The White Cockade Lyrics Chords and sheet music
THE WHITE COCKADE (An Cnota Bán)
The defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie signalled the end of Celtic tribalism in Britain. The "Highland Question" was settled; henceforth, the Presbyterian Lowlands would be the dominant voice north of the Tweed. The Union of England and Scotland, proclaimed on paper in 1707, was now to become a reality.
In Ireland, the Protestant Ascendancy feared a sympathetic rising. They need not have worried. Irish sentiment for the Blackbird was a vague, leaderless, pro-Catholic nostalgia for the time of its grandfathers.
This old Gaelic song-translated here by Callanan-was a centerpiece of the "Stuart-nationalist" feeling of the eighteenth century. Irish war pipes had played it in battle for the last time at Fontenoy. Though it was Scottish pipes that retreated at Culloden Moor, the battle served as last hurrah for the Irish Jacobite's as well. When next the Irish looked to France, the White Cockade of the Bourbons would be supplanted by the Tricolour of the Revolution.
The defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie signalled the end of Celtic tribalism in Britain. The "Highland Question" was settled; henceforth, the Presbyterian Lowlands would be the dominant voice north of the Tweed. The Union of England and Scotland, proclaimed on paper in 1707, was now to become a reality.
In Ireland, the Protestant Ascendancy feared a sympathetic rising. They need not have worried. Irish sentiment for the Blackbird was a vague, leaderless, pro-Catholic nostalgia for the time of its grandfathers.
This old Gaelic song-translated here by Callanan-was a centerpiece of the "Stuart-nationalist" feeling of the eighteenth century. Irish war pipes had played it in battle for the last time at Fontenoy. Though it was Scottish pipes that retreated at Culloden Moor, the battle served as last hurrah for the Irish Jacobite's as well. When next the Irish looked to France, the White Cockade of the Bourbons would be supplanted by the Tricolour of the Revolution.
Tin whistle and the banjo tab included, The Corries. Written by Robert Burns. Here the Corries lyrics and chords .
[G]My love was born in Aberdeen,
the boniest [Em]lad that [Am]e'er was [D7]seen.
But [G]now he makes our hearts fu' [Em]sad,
He takes the [D7]field we' his [G]White Cockade.
[G]Oh he's a ranting rovin [D7]lad,
He[G] is[Em] brisk and a [Am]bonnie [D7]lad,
Be - [G]tide what may, I will be[Em] wed
And follow the [DY]boy wi the [G]White Cockade.
I'll sell my rock, my reel my tow,
My guide gray mare and hawkit cow.
To buy myself a tartan plade,
To follow the boy wi the White Cockade.
the boniest [Em]lad that [Am]e'er was [D7]seen.
But [G]now he makes our hearts fu' [Em]sad,
He takes the [D7]field we' his [G]White Cockade.
[G]Oh he's a ranting rovin [D7]lad,
He[G] is[Em] brisk and a [Am]bonnie [D7]lad,
Be - [G]tide what may, I will be[Em] wed
And follow the [DY]boy wi the [G]White Cockade.
I'll sell my rock, my reel my tow,
My guide gray mare and hawkit cow.
To buy myself a tartan plade,
To follow the boy wi the White Cockade.
“The White Cockade” is a traditional Jacobite song, lively but tender. It sounds gorgeous in G Major, played as a gentle 6/8 or lilting 3/4 rhythm — think of a march with a romantic sway.
Below is your full G Major arrangement: chords, strumming, and complete fingerpicking tab for all verses.
🎵 The White Cockade — in G Major
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~85 BPM (lilting Scottish 6/8 feel)
Time Signature: 6/8 (count “ONE-two-three, FOUR-five-six”)
🎸 1. Lyrics with Chords
[G]My love was born in Aberdeen,
The boniest [Em]lad that [Am]e'er was [D7]seen.
But [G]now he makes our hearts fu' [Em]sad,
He takes the [D7]field wi' his [G]White Cockade.
[G]Oh he's a ranting rovin' [D7]lad,
He [G]is [Em]brisk and a [Am]bonnie [D7]lad,
Be-[G]tide what may, I will be [Em]wed,
And follow the [D7]boy wi' the [G]White Cockade.
[G]I'll sell my rock, my reel, my tow,
My [Em]guide gray mare and [Am]hawkit [D7]cow,
To [G]buy myself a tartan [Em]plaid,
To follow the [D7]boy wi' the [G]White Cockade.
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (6/8 March Feel)
A steady rolling rhythm works best — lively but soft.
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
or think:
(Bass) – Down – Up – Down – Up
How to play:
Beat 1: Bass note (played by thumb or pick)
Beats 2–3 and 5–6: Soft down-up brushes
Keep it light and steady — imagine a Scottish march rhythm on pipes and drums.
Example on G chord:
6th string (bass) → soft down-up → soft down-up
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
We’ll use a rolling arpeggio pattern that fits 6/8 time:
T – I – M – T – I – M
(Thumb on bass, Index on G string, Middle on B string)
Let each note ring for a smooth harp-like Celtic tone.
Verse 1 Fingerpicking Example
G
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
My love was born in Aberdeen
Em Am D7
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|--0-------------|
A|--2-------------|--2-------------|--0-------------|----------------|
E|--0-------------|--0-------------|----------------|----------------|
The boniest lad that e’er was seen
G Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
A|----------------|----------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
But now he makes our hearts fu’ sad
D7 G
e|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
B|----1---1---1---|----1---1---1---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
G|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
He takes the field wi’ his White Cockade
Verse 2 (same picking pattern)
Continue using the same fingerpicking for:
Oh he's a ranting rovin' lad...
and
I'll sell my rock, my reel, my tow...
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Tempo & Feel:
Keep a marching 6/8 pulse — think of footsteps on moorland.
Each bar should feel like two strong beats (1-2-3, 4-5-6).
🎵 Dynamics:
Begin softly; let each verse grow slightly in strength.
End the final line (“White Cockade”) gently, as if echoing through the glen.
🎵 Bass Alternation (for realism):
G: alternate 6th → 4th
Em: 6th → 4th
Am: 5th → 4th
D7: 4th → 5th
🎵 Celtic ornaments:
On G: hammer-on A string 0→2
On Am: hammer A string 0→2 softly
On D7: slide D string 0→2 for a piper’s lilt
Below is your full G Major arrangement: chords, strumming, and complete fingerpicking tab for all verses.
🎵 The White Cockade — in G Major
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~85 BPM (lilting Scottish 6/8 feel)
Time Signature: 6/8 (count “ONE-two-three, FOUR-five-six”)
🎸 1. Lyrics with Chords
[G]My love was born in Aberdeen,
The boniest [Em]lad that [Am]e'er was [D7]seen.
But [G]now he makes our hearts fu' [Em]sad,
He takes the [D7]field wi' his [G]White Cockade.
[G]Oh he's a ranting rovin' [D7]lad,
He [G]is [Em]brisk and a [Am]bonnie [D7]lad,
Be-[G]tide what may, I will be [Em]wed,
And follow the [D7]boy wi' the [G]White Cockade.
[G]I'll sell my rock, my reel, my tow,
My [Em]guide gray mare and [Am]hawkit [D7]cow,
To [G]buy myself a tartan [Em]plaid,
To follow the [D7]boy wi' the [G]White Cockade.
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (6/8 March Feel)
A steady rolling rhythm works best — lively but soft.
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
or think:
(Bass) – Down – Up – Down – Up
How to play:
Beat 1: Bass note (played by thumb or pick)
Beats 2–3 and 5–6: Soft down-up brushes
Keep it light and steady — imagine a Scottish march rhythm on pipes and drums.
Example on G chord:
6th string (bass) → soft down-up → soft down-up
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
We’ll use a rolling arpeggio pattern that fits 6/8 time:
T – I – M – T – I – M
(Thumb on bass, Index on G string, Middle on B string)
Let each note ring for a smooth harp-like Celtic tone.
Verse 1 Fingerpicking Example
G
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
My love was born in Aberdeen
Em Am D7
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|--0-------------|
A|--2-------------|--2-------------|--0-------------|----------------|
E|--0-------------|--0-------------|----------------|----------------|
The boniest lad that e’er was seen
G Em
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
A|----------------|----------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
But now he makes our hearts fu’ sad
D7 G
e|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
B|----1---1---1---|----1---1---1---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
G|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
He takes the field wi’ his White Cockade
Verse 2 (same picking pattern)
Continue using the same fingerpicking for:
Oh he's a ranting rovin' lad...
and
I'll sell my rock, my reel, my tow...
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Tempo & Feel:
Keep a marching 6/8 pulse — think of footsteps on moorland.
Each bar should feel like two strong beats (1-2-3, 4-5-6).
🎵 Dynamics:
Begin softly; let each verse grow slightly in strength.
End the final line (“White Cockade”) gently, as if echoing through the glen.
🎵 Bass Alternation (for realism):
G: alternate 6th → 4th
Em: 6th → 4th
Am: 5th → 4th
D7: 4th → 5th
🎵 Celtic ornaments:
On G: hammer-on A string 0→2
On Am: hammer A string 0→2 softly
On D7: slide D string 0→2 for a piper’s lilt
