're a [Em]cheat"
Men [Em]dived behind the rubber plants to [Bm]try and save their skins
The [Em]accordionist stopped playing, his [Bm]sidekick dropped the spoons
He [Em]says "I think its funny, you’ve been [Bm]up the ladder [Em]twice,
And ye [Am]always dunt the table, when I’m [Em]going to [Bm]throw the [Em]dice"
Chorus: He drum [Bm]ho, he drum [Em]hey, The [Am]teuchter that cam frae [Em]Skye.
The [Em]gambler drew his Skian Dubh as [Bm]fast as lightening speed
Por[Em]tree grabbed a screwtop and [Bm]cracked him O the heid
Then he [Em]gave him laldy wi’ a [Bm]salmon off the [Em]wall
And he [Am]finished off the business, wi’ his[Em] lucky [Bm]grousefoot's [Em]claw
Portree [Em]walked up to the bar, he [Bm]says "I’ll hae a half"
And d’ye [Em]like the way I stuck it on that [Bm]wee Macmerry nyaff
But the [Em]Southerner crept up behind his [Bm]features wracked wi’ [Em]pain
And [Am]gubbed him wi' an ashtray made [Em]oot [Bm]o' a curling [Em]stane
The [Em]fight went raging on all night till [Bm]opening time next day
Wi’ a [Em]break for soup and stovies aff a [Bm]coronation tray
It was [Em]getting kind o' obvious, that [Bm]neither man would [Em]win
When [Am]came the shout that stopped it all "there’s a [Em]bus trip [Bm]comin [Em]in"
Chorus: He drum [Bm]ho, he drum [Em]hey, The [Am]teuchter that cam frae [Em]Skye.
They [Em]sing this song in Galashiels and [Bm]up to Peterheid
Way [Em]down o’er the borders a[Bm]cross the Rio Tweed
About [Em]what became O’Portree, Midnight [Bm]and the gamblin' [Em]man,
They [Am]opened up a gift shop selling [Em]fresh air [Bm]in a [Em]can
Chorus: He drum [Bm]ho, he drum [Em]hey, The [Am]teuchter that cam frae [Em]Skye.
He was [Em]tall and quiet and hungry his [Bm]eyes were smoky grey
He was [Em]lean across the hurdies but his [Bm]shoulders they were [Em]big
The [Am]terror of the hielan' glens that [Em]was the [Bm]Portree [Em]kid
Chorus: He drum [Bm]ho, he drum [Em]hey, The [Am]teuchter that cam frae [Em]Skye.
His [Em]sidekick was an orra’man, and [Bm]oh but he was mean
He was [Em]ca’ed the midnight plough boy, and he [Bm]came frae Aberdeen
He had [Em]twenty seven notches on his [Bm]cromak so they [Em]say
And he [Am]killed a million Indians, way [Em]up in [Bm]Storno[Em]way
[Em]Portree booted in the door he [Bm]sauntered tae the bar
He [Em]poured a shot o crabbies he [Bm]shouted *Slàinte Mhat (Slangevar)
While [Em]midnight was being chatted up by a [Bm]bar room girl called [Em]Pam
Who [Am]said well howdy – stranger, wad ye [Em]buy's a [Bm]baby[Em]cham
Now [Em]over in the corner sat three [Bm]men frae Auchertool
They were [Em]playing games for money in a [Bm]snakes and ladder school
The [Em]fourth man was a southerner who’d [Bm]come up from Mac[Em]merry
He'd [Am]been a river gambler on the [Em]Balla[Bm]chulish [Em]Ferry
Chrous: He drum [Bm]ho, he drum [Em]hey, The [Am]teuchter that cam frae [Em]Skye.
Portree [Em]walked up to the table and he [Bm]shouted 'Shake me in'
He [Em]shoogled on the egg cup, he [Bm]gave the dice a spin
He [Em]threw seven sixes in a row and the [Bm]game was nearly [Em]done
But he [Am]landed on a snake, and [Em]finished [Bm]on square [Em]one
The [Em]game was nearly over and Por[Bm]tree was doing fine
He’d [Em]landed on a ladder, he was [Bm]up to forty-nine
He [Em]only had but one to go and the [Bm]other man was [Em]beat
But the [Am]gambler couped the board up, and [Em]shouted [Bm]"you're a [Em]cheat"
Men [Em]dived behind the rubber plants to [Bm]try and save their skins
The [Em]accordionist stopped playing, his [Bm]sidekick dropped the spoons
He [Em]says "I think its funny, you’ve been [Bm]up the ladder [Em]twice,
And ye [Am]always dunt the table, when I’m [Em]going to [Bm]throw the [Em]dice"
Chorus: He drum [Bm]ho, he drum [Em]hey, The [Am]teuchter that cam frae [Em]Skye.
The [Em]gambler drew his Skian Dubh as [Bm]fast as lightening speed
Por[Em]tree grabbed a screwtop and [Bm]cracked him O the heid
Then he [Em]gave him laldy wi’ a [Bm]salmon off the [Em]wall
And he [Am]finished off the business, wi’ his[Em] lucky [Bm]grousefoot's [Em]claw
Portree [Em]walked up to the bar, he [Bm]says "I’ll hae a half"
And d’ye [Em]like the way I stuck it on that [Bm]wee Macmerry nyaff
But the [Em]Southerner crept up behind his [Bm]features wracked wi’ [Em]pain
And [Am]gubbed him wi' an ashtray made [Em]oot [Bm]o' a curling [Em]stane
The [Em]fight went raging on all night till [Bm]opening time next day
Wi’ a [Em]break for soup and stovies aff a [Bm]coronation tray
It was [Em]getting kind o' obvious, that [Bm]neither man would [Em]win
When [Am]came the shout that stopped it all "there’s a [Em]bus trip [Bm]comin [Em]in"
Chorus: He drum [Bm]ho, he drum [Em]hey, The [Am]teuchter that cam frae [Em]Skye.
They [Em]sing this song in Galashiels and [Bm]up to Peterheid
Way [Em]down o’er the borders a[Bm]cross the Rio Tweed
About [Em]what became O’Portree, Midnight [Bm]and the gamblin' [Em]man,
They [Am]opened up a gift shop selling [Em]fresh air [Bm]in a [Em]can
Chorus: He drum [Bm]ho, he drum [Em]hey, The [Am]teuchter that cam frae [Em]Skye.
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (6/8 “Gallop” Feel)
This rhythm mimics a horse’s canter or the bounce of a Scottish march.
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
or think:
Bass – Down-Up – Down-Up
How to play it:
Beat 1 = Bass note (with thumb or pick)
Beats 2–3 = Down-up brush on mids/highs
Beats 4–5–6 = Another down-up brush, slightly lighter
Example flow:
Down (bass) → down-up → down-up → Down (bass) → down-up → down-up
For Em, hit the low 6th string on beat 1.
For Bm, hit the 5th string.
For Am, hit the 5th string.
Keep the pulse steady and rolling, not sharp.
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
Use a rolling arpeggio for the 6/8 rhythm:
T – I – M – T – I – M
(Thumb = bass, Index = G string, Middle = B string)
Let each note ring for that Highland drone sound.
Verse Example
Em
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|
A|--2-------------|--2-------------|
E|--0-------------|--0-------------|
A man came riding oot the west one wild and stormy day
Bm
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|
G|----4---4---4---|----4---4---4---|
D|--4-------------|--4-------------|
A|--2-------------|--2-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
He was tall and quiet and hungry his eyes were smoky grey
Am Em Bm Em
e|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------2---2-----|------0---0-----|
B|----1---1---1---|----0---0---0---|----3---3---3---|----0---0---0---|
G|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------4-------|--------0-------|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|--4-------------|--2-------------|
A|--0-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
E|----------------|--0-------------|----------------|--0-------------|
The terror of the hielan' glens, that was the Portree kid
🎶 Chorus Picking
Bm Em Am Em
e|------2---2-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
B|----3---3---3---|----0---0---0---|----1---1---1---|----0---0---0---|
G|--------4-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|
D|--4-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
A|--2-------------|--2-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|
E|----------------|--0-------------|----------------|--0-------------|
He drum ho, he drum hey, the teuchter that cam frae Skye
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Keep a “rolling march” momentum.
Bass beats (1, 4) are strong — like hooves hitting the ground.
🎵 Bass Alternation (for movement):
Em: 6th → 4th
Bm: 5th → 4th
Am: 5th → 4th
🎵 Optional Celtic embellishments:
For Em: hammer-on from open D string to 2nd fret.
For Bm: slide from 2nd→4th fret on D string.
For Am: hammer-on from open D string to 2nd fret on beat 2.
🎵 Ending cadence (slow down on final “Skye”):
e|--0-----------|
B|----0---------|
G|------0-------|
D|--------2-----|
A|--2-----------|
E|--0-----------|
Let ring like a fading wind over the moors.
This rhythm mimics a horse’s canter or the bounce of a Scottish march.
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
or think:
Bass – Down-Up – Down-Up
How to play it:
Beat 1 = Bass note (with thumb or pick)
Beats 2–3 = Down-up brush on mids/highs
Beats 4–5–6 = Another down-up brush, slightly lighter
Example flow:
Down (bass) → down-up → down-up → Down (bass) → down-up → down-up
For Em, hit the low 6th string on beat 1.
For Bm, hit the 5th string.
For Am, hit the 5th string.
Keep the pulse steady and rolling, not sharp.
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
Use a rolling arpeggio for the 6/8 rhythm:
T – I – M – T – I – M
(Thumb = bass, Index = G string, Middle = B string)
Let each note ring for that Highland drone sound.
Verse Example
Em
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|
A|--2-------------|--2-------------|
E|--0-------------|--0-------------|
A man came riding oot the west one wild and stormy day
Bm
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|
G|----4---4---4---|----4---4---4---|
D|--4-------------|--4-------------|
A|--2-------------|--2-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
He was tall and quiet and hungry his eyes were smoky grey
Am Em Bm Em
e|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------2---2-----|------0---0-----|
B|----1---1---1---|----0---0---0---|----3---3---3---|----0---0---0---|
G|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------4-------|--------0-------|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|--4-------------|--2-------------|
A|--0-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
E|----------------|--0-------------|----------------|--0-------------|
The terror of the hielan' glens, that was the Portree kid
🎶 Chorus Picking
Bm Em Am Em
e|------2---2-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
B|----3---3---3---|----0---0---0---|----1---1---1---|----0---0---0---|
G|--------4-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|
D|--4-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
A|--2-------------|--2-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|
E|----------------|--0-------------|----------------|--0-------------|
He drum ho, he drum hey, the teuchter that cam frae Skye
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Keep a “rolling march” momentum.
Bass beats (1, 4) are strong — like hooves hitting the ground.
🎵 Bass Alternation (for movement):
Em: 6th → 4th
Bm: 5th → 4th
Am: 5th → 4th
🎵 Optional Celtic embellishments:
For Em: hammer-on from open D string to 2nd fret.
For Bm: slide from 2nd→4th fret on D string.
For Am: hammer-on from open D string to 2nd fret on beat 2.
🎵 Ending cadence (slow down on final “Skye”):
e|--0-----------|
B|----0---------|
G|------0-------|
D|--------2-----|
A|--2-----------|
E|--0-----------|
Let ring like a fading wind over the moors.
Alternative guitar chords in Dm.
A[Bm]man came riding oot the west one [F#m]wild and stormy day
He was [Bm]tall and quiet and hungry his [F#m]eyes were smoky grey
He was [Bm]lean across the hurdies but his [F#m]shoulders they were [Bm]big
The [Em]terror of the hielan' glens that [Bm]was the [F#m]Portree [Bm]kid
Chorus: He drum [F#m]ho, he drum [Bm]hey, The [Em]teuchter that cam frae [Bm]Skye.
Key of Am.
A[Am]man came riding oot the west one [Em]wild and stormy day
He was [Am]tall and quiet and hungry his [Em]eyes were smoky grey
He was [Am]lean across the hurdies but his [Em]shoulders they were [Am]big
The [Dm]terror of the hielan' glens that [Am]was the [Em]Portree [Am]kid
Chorus: He drum [Em]ho, he drum [Am]hey, The [Dm]teuchter that cam frae [Am]Skye.
A[Bm]man came riding oot the west one [F#m]wild and stormy day
He was [Bm]tall and quiet and hungry his [F#m]eyes were smoky grey
He was [Bm]lean across the hurdies but his [F#m]shoulders they were [Bm]big
The [Em]terror of the hielan' glens that [Bm]was the [F#m]Portree [Bm]kid
Chorus: He drum [F#m]ho, he drum [Bm]hey, The [Em]teuchter that cam frae [Bm]Skye.
Key of Am.
A[Am]man came riding oot the west one [Em]wild and stormy day
He was [Am]tall and quiet and hungry his [Em]eyes were smoky grey
He was [Am]lean across the hurdies but his [Em]shoulders they were [Am]big
The [Dm]terror of the hielan' glens that [Am]was the [Em]Portree [Am]kid
Chorus: He drum [Em]ho, he drum [Am]hey, The [Dm]teuchter that cam frae [Am]Skye.
The Portree Kid Mandolin Banjo Tab By The Corries
Sheet Music Tin Whistle Notes
