The Scots Abroad Lyrics And Chords The McCalmans
This song is a tribute to all the Scottish men who traveled far from home looking for a better way of life, The sheet music is available below.
Return to the song list of the McCalmans lyrics and chords .
Return to the song list of the McCalmans lyrics and chords .
They built the (Em)bridges and the tunnels
Climbed the (G)hills that bear their names
Always (D)first to charge in battle
And the (Em)first to charge a(Bm)gain
You can (Em)recognise their accent
And they'll (G)tell you that you're wrong but,
(D)There is no mistaking where they're (Em)from
In the (Em)middle of the deepest jungle
(G)There they are again
I (D)flew across to China
And they (Em)met me off the (Bm)plane
Wher(Em)ever you may see them
Well they (G)look like they belong but,
(D)There is no mistaking where they're (Em)from
Chorus
They're from the (G)streets of Aberdeen and the (D)small border town
From the (C)Hebridean (Am)Islands and (G)all the country (B7)round
They (Em)travelled to a new land and they (G)sing a different song, but
(D)There is no mistaking where they're (Em)from
There's a (Em)nurse at the mission
With a (G)doctor standing by
And the (D)old man in the corner
With a (Em)sad, whisky (Bm)eye
And the (Em)tea-planter's widow
She's been (G)waiting here so long, but
(D)There is no mistaking where they're (Em)from
Some are (Em)good, some are bad,
The (G)angels and the thieves
The ex(D)plorer, who finds the land
And (Em)never ever (Bm)leaves
The (Em)weary adventurer,
Who (G)just keep moving on, but
(D)There is no mistaking where they're (Em)from
Chorus
They're the (Em)ones who write the stories
And they (G)never hesitate
To (D)face up to the challenges
And (Em)punch above their (Bm)weight
They (Em)live in every country
And they (G)look like they belong, but,
(D)There is no mistaking where they're (Em)from
Chorus twice
(D)There is no mistaking where they're (Em)from
(D)There is no mistaking where they're (Em)from
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (Gentle Folk Flow – 4/4)
You can use a light, storytelling pattern that gives a subtle “travelling” rhythm:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Count: 1 2& 3&4&
Feel:
First downstroke (beat 1) = slightly heavier, hit bass note.
The rest flows smoothly with relaxed wrist motion.
On softer verses, simplify to ↓ (pause) ↓↑ for a more intimate sound.
Alternative (for chorus – stronger rhythm):
↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ | ↓ ↓ ↑
Keeps the energy up when the lyrics open wide (“They’re from the streets of Aberdeen…”).
🎸 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (Rolling Folk Arpeggio)
Use this steady rolling 4/4 arpeggio with your thumb alternating the bass.
Pattern:
T – I – M – A – M – I – M – A
(Thumb = bass string, Index = G, Middle = B, Ring = E)
🎶 Fingerpicking Tabs by Chord
E minor
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--0-----------------------------|
G Major
e|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
D Major
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|-----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|
Bm
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----4-------4---4-------4-------|
D|--4-----------4-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
C Major
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--3-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
Am
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--0-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
B7
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--1-----------1-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
💡 Example Verse (Fingerpicked)
Em G
e|--------0-----------0--------|--------3-----------3--------|
B|------0---0-------0---0------|------0---0-------0---0------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0----|----0-------0---0-------0----|
D|--2-----------2--------------|--0-----------0--------------|
A|--2---------------------------|--2--------------------------|
E|--0---------------------------|--3--------------------------|
They built the bridges and the tunnels,
💡 Example Chorus (Strummed)
They're from the (G)streets of Aberdeen and the (D)small border town
From the (C)Hebridean (Am)Islands and (G)all the country (B7)round
They (Em)travelled to a new land and they (G)sing a different song, but
(D)There is no mistaking where they're (Em)from
Play with open, ringing strums and let the Em and G chords sustain — it feels wide and nostalgic.
⚙️ Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Think of it as a travelling song — steady, proud, but gentle.
Keep your thumb alternating softly like a walking bassline (for fingerpicking).
Avoid sharp strums — use the side of your thumb or fingers for a warm tone.
🎵 Dynamics:
Verses: soft, storytelling; fingerpick or light strum.
Chorus: build to fuller strumming, then gently return.
End quietly, fading on the final Em — like the memory of a journey.
🎵 Bass Alternation:
On Em: alternate 6th → 4th string
On G: 6th → 4th
On D: 4th → 3rd
On Bm: 5th → 4th
🎵 Ending:
Let the final Em ring softly:
You can use a light, storytelling pattern that gives a subtle “travelling” rhythm:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Count: 1 2& 3&4&
Feel:
First downstroke (beat 1) = slightly heavier, hit bass note.
The rest flows smoothly with relaxed wrist motion.
On softer verses, simplify to ↓ (pause) ↓↑ for a more intimate sound.
Alternative (for chorus – stronger rhythm):
↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ | ↓ ↓ ↑
Keeps the energy up when the lyrics open wide (“They’re from the streets of Aberdeen…”).
🎸 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (Rolling Folk Arpeggio)
Use this steady rolling 4/4 arpeggio with your thumb alternating the bass.
Pattern:
T – I – M – A – M – I – M – A
(Thumb = bass string, Index = G, Middle = B, Ring = E)
🎶 Fingerpicking Tabs by Chord
E minor
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--0-----------------------------|
G Major
e|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
D Major
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|-----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|
Bm
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----4-------4---4-------4-------|
D|--4-----------4-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
C Major
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--3-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
Am
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--0-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
B7
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--1-----------1-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
💡 Example Verse (Fingerpicked)
Em G
e|--------0-----------0--------|--------3-----------3--------|
B|------0---0-------0---0------|------0---0-------0---0------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0----|----0-------0---0-------0----|
D|--2-----------2--------------|--0-----------0--------------|
A|--2---------------------------|--2--------------------------|
E|--0---------------------------|--3--------------------------|
They built the bridges and the tunnels,
💡 Example Chorus (Strummed)
They're from the (G)streets of Aberdeen and the (D)small border town
From the (C)Hebridean (Am)Islands and (G)all the country (B7)round
They (Em)travelled to a new land and they (G)sing a different song, but
(D)There is no mistaking where they're (Em)from
Play with open, ringing strums and let the Em and G chords sustain — it feels wide and nostalgic.
⚙️ Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Think of it as a travelling song — steady, proud, but gentle.
Keep your thumb alternating softly like a walking bassline (for fingerpicking).
Avoid sharp strums — use the side of your thumb or fingers for a warm tone.
🎵 Dynamics:
Verses: soft, storytelling; fingerpick or light strum.
Chorus: build to fuller strumming, then gently return.
End quietly, fading on the final Em — like the memory of a journey.
🎵 Bass Alternation:
On Em: alternate 6th → 4th string
On G: 6th → 4th
On D: 4th → 3rd
On Bm: 5th → 4th
🎵 Ending:
Let the final Em ring softly:
Below is the list of sheet music and tin whistle songs that are in my ebooks. This is the largest collection of tin whistle songs ever put together.[over 1,000 songs ] Including folk, pop and trad tunes plus German And French songs along with Christmas Carols.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50 . The Scots Abroad sheet music and tin whistle notes are included.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50 . The Scots Abroad sheet music and tin whistle notes are included.
The McCalmans Scottish Band
