The Tortoise song lyrics and guitar chords by the Corries
Written by Ed Pickford and recorded by the Scottish folk group The Corries .
He was [C]just a lonely tortoise [F]looking for a [C]home
His tiny feet were blistered with the [D7]miles he'd had to [G7]roam
I [C]found him in a pet shop, on his [F]cheek there was a [C]tear
And painted on his little back was [G7]"twenty pence to clear"
He's a [F]faithful friend, the tortoise, he'll [C]love you till the [G7]end
And [C]you won't need a person with a [G7]tortoise for a [C]friend
I took him from the pet shop, tied to a piece of string.
I'm sure that he was happy for I thought I heard him sing.
I took him to my sports car. We had many's the mile to go.
I tied him to the bumper. He was grateful for the tow. CHORUS
In winter he would hibernate. Yes, we'd both retire,
And when his little feet got cold, I'd place him on the fire.
In summer by the swimming pool, I was so proud of him.
I'd throw him in and then he'd sink. I don't think that he could swim. CHORUS
Then came the day that's coming to all creatures great and small.
A drunken driver hit my friend. He smashed him against the wall.
When I arrived, all I could find were little bits of shell.
I made them into plectrums. I know my plectrums well. CHORUS
He was [C]just a lonely tortoise [F]looking for a [C]home
His tiny feet were blistered with the [D7]miles he'd had to [G7]roam
I [C]found him in a pet shop, on his [F]cheek there was a [C]tear
And painted on his little back was [G7]"twenty pence to clear"
He's a [F]faithful friend, the tortoise, he'll [C]love you till the [G7]end
And [C]you won't need a person with a [G7]tortoise for a [C]friend
I took him from the pet shop, tied to a piece of string.
I'm sure that he was happy for I thought I heard him sing.
I took him to my sports car. We had many's the mile to go.
I tied him to the bumper. He was grateful for the tow. CHORUS
In winter he would hibernate. Yes, we'd both retire,
And when his little feet got cold, I'd place him on the fire.
In summer by the swimming pool, I was so proud of him.
I'd throw him in and then he'd sink. I don't think that he could swim. CHORUS
Then came the day that's coming to all creatures great and small.
A drunken driver hit my friend. He smashed him against the wall.
When I arrived, all I could find were little bits of shell.
I made them into plectrums. I know my plectrums well. CHORUS
“The Tortoise Song” (a lighthearted folk tune) works beautifully as a gentle 4/4 ballad in C Major, with a simple, cozy strumming feel and an easy fingerpicking pattern that gives it warmth and humour.
Let’s make this one sound like a campfire gem or a Burl Ives tune.
🎵 The Tortoise Song — in C Major
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~85 BPM (slow, easy-going)
Time Signature: 4/4
🎸 1. Lyrics with Chords
He was [C]just a lonely tortoise [F]looking for a [C]home
His tiny feet were blistered with the [D7]miles he'd had to [G7]roam
I [C]found him in a pet shop, on his [F]cheek there was a [C]tear
And painted on his little back was [G7]"twenty pence to clear"
He's a [F]faithful friend, the tortoise, he'll [C]love you till the [G7]end
And [C]you won't need a person with a [G7]tortoise for a [C]friend
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (4/4 Folk Feel)
A gentle, swinging folk rhythm fits the song best:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Count: 1 2 & & 4 &
How to play:
Beat 1 = Downstroke (bass emphasis)
Beat 2 & = Down-Up on mids
3 = brief pause (gives bounce)
4 & = Down-Up on higher strings
Keep it lighthearted and steady — a “walking pace” feel, like a tortoise’s slow march 🐢.
Optional variation:
Alternate bass notes between root and fifth for a more melodic bass line.
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
Use a Travis-style 4/4 alternating bass pattern:
T – I – T – M (Thumb, Index, Thumb, Middle)
Let the bass alternate between two strings to simulate the tortoise plodding along.
Verse Example
C
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1-----1---|------1-----1---|
G|----0-----0-----|----0-----0-----|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
He was just a lonely tortoise looking for a home
F
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1-----1---|------1-----1---|
G|----2-----2-----|----2-----2-----|
D|--3-------------|--3-------------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
His tiny feet were blistered with the miles he'd had to roam
D7
e|------2-----2---|------2-----2---|
B|----1-----1-----|----1-----1-----|
G|--------2-------|--------2-------|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
I found him in a pet shop, on his cheek there was a tear
G7
e|------1-----1---|------1-----1---|
B|----0-----0-----|----0-----0-----|
G|--------0-------|--------0-------|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
And painted on his little back was “twenty pence to clear”
🎶 Chorus Fingerpicking
F C G7 C
e|------1-----1---|------0-----0---|------1-----1---|------0-----0---|
B|----1-----1-----|----1-----1-----|----0-----0-----|----1-----1-----|
G|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
D|--3-------------|--2-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|----------------|
He’s a faithful friend, the tortoise, he’ll love you till the end
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Keep a plodding, gentle rhythm to match the tortoise’s pace — don’t rush!
Accent beat 1 slightly in each bar for a “walking” feel.
🎵 Bass Alternation:
C: alternate 5th → 4th
F: alternate 6th → 4th
G7: alternate 6th → 4th
D7: alternate 4th → 5th
🎵 Optional ornaments:
Add a light hammer-on on D7 (open D → 2nd fret) for a comic touch.
On G7, lift and replace your index finger on the high E string (open ↔ 1st fret) for that cheeky bounce.
🎵 Ending (last “friend”):
e|--0-----------|
B|----1---------|
G|------0-------|
D|--------2-----|
A|--3-----------|
E|--------------|
Let it ring — as if the tortoise has finally found his home. 🐢❤️
Let’s make this one sound like a campfire gem or a Burl Ives tune.
🎵 The Tortoise Song — in C Major
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~85 BPM (slow, easy-going)
Time Signature: 4/4
🎸 1. Lyrics with Chords
He was [C]just a lonely tortoise [F]looking for a [C]home
His tiny feet were blistered with the [D7]miles he'd had to [G7]roam
I [C]found him in a pet shop, on his [F]cheek there was a [C]tear
And painted on his little back was [G7]"twenty pence to clear"
He's a [F]faithful friend, the tortoise, he'll [C]love you till the [G7]end
And [C]you won't need a person with a [G7]tortoise for a [C]friend
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (4/4 Folk Feel)
A gentle, swinging folk rhythm fits the song best:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Count: 1 2 & & 4 &
How to play:
Beat 1 = Downstroke (bass emphasis)
Beat 2 & = Down-Up on mids
3 = brief pause (gives bounce)
4 & = Down-Up on higher strings
Keep it lighthearted and steady — a “walking pace” feel, like a tortoise’s slow march 🐢.
Optional variation:
Alternate bass notes between root and fifth for a more melodic bass line.
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
Use a Travis-style 4/4 alternating bass pattern:
T – I – T – M (Thumb, Index, Thumb, Middle)
Let the bass alternate between two strings to simulate the tortoise plodding along.
Verse Example
C
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1-----1---|------1-----1---|
G|----0-----0-----|----0-----0-----|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
He was just a lonely tortoise looking for a home
F
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1-----1---|------1-----1---|
G|----2-----2-----|----2-----2-----|
D|--3-------------|--3-------------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
His tiny feet were blistered with the miles he'd had to roam
D7
e|------2-----2---|------2-----2---|
B|----1-----1-----|----1-----1-----|
G|--------2-------|--------2-------|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
I found him in a pet shop, on his cheek there was a tear
G7
e|------1-----1---|------1-----1---|
B|----0-----0-----|----0-----0-----|
G|--------0-------|--------0-------|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
And painted on his little back was “twenty pence to clear”
🎶 Chorus Fingerpicking
F C G7 C
e|------1-----1---|------0-----0---|------1-----1---|------0-----0---|
B|----1-----1-----|----1-----1-----|----0-----0-----|----1-----1-----|
G|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
D|--3-------------|--2-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|----------------|
He’s a faithful friend, the tortoise, he’ll love you till the end
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Keep a plodding, gentle rhythm to match the tortoise’s pace — don’t rush!
Accent beat 1 slightly in each bar for a “walking” feel.
🎵 Bass Alternation:
C: alternate 5th → 4th
F: alternate 6th → 4th
G7: alternate 6th → 4th
D7: alternate 4th → 5th
🎵 Optional ornaments:
Add a light hammer-on on D7 (open D → 2nd fret) for a comic touch.
On G7, lift and replace your index finger on the high E string (open ↔ 1st fret) for that cheeky bounce.
🎵 Ending (last “friend”):
e|--0-----------|
B|----1---------|
G|------0-------|
D|--------2-----|
A|--3-----------|
E|--------------|
Let it ring — as if the tortoise has finally found his home. 🐢❤️
