THE ROSES OF PRINCE CHARLIE LYRICS AND CHORDS
2/4 (R.G. Browne) Corries’ live version on YouTube in D’ major with capo on the 1st fret. This is one of many songs on the site by The Corries about Bonnie Prince Charlie. Guitar work by Marc.The sheet music is included.Roses of Prince Charlie Mandolin 4 String Banjo Tab now included.
Chorus
(D)Come now, (A7)gather now, (D)here where the flowers grow
(G)White is the (D)blossom as the (G)snow on the (A7)ben
(D)Here now (A7)freedom's call (D)we'll make a solemn vow
(G)Now by the (D)roses of Prince (A7)Char(D)lie
(D)Fight again at Bannockburn, your (A7)battleaxe to wield
(G)Fight wi’ your (D)grandsires, on (G)Flodden’s bloody (A7)field
(D)Fight at Culloden, the (A7)bonnie prince to shield
(G)Fight by the (D)roses of Prince (A7)Char(D)lie
Chorus
(D)Spirits o' the banished, in (A7)far and distant lands
(G)Carved out a (D)new world, wi' (G)sweat blood and (A7)hands
Re(D)turn now in glory, and (A7)on the silver sand
(G)Fight by the (D)roses of Prince (A7)Char(D)lie
Chorus
Tak' ye (D)strength by the green fields, that (A7)blanket peats and coal
(G)Ships frae the (D)Clyde, have a (G)nation in their (A7)hold
The (D)Water o' Life, some men (A7)need tae make them bold
(G)Black gold and (D)fishes frae the (A7)sea, (D)man
Chorus
(D)Come now, (A7)gather now, (D)here where the flowers grow
(G)White is the (D)blossom as the (G)snow on the (A7)ben
(D)Here now (A7)freedom's call (D)we'll make a solemn vow
(G)Now by the (D)roses of Prince (A7)Char(D)lie
(D)Fight again at Bannockburn, your (A7)battleaxe to wield
(G)Fight wi’ your (D)grandsires, on (G)Flodden’s bloody (A7)field
(D)Fight at Culloden, the (A7)bonnie prince to shield
(G)Fight by the (D)roses of Prince (A7)Char(D)lie
Chorus
(D)Spirits o' the banished, in (A7)far and distant lands
(G)Carved out a (D)new world, wi' (G)sweat blood and (A7)hands
Re(D)turn now in glory, and (A7)on the silver sand
(G)Fight by the (D)roses of Prince (A7)Char(D)lie
Chorus
Tak' ye (D)strength by the green fields, that (A7)blanket peats and coal
(G)Ships frae the (D)Clyde, have a (G)nation in their (A7)hold
The (D)Water o' Life, some men (A7)need tae make them bold
(G)Black gold and (D)fishes frae the (A7)sea, (D)man
Chorus
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (6/8 Scottish Ballad)
Use a rolling march feel:
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
or in words:
Bass – Down-Up – Down-Up
How to play it:
Beat 1: thumb or pick plays the bass note
Beats 2–3: light down-up brush (middle strings)
Beats 4–5–6: another down-up brush, slightly lighter
Keep the rhythm smooth and flowing, like pipes and drums rolling across the Highlands.
Example:
For D, pluck the 4th string → down-up → down-up
For G, pluck the 6th string → down-up → down-up
For A7, pluck the 5th string → down-up → down-up
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
Use a simple 6/8 arpeggio roll:
T – I – M – T – I – M
(Thumb = bass, Index = G string, Middle = B string)
Let notes ring together for a harp-like Celtic tone.
Example Picking (Chorus)
D
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|
G|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
Come now, gather now, here where the flowers grow
A7
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------2---2-----|------2---2-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|
A|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
White is the blossom as the snow on the ben
G D
e|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|------2---2-----|------2---2-----|
B|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----3---3---3---|----3---3---3---|
G|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
A|--2-------------|--2-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
Here now freedom's call, we'll make a solemn vow
G D A7 D
e|------3---3-----|------2---2-----|------0---0-----|------2---2-----|
B|----0---0---0---|----3---3---3---|----2---2---2---|----3---3---3---|
G|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|--0-------------|
A|--2-------------|----------------|--0-------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Now by the roses of Prince Charlie
Verse Example
D A7
e|------2---2-----|------2---2-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
B|----3---3---3---|----3---3---3---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
G|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
A|----------------|----------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Fight again at Bannockburn, your battleaxe to wield
Continue with the same picking flow through all verses.
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Keep the rhythm steadfast but lyrical, like a march through the Highlands.
Accentuate beat 1 slightly for a “marching footstep” effect.
🎵 Bass Alternation (for depth):
D: alternate 4th → 5th
G: alternate 6th → 4th
A7: alternate 5th → 4th
🎵 Ornamentation:
On A7, hammer-on from 0→2 on the D string to mimic pipes.
On D, pull-off from 3→2 on B string for a Scottish “grace note.”
🎵 Ending arpeggio suggestion (last line):
Use a rolling march feel:
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
or in words:
Bass – Down-Up – Down-Up
How to play it:
Beat 1: thumb or pick plays the bass note
Beats 2–3: light down-up brush (middle strings)
Beats 4–5–6: another down-up brush, slightly lighter
Keep the rhythm smooth and flowing, like pipes and drums rolling across the Highlands.
Example:
For D, pluck the 4th string → down-up → down-up
For G, pluck the 6th string → down-up → down-up
For A7, pluck the 5th string → down-up → down-up
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
Use a simple 6/8 arpeggio roll:
T – I – M – T – I – M
(Thumb = bass, Index = G string, Middle = B string)
Let notes ring together for a harp-like Celtic tone.
Example Picking (Chorus)
D
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|
G|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
Come now, gather now, here where the flowers grow
A7
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------2---2-----|------2---2-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|
A|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
White is the blossom as the snow on the ben
G D
e|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|------2---2-----|------2---2-----|
B|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----3---3---3---|----3---3---3---|
G|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------2-------|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
A|--2-------------|--2-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
Here now freedom's call, we'll make a solemn vow
G D A7 D
e|------3---3-----|------2---2-----|------0---0-----|------2---2-----|
B|----0---0---0---|----3---3---3---|----2---2---2---|----3---3---3---|
G|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|--0-------------|
A|--2-------------|----------------|--0-------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Now by the roses of Prince Charlie
Verse Example
D A7
e|------2---2-----|------2---2-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
B|----3---3---3---|----3---3---3---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
G|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
A|----------------|----------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Fight again at Bannockburn, your battleaxe to wield
Continue with the same picking flow through all verses.
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Keep the rhythm steadfast but lyrical, like a march through the Highlands.
Accentuate beat 1 slightly for a “marching footstep” effect.
🎵 Bass Alternation (for depth):
D: alternate 4th → 5th
G: alternate 6th → 4th
A7: alternate 5th → 4th
🎵 Ornamentation:
On A7, hammer-on from 0→2 on the D string to mimic pipes.
On D, pull-off from 3→2 on B string for a Scottish “grace note.”
🎵 Ending arpeggio suggestion (last line):
The Corries Roses Of Prince Charlie
Roses of prince Charlie sheet music notes for tin whistle in D Major
Roses of Prince Charlie Mandolin 4 String Banjo Tab
